iconLog In  |  Register

Fall Semester Showdown profile: Jet W. Lee

Posted in MUSIC to Interviews to Previews by Smile Politely Editors on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 3:00 pm

"Hard Hats" by Jet W. Lee

More than a dozen local bands will be playing the Fall Semester showdown at the Canopy Club on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. In case you’re not familiar with some of them, we’ll be running capsule interviews with as many of them as would respond to our emails over the next few days.

Next up: Jet W. Lee, who will be playing on Thursday night as part of a five-band bill also featuring Empyrean Soul, Audiac Arrest, Arkansas Dogjaw, and Kilroy et al. Cover is $7, and the show starts at 10 p.m.

Smile Politely: How would you describe your sound to a person who you don't think will like your music? Is there anything your music has been compared to that you don't particularly agree with? Are there any non-musical influences that one might not expect?

Jet W. Lee: Hmm. I would say that we are definitely rock with a country tinge. If I knew someone didn't like either rock or (non-pop/modern) country I'd just tell them that we play honest, fresh rock music that we genuinely love to play. Above all else, hopefully that shows through.

Lately I've been very influenced by the poet Paul Haines, but in general Pat and I are influenced by deliberately cheesy (hilarious) movies, people who never rest for fear of stagnation, Mark Rubel of Pogo Studio (who fits into that last category), and anyone who is passionate about being alive and pursuing that passion.

Smile Politely: What are the primary factors/influences/motivations that keep you doing what you're doing?

Jet W. Lee: As anyone else would probably say we genuinely love to perform/play. To us there is nothing better than rocking so much that you are drained.... but it's like the kind of drained after a refreshing morning run or accomplishing something (even if it's a small piece of the puzzle).

Anytime a person responds to what we're doing and offers encouragement it's really like seeing the sunrise. Friends and Family are especially near and dear to us for this.

Lately after gigs Pat and I love to go to the Blind Pig and talk about ambitions over a $1 PBR and that is great too!

Smile Politely: What is the best (or worst) thing happening in music today (either local, national or international)?

Jet W. Lee: Hmm. The best thing is hard to pin down though I'd point to the great variety and ease of access in today's world. Champaign/Urbana really is a great scene though. There is alot of music here and whenever that is appreciated I'd say it's great! In regards to the best thing locally though I'd point towards you guys and Todd Hunter of WEFT.

The worst thing I'd say is when it seems no one cares about going to shows. There are alot of sources that can be blamed for bad shows but it just plain sucks when no one comes.

Smile Politely: Tell us about the worst show you have ever played.

Jet W. Lee: Oh man. I don't even know. Pat has gigged more than me and he isn't here to grab a great story from but I'd say one of my first gigs with my first non high school band was bad in that our drummer set up a show by lying about our draw and then it turned out we weren't even confirmed to play. We drove a long time only to find out we weren't on the bill and then when we asked the promoter about it he pointed out that no one had come to see us. Honesty is SO important.

Smile Politely: What do you have coming up on the horizon?

Jet W. Lee: We are releasing our debut LP WHO SHALL REMAIN SHAMELESS this January. There is a CD release show in Chicago Jan. 29th and at Mike n Molly's here in Champaign Feb. 5th!!

Smile Politely: What can people expect from your live show that differs from what is available from your MySpace?

Jet W. Lee: Our live shows in general are faithful to our recordings but different in the aspect that we strive to inject as much intensity, passion, and spontaneity into our performances as humanly possible. This translates to different arrangements, improvised guitar solos, unreleased songs, and hopefully contagious energy!

And of course as we all know... live music is better!

PS. For this show we are playing an acoustic set that will highlight different versions of tracks from our album and at least a new song or two. It'll be a stripped down, meat and bones presentation of the songs that we like alot.

Smile Politely: Anything else you want to emphasize or get off your chest?

Jet W. Lee: We will have FREE stickers and a limited supply of FREE sample CDs with a track from our soon to be released album.

Check out a Jet W. Lee video here.

Add A Comment

A note about our commenting policy.


Commenting has been disabled on this post. We only allow comments for 30 days.

Most Recent Music Comments

isaac arms avatar

UPDATE:  Evil Tents have regrettably had to cancel their appearance at tonight’s show.  Closing out this evening’s festivities at Mike N Molly’s will be the ambient noise drone project, Urbana’s own Marathon. Thanks for understanding folks; Evil Tents will be back at MnM’s later this month.  Raincheck.  Cool?  Cool.

Posted by isaac arms to the entry 'The Overture: January 31–February 6 on 02/02/12.
{username}

An Acoustic Café Evening Tour always promises satisfaction, and with the talent Carrie brings, it will be more than worth the price of admission! Be sure to listen to deliradio.com/carrie-rodriguez to hear more!

Posted by David Hewitt to the entry 'The Overture: January 31–February 6 on 02/01/12.
isaac arms avatar

yes. hipsters and corporations.

Posted by isaac arms to the entry 'The Overture: January 31–February 6 on 02/01/12.
{username}

hipsters are people, too.

