Jejune
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Jejune was an American emo group established in 1996 at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. The band gained recognition during the mid-1990s "second wave" of emo music. Founding members Arabella Harrison (bass/vocals), Joe Guevara (guitar/vocals), and Chris Vanacore (drums) initially connected at Berklee. In 1997, the band moved to San Diego. They produced two albums under Big Wheel Recreation and several split records before disbanding in 2000. Their final album, R.I.P., was released posthumously that same year.
1996–1999: Origins and early output
Joe Guevara, previously part of the San Diego hardcore punk band I Wish I, relocated to Massachusetts to attend Berklee, where he met Chris Vanacore through mutual musical interests. Together they began composing music and brought Arabella Harrison on board as bassist; she borrowed a bass guitar from a friend to join the lineup.
Their initial releases featured a split with Garden Variety and appearances on various compilations. Their first full-length album, Junk (1997, Big Wheel Recreation), consisted largely of demos and was titled to reflect Harrison’s critical opinion of the material. That year also saw the release of a split single with Jimmy Eat World. While Vanacore toured as a roadie with Jimmy Eat World, Jejune relocated to San Diego, noting that the local scene there contrasted with Boston’s.
In 1998, the band unveiled This Afternoon's Malady, which garnered mixed critical reception but was acknowledged for its musical progression beyond Junk. Despite some negative attitudes toward emo at the time, the album contributed to their evolving sound.
Jejune embarked on extensive tours throughout the United States alongside bands such as The Get Up Kids, Blacktop Cadence, Braid, Piebald, and Jimmy Eat World. Early in 1999, Mark Murino joined as a second guitarist to strengthen their live shows. Soon after, they toured Europe with Kill Holiday.
1999–2000: Dissolution and R.I.P. release
By late 1999, many indie emo bands aimed to distance themselves from the emo label. Jejune began experimenting with more pop-influenced sounds and intended to record a third album. However, conflicting views regarding this new direction resulted in their breakup in early 2000. In September of that year, Big Wheel Recreation issued R.I.P., a compilation containing demos intended for the unfinished third album alongside remastered or alternate versions of earlier tracks and previously unreleased songs. Critical responses were mixed; while the demos received commendation, other content met with more subdued reactions.
2000–present: Subsequent endeavors and reissues
Following Jejune’s breakup, Guevara, Murino, and Vanacore formed Lovelight Shine, releasing two EPs—one through Big Wheel Recreation—before disbanding. Murino and Vanacore later established Dirty Sweet, while Guevara contributed piano for blues musician Lady Dottie. Harrison became involved with The And/Ors and later pursued a solo career occasionally supported by Vanacore on drums; she also performs with the country ensemble Bartender's Bible.
On January 9, 2025, Iodine Recordings announced a collaboration with Big Wheel Recreation to reissue Jejune’s discography along with other artists from Big Wheel. Subsequently, on June 2, The Numero Group revealed plans to remaster and re-release Jejune’s work beginning with "That's Why She Hates Me" from their split with Jimmy Eat World, indicating forthcoming vinyl editions.
Style
Initially, the band’s music embraced a punk rock approach, as exemplified by the album Junk. With This Afternoon's Malady, their sound transitioned from indie rock toward a more dream pop orientation. The album R.I.P. incorporated minimalist electronic textures on some tracks, building upon the synthesizer elements introduced in This Afternoon's Malady and their collaborative release with Jimmy Eat World, while other songs fused dream pop with influences drawn from 1990s pop music.
Legacy
In 2010, Jejune was featured in an Alternative Press article titled "Bands That Time Forgot". In 2018, Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional cited Jejune as one of his preferred bands, alongside Rainer Maria.
Members
- Arabella Harrison – bass and vocals
- Joe Guevara – electric guitar and vocals
- Chris Vanacore – drums
- Mark Murino – guitar (1999–2000)
Albums
- Junk (1997, Big Wheel Recreation / 2025, The Numero Group)
- This Afternoon's Malady (1998, Big Wheel Recreation / 2025, The Numero Group)
- R.I.P. (2000, Big Wheel Recreation)
Singles
- Split 7" with Garden Variety (1996, Montalban Hotel)
- Split 7" with Jimmy Eat World (1997, Big Wheel Recreation)
- Split 7" with Dignity for All (1999, Big Wheel Recreation)
- Split 7" with Lazycain (1999, Big Wheel Recreation / Soul Ameria Records)
- "That's Why She Hates Me" (2025, The Numero Group)
- "Grayscale" (2025, The Numero Group)
- "Coping with Senility (Lowlife Owns a Pen)" (2025, The Numero Group)
- "Early Stars" (2025, The Numero Group)
Appearances
- A Document of Nothing (1996, Out Structured Records)
- They Came From Massachusetts (1996, Big Wheel Recreation)
- The Emo Diaries Chapter One: What's Mine Is Yours (1997, Deep Elm Records)
- Catalog Sampler Disc Number One (1998, Initial Records)
- Initial Extreme Music Sampler (1999, Initial Records)
- I ❤ Metal (1999, Triple Crown Records)
- Pedal Faster Bicycle Rider (1999, Accident Prone Records)
- Che Fest 1999 (1999, Slowdance Records)
- The Actuality of Thought (1999, Bifocal Media)
- Kiss The Cook - Rock 105.3's Latitude 32° (1999)
- Slightest Indication of Change (2000, Slowdance Records)
- Y2K-Proof! (2000, Big Wheel Recreation)
- Introduce You To Your New Favorite Bands: Summer Sampler (2000, Doghouse Records / Big Wheel Recreation)
- Welcome To Triple Crown Records (2001, Triple Crown Records)
- Undecided Records Sampler (2002, Undecided Records)
- This River Runs Dry (2002, Music Is My Heroin)
- The Best of Emo Diaries, Vol. 1 (2009, WWW Records)
- Extent Silver Five Inch Collection (Extent Fanzine)