Jesse Vest
Musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jesse Vest (born May 10, 1977) is an American rock musician and bassist for the bands The Crashers[1] and the supergroup, Blisskrieg.[2] Vest was one of the three original instrumental members and founders of the post-grunge band, Days of the New[3] and the alternative rock band, Tantric, playing bass alongside guitarist Todd Whitener and drummer Matt Taul.[4]
Jesse Vest | |
|---|---|
_Bass_Player.jpg) Vest performing with The Crashers in 2022 | |
| Born | Jesse Douglas Vest May 10, 1977 |
| Occupation(s) | Bassist, Songwriter, Musician, UPS Driver |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse | Mandy Vest (m. n/a) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Alternative rock, Post-grunge, Hard rock, Folk Rock, Pop rock, Alternative metal |
| Instrument | |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Days of the New, Tantric |
| Website | thelouisvillecrashers |
Early life and beginnings
Summarize
Perspective
Jesse Vest was born and raised in Charlestown, Indiana and his career in music at an early age.[1] The son of a guitar player and avid bluegrass fan, his first instrument was a banjo.[1]
At age 10, however, he discovered rock and roll, trading his banjo for an electric guitar, then bass guitar. Over the next several years he played and collaborated with various local musicians around his hometown, and found a creative bond with two of his classmates from school, Matt Taul and Travis Meeks.[5] The trio began playing together in 1994 and were, originally a Pantera sound-alike band with the name "Dead Reckoning."[6] Within just two years Vest, Meeks and Taul had gained enough musical experience and written enough material for a full album, and the group added guitarist Todd Whitener to the band's lineup and then changed their name to Days of the New, adapting their style into one favoring acoustic instruments instead of the standard electric guitars that dominated the 90s rock sound.[7]
Vest and his Days of the New bandmates entered a local musician contest in 1996 where they caught the attention of producer Scott Litt, known for working with R.E.M and Nirvana, which lead to the band signing a record deal with his label Outpost Recordings.[8]
The group recorded its debut album in late October and early November 1996 at Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.[9] Just one day after graduating high school Vest along with the members of Days of the New embarked on a nationwide tour in support of their debut album released earlier that month.[10]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Role in Days of the New
Vest began as the bassist in an experimental rock/metal trio called Dead Reckoning, with singer Travis Meeks and drummer Matt Taul. When they turned to an acoustic sound, they changed the name of the band to Days of the New and added lead guitarist, Todd Whitener to the lineup.[11][12]
Days of the New led to Vests' rise to fame when the band's 1997 self-titled debut album faired very successful, leading to the group's music appearing on MTV, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman,[13] and opening concerts for bands like Metallica and Aerosmith which helped the album eventually be certified platinum by the RIAA[14] and their single "Touch, Peel and Stand" reach number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and stayed their for 17 weeks,[15] and the album's other singles "The Down Town" and "Shelf in the Room" each were top 40 hits[16] and featured music videos that received airtime on MTV.[17][18]
Citing clashes with lead singer, Travis Meeks over the direction of the band along with Meeks' unstable mental state and struggle with drug addiction[19] in February 1999 Vest, Whitener, and Taul departed Days of the New and quickly began working to form a new band.[20]
In 2021, Billboard magazine named Days of the New's 1997 single, "Touch, Peel and Stand" as the "Greatest Mainstream Rock song of all time", ranking it number one out of a chart of 100 songs.[21][22][23]
Role in Tantric
Shortly after all three instrumental band members departed the Days of the New, Whitener, Taul, and Vest would go on to form a new band named "C14" that would be renamed Tantric with Hugo Ferreira as the lead singer.[24] Tantric, whose self titled debut album was released in February 2001, resulted in much of the same success as Days of the New had seen, with their debut single "Breakdown" reaching the number-one position on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart[25] leading to the band performing promotional appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,[26] and sharing the stage, opening concerts for 3 Doors Down and Creed.[27]
Tantric's self-titled debut album spawned two more singles, "Astounded"[28] that reached number seven on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in August 2001 and "Mourning"[29] that reached number eighteen on the same chart in December 2001 with each single being released with official music videos that received airtime on MTV as well.[30][31]
Vest returned to the studio with Tantric in 2003 to begin writing and recording their second album After We Go,[32] which would be released on February 24, 2004. The album sold more than 200,000 copies and peaked at number fifty six on the Billboard 200 with the lead single "Hey Now" reaching number eight on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song "The Chain" reaching number twenty two on Billboard's Heritage Rock chart and thirty-six on the Mainstream Rock chart, and the album's title track, "After We Go" reaching number thirty on the Mainstream Rock chart.[33]
In late 2004, it was announced by the band that Vest would be leaving the tour for to take some time off and take care of personal things at home, stating in a message on the band's official website:[34]
This announcement comes to you to inform you and to pacify all rumors that have been going around regarding Jesse. The rumor is 100% false.
Jesse has decided that after 10 years on the road he is going to take time off to be with Mandy and the boys. He has reached a point in his life in which he knows what is important for him to do. He takes great pride in his family and wants to enjoy them.
We should all be very proud of Jesse for this decision. We all know he loves music and touring, however, we all know it must be hard to be away from the family so much. Jesse is going to enjoy watching his children grow up and spending time with Mandy, who we have all gotten to know and love.
There are no plans to replace Jesse because he has not quit. He is simply at this time taking a leave of absence.[35]
but stated he had not left the band permanently and Bruce LaFrance would replace him on bass guitar during his absence.[36] However, later in 2005 Tantric posted a statement on their website that Vest had officially decided to leave the band for good, wishing to spend more time with his family living in Charlestown, Indiana.[37]
Role in the Crashers
The Louisville Crashers was formed in 2004 by the brothers Max and Mark Maxwell, with Vest, Shane Isenberg, Geoff Gittli, Howard Gittli and Rodney Wurteletook joining the band at later dates.[38] The band changed their name, dropping "Louisville" and simply changing it to "The Crashers" in 2012 to appeal to a national audience instead of locals in the Louisville, Kentucky area.[39] The band released their self titled debut album on July 2, 2013.[40]
Blisskrieg
In June 2020 it was announced on Facebook that Vest got together with his former Days of the New and Tantric bandmates guitarist, Todd Whitener, and drummer, Matt Taul, to form a new band "Blisskrieg" with former Eye Empire and Submersed singer, Donald Carpenter as the new band's lead singer.[41][42]
In November 2020 Vest revealed via his social media profiles he had finished recording a new album with Blisskrieg which would serve as the band's debut album with a release date in early 2021.[43]
Their debut album, Remedy, was released on February 22, 2021.[44][45]
Vest returned to the studio and took part in the making of Blisskrieg's second release, "3 Days -EP" that was released on April 20, 2024.[46]
Discography
Blisskrieg
The Crashers
- The Louisville Crashers (2013)[49]
Tantric
- Tantric -EP (2000)[50]
- Tantric (2001)[51]
- After We Go (2004)[52]
Days of the New
- Days of the New (1997)[53]
References
External links
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