Posted by Cole to the entry 'The Overture: January 31–February 6 on 02/01/12.
{username}

Start the clock on when ward’s comment is deleted. Poking fun at the “hipsters” here is blasphemy, you know. At another site, someone—perhaps from here—was playing the usual card of “That band is well-known, so it must suck!” The resulting comment said: “Yeah, I remember the days…

Posted by Q-Tips to the entry 'The Overture: January 31–February 6 on 02/01/12.
{username}

No fair. SP should get a buncha shit for listing The Duke Of Uke as… The Duke Of Yuke, Just like when all the hipsters cry foul and whine like hell if The Buzz make the same error (ie honest mistake). Put it back to YUKE ol’ Seth McFeinstein =)

Posted by ward to the entry 'The Overture: January 31–February 6 on 02/01/12.
{username}

http://www.facebook.com/events/312332575464737/

Posted by Jon Arbuckle to the entry 'The Overture: January 24–30 on 01/24/12.
{username}

Saturday night—Soul Feud, Faster Forward, & The Great Divide at Bentley’s: http://www.facebook.com/events/268739666523864/

Posted by caparoon to the entry 'The Overture: January 17 - 23 on 01/19/12.
{username}

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/307124595987459/

Posted by j to the entry 'The Overture: January 17 - 23 on 01/18/12.
{username}

I’ve been posting videos from the cover up on the Electric Bitters youtube page. Here’s a link to the playlist if anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL31FBC811FFC6DCFD&feature=plcp

Posted by Rex Bennett to the entry 'The Overture: January 17 - 23 on 01/17/12.

Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)

  1. Top Ten C-U Rock Albums 2011 featured_postPosted to Music by Music Editors on 12/15/11
  2. Top Twenty C-U Songs 2011 featured_postPosted to Music by Music Editors on 12/16/11
  3. Top Live Shows of 2011 Posted to Music by Music Editors on 12/16/11
  4. The Overture: New Year’s Eve Edition Posted to Music by Patrick Singer on 12/27/11
  5. Parasol: A Retrospective Posted to Music by Chris D. Davies on 12/13/11
  6. The Sound of gunfire Posted to Music by JoAnne Cammarata on 12/12/11
  7. The Dirty Feathers, Elsinore dominate New Year’s Eve Posted to Music by Patrick Singer on 01/03/12
  8. The Overture: December 13 - 19 Posted to Music by Ben Valocchi on 12/13/11
  9. Album Review: New Ruins This Life is Not Ours to Keep Posted to Music by Music Editors on 12/14/11
  10. The Overture: January 17 - 23 Posted to Music by Patrick Singer on 01/17/12

Most Recent Comments

{username}

Nope.  It’s the back (east) side of Urbana Tire Company at 202 S. Vine. How much is a hug and kiss worth?  Do I have to take them all at once or can I break it up?

By Dave to the entry 'Boing Boing props up Urbana graffiti "artist" on 02/07/12.
{username}

FACT: Silverfish feed only on carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars.  They will not consume proteins or fats (the main materials from which human beings are constructed). THUS: That was not actually a human waiter we were conversing with, but rather a lifelike simulacrum created from semi-digested Fruit Loops.

By fruit_loops to the entry 'The Fifty Flip Experiment on 02/07/12.
{username}

nice fishnets you’ve got there, dan!

By secret_admirer to the entry 'The Fifty Flip Experiment on 02/07/12.
isaac arms avatar

is that illini auto on main?

By isaac arms to the entry 'Boing Boing props up Urbana graffiti "artist" on 02/07/12.
{username}

The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!

By Q-Tips to the entry 'Politics play in Illini loss to Northwestern on 02/06/12.
{username}

Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR?  It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.

By Brian to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/06/12.
JPSherrill avatar

Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban     Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com

By JPSherrill to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/06/12.
{username}

Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…

By Q-Tips to the entry 'Illinois bad, MSU worse, Izzo terrible on 02/06/12.
{username}

That’s what she said.

By kiel to the entry 'Illini pull out an ugly one on 02/04/12.
{username}

Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.

By Ryan to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/04/12.
Mike Ingram avatar

Love CSR.  Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy.  Sticky Bun is pretty nice.

By Mike Ingram to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/04/12.
Rob McColley avatar

If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.

By Rob McColley to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/03/12.
{username}

HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)

By Mertz to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…

By Kirstin to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha

By Not_again. to the entry 'LGBTQ participants needed for research study on community involvement on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

just confirmed:  there will be white russians served. the art abides.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
{username}

There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847

By Lindsey to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
{username}

Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…

By Local Yocal to the entry 'An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan on 02/03/12.
{username}

I love the Guitars

By wilsonwasher23 to the entry 'SP Radio Podcast: Drew Phillips, Uncle John and local bluegrass on 02/03/12.

Most Popular Articles (14 days)

  1. An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan featured_postPosted to Opinion by Jason Brown on 01/26/12
  2. Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight featured_postPosted to Food & Drink by Ryan A. Ross on 01/26/12
  3. Please don’t close the campus post offices featured_postPosted to Opinion by William Gillespie on 01/27/12
  4. The Artist is Oscar gold Posted to Arts by Jeremiah Stanley on 01/30/12
  5. Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best Posted to Food & Drink by Pamela Saunders on 02/03/12
  6. The Overture: January 31–February 6 Posted to Music by Patrick Singer on 01/31/12
  7. One word: biofuels featured_postPosted to Opinion by Joel Gillespie on 01/30/12
  8. SP Radio Podcast: New Champaign restuarants in focus Posted to News by John Steinbacher on 02/01/12
  9. Illinois bad, MSU worse, Izzo terrible Posted to Sports by Rob McColley on 02/01/12
  10. Weekender: January 27–29 Posted to Culture by Smile Politely Editors on 01/27/12

Log In



Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?