Draft:Jesus Chrysler Supercar

Jesus Chrysler Supercar is a alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, active throughout the 1990s.

History
Jesus Chrysler Supercar (aka. JC Supercar) was formed in 1992 in Mesa, AZ.

Original Band Members
The founding members were:


 * Jamie Hickerson (guitar)
 * Mitch Steele (vocals)
 * Jason Corman (guitar, back-up vocals)
 * Erick Smith (bass guitar)
 * Matt Collins (drums, back-up vocals)

Smith was native to the Mesa/Tempe, Arizona area. Steele had moved to Mesa from Saginaw, Michigan, Hickerson hailed from the Los Angeles, California area, Corman was originally from Grand Island, Nebraska, and Collins was originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

During the earliest of days, the band spent most of its time writing and playing local gigs at clubs such as Hollywood Alley, and Boston's.

Supercar EP (aka. "Hay Bailer" EP (sic))
The band's first effort, "Supercar", was released in 1994. It was recorded and produced at Red House Studios of Eudora, KS, by Ed Rose. The EP featured 6 tracks of their earliest work, including:


 * Diesel
 * Woodhooker
 * Sunday Drive
 * Tweener
 * Big Foatie
 * God

Latterday Speedway
For their sophomore effort, Latterday Speedway (released in 1997), the band returned to Red House Studios and also recorded portions of the record at Mind's Eye Digital in Mesa, AZ. There, the band worked with engineer/producer Larry Elyea. The following tracks were officially released on Token Records (a label out of NYC run by Morgan Giles):

Hickerson was replaced in the line-up with Joey St. Claire.
 * Time Trials
 * Coming Clean
 * Almond Joy (Tourniquet)
 * Quitter
 * Gusto
 * Cowboys & Engines
 * Casino
 * China Man's Delight
 * Astro K
 * Bicycle
 * Room Full Of Handsome
 * Lov'n Ov'n
 * Big Daddy On Fire
 * Booth Cooter
 * Thrown Away

Latterday Speedway Press
"Latterday Speedway ... takes cues from the muscular rhythms of Soundgarden and the gorgeous vocal tracers of Radiohead. From the raging guitars of 'Tourniquet/Almond Joy' to the intensely emotive singing on 'Thrown Away,' the disc overflows with a hard-edged complexity that underscores Jesus Chrysler"Joey St. Claire was enlisted to replace Hickerson in late 1997.

Land Speed
The "Land Speed" EP was released in 1999.


 * Swampfoot
 * Dopesick Lunatic
 * Jillbilly
 * Coming Clean Again
 * Stick It
 * Rusty Jones

The following tracks were recorded during the "Land Speed" sessions, but did not ultimately make it onto the record. Nevertheless, these tracks found their way into the Internet and are now firmly part of the Land Speed canon.


 * Geronimo
 * 3-Cross Curve
 * Always Talking

Land Speed Press
...its mastery of atypical rhythms and Fugazi-ish guitar arrangements blend well with the hooky new wave choruses abundant on its latest EP, Land Speed.

JC Supercar...deliver a thrill-ride knockout punch on the follow-up to their highly acclaimed "Latterday Speedway" debut. The guitars rip and grind as the band shifts gears from careening rockers to melodic groove numbers. Throughout, the rhythm section keeps the Supercar on track while Steele keeps driving the tempo to breakneck levels.

Jesus Chrysler Supercar is a rare band. The group flat-out rocks, has an out-of-the-norm edge that keeps you interested and has more hooks than a psycho fly fisherman. This band grows on you. At first listen you merely love it. After a while you're a disciple of Jesus Chrysler Supercar.

Yeah, they got the whole NASCAR schtick going on. And occasionally Jesus Chrysler Supercar does sound like the hot laps house band for Satan's weekly stock car extravaganza. But the Arizona quintet can write some damn fine songs full of hyperactive harmonies with some of rock's most interesting guitar interplay to date--period. It's hard and heavy, but relies more on groove than growls. Sure they're sacrilegious, but who cares? This shit rocks.

The rock and racing connection continues in the form of Jesus Chrysler Supercar. This Phoenix quintet wears racing uniforms onstage and releases albums called Latterday Speedway and Land Speed. In addition, the group sounds like a supercharged version of new wavers The Cars. The band calls its sound "speedway rock." Despite limited sponsorship, it has the horsepower to contend in the rock race.

Awards

 * 1995 - Phoenix New Times, Best of Phoenix Music Awards readers poll - "Best Grunge Band"
 * 1996 - Phoenix New Times Best of Phoenix Music Awards readers poll - "Best Alternative Rock Band"
 * 1997 - Phoenix New Times Best of Phoenix Music Awards readers poll - "Best Modern Rock"
 * 1998 - Phoenix New Times Best of Phoenix Music Awards readers poll - "Best Modern Rock"

Conferences
During its active years, Jesus Chrysler Supercar appeared at CMJ Music Festival (NYC) two times, SXSW, EAT'M Conference (Emerging Artists and Talent in Music conference, Las Vegas, Nevada), KUPD's annual music festival, KUPD Fest, at Desert Sky Pavilion, as well as had the opportunity to open for national acts, such as Tool, Radiohead, Goo Goo Dolls, Frank Black, Korn, Toadies, Mike Watt and many others. Notably, the band also played a Las Vegas Motor Speedway's inaugural race.

Columbia, Island/Mercury, and Seagram's Merger
The band received a demo deal from Columbia Records (engineered and produced by Ed Stasium) and offered a recording deal with Island Records. Before the ink was dry, Seagram's merged Island Records with Mercury Records, and JC Supercar's fate was sealed.

Soon after, Smith departed the band and was replaced in the lineup by Mike Brandt.

European Release
Despite the setback vis a vis the United States major labels, the band was scheduled to do a 3 week tour in the UK and broader Europe for the summer of 2000. Toward that end, D&C Productions released JC Supercar's only International release, 4-song EP entitled Four Banger in the UK.

End of the Road
The band disbanded in late 1999.

2023-Present
In 2023, Corman and Steele found themselves back in the studio recording new JC Supercar tracks and the entirety of the band's catalog was syndicated via streaming services by Sunset Alliance Records.

Compilations
The band's material also made it on to several compilation releases.


 * The Buzz From The Southwest (Best Buy 1996 (ASIN B01KB2P8NU))

Song: Cowboys and Engines


 * CMJ Presents Certain Damage! Volume 83 (College Music Journal (CMJ CD-083 in 1997))

Song: Coming Clean


 * Locals Only 1998 (KEDJ the Edge, 106.3 fm)

Song: 3 Cross Curve


 * Up In Flames Volume 1 (1999)

Song: Swampfoot