Field Day (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Calgary , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Field Day was a pop-punk group originating from Calgary, Canada, established in 1994. The founding members were guitarist and vocalist John Hiebert, drummer Jay Kreway (both previously part of "Ninth Configuration"), and bassist Jonas Smith, also known as Joner Baloner.
Background
After releasing several local cassettes and EPs, Field Day unveiled their first full-length album, Friction, on September 29, 1995, under Lethal Records based in Long Beach, California. Songs from this album found their way into various soundtracks: Hiebert’s track "Denial" appeared in the film National Lampoon's Senior Trip, while Smith’s single "Enough for Two" along with its B-side "Other Guy" were featured in the Canadian independent movie The Suburbanators. The album was co-produced by the band together with Jeff Burns and enjoyed moderate acclaim across Canada, spawning two music videos broadcast on Much Music and securing a position within the top 50 of the Canadian College Charts.
Following disagreements over publishing rights, Field Day ended their relationship with Lethal Records. In 1996, they released their sophomore album Big Wheels through Montreal-based Cargo Records and took part in the Canadian legs of the Vans Warped Tour held in Toronto and Montreal. The band returned to the Warped Tour circuit in Vancouver during 1997. That same year, they signed with Devil Doll Records and launched Emerald and Jaded on June 24—a compilation drawing from their first two albums. August 1997 saw Jonas Smith leave the group to move to Brazil, with Roger Nilson stepping in as his replacement on bass.
In 2000, Field Day participated once more in the Warped Tour when it stopped in Calgary and issued The Dawn of a New Day on August 8. This release introduced new bassist Brock McAndless and included guest performances by Doug Bevans (The Smalls), Bob Keelaghan (Puritans), and Chris Temple (Earthquake Pills). Production duties were shared with Dave Alcock of Chixdiggit. Shortly after recording, McAndless departed and was succeeded by Steve Elaschuk.
After touring in support of The Dawn of a New Day, Field Day dissolved. Drummer Kreway went on to tour with The Burnettes, The Sleepers, and The Great Evil alongside Chris Temple, while also founding Huntington Homes, a company specializing in house framing. Hiebert shifted focus toward managing bands and booking shows at Calgary’s Castle Pub.
In May 2004, Field Day briefly reunited with second guitarist Paul Gerber for an eight-show tour across western Canada, opening for Winnipeg’s Burn the 8 Track. Hiebert indicated plans to produce a new EP as well as re-release earlier material. The group came together once more for a final performance at Castlefest in October 2007 before the Castle Pub closed its doors.
Jonas Smith resurfaced as a solo artist in 2009 with his independently produced album JJS3, handling all writing and instrumentation himself. The title reflects his full name, Jonas J. Smith III. Since departing from Field Day, Smith has been based in Whitehorse, Yukon, where he works booking entertainment at the local venue Coasters.
Music videos
The "Enough for Two" video was regularly played on Canadian music channel Much Music. Meanwhile, videos for "Denial" and "Big Wheels" were directed by Matthew Kershaw.
Discography
- Pet (1992)
- Hot Wax (1994)
- Friction (1995)
- Big Wheels (1996)
- Emerald and Jaded (1997)
- Menage a Trois Split EP alongside Mandingo and Nooner (1999)
- The Dawn of a New Day (2000)