Jitters (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Minsk, Belarus |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Minsk , Belarus |
| Products | Rock and post-grunge music, albums, EPs |
Jitters (Russian: «Джи́ттерс») was a rock ensemble originating from Minsk, Belarus, active between 1998 and 2007, recognized for their rock and post-grunge musical approach. Their discography includes the album Split Before, Together Now, a joint project with Hair Peace Salon, along with multiple EPs released through West Records. After the group dissolved in 2007, its members embarked on separate ventures: Konstantin Karman became part of Hair Peace Salon, while Ivan Barzenka and Pavel Kudrin joined beZ bileta.
Formation and initial phase as a trio (1998–2002)
Established in 1998 in Minsk, Belarus, Jitters was formed by schoolmates Konstantin Karman, Syargey Kondratenka, and Eugene Vial. Drawing inspiration from international grunge and alternative rock icons such as Soundgarden, the Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Mudhoney, they acquired instruments to craft melodic, somber, and psychedelic rock sounds.
Their inaugural live show occurred in 1999 at Minsk's Alternative club (later known as A-Club). In 2000, they released their first promotional CD featuring two English tracks: "Floating Light" and "Consumed". Oleg "OK" Klimov of Muzykalnaya Gazeta characterized these songs as creations of "new romantics inspired by Britpop". This demo earned them an invitation to perform at the national music festival Rock-kola held in Novopolotsk in 2001.
By 2002, the band faced near dissolution when drummer Vial emigrated and Karman took on bass duties with the band Маркі. Jitters went on a six-month hiatus before resuming activities with a refreshed lineup.
Expansion to a quartet (2003–2007)
In 2003, Jitters grew into a four-member group by adding guitarist and backing vocalist Aleh Vial along with drummer Artur Luchkov, joining original members Konstantin and Syargey. Both newcomers were also involved with the indie rock group Hair Peace Salon.[1]
In June 2004, the band secured first place in the "Rock Music" category at the Piirideta Muusika festival in Narva, Estonia, performing alongside Hair Peace Salon.[2] The following month, they took part in Poland’s Basovišča festival.[3] For this appearance, critic Volha "OSa" Samusik likened their sound to that of British rock band Muse.[4]
October 2005 saw Vial depart Jitters to dedicate himself entirely to Hair Peace Salon; he was succeeded by Ivan Barzenka, who had previously played with Rosary, Paparis, Port Mone, and Па Глазам.[5] In early 2006, drummer Pavel Kudrin joined the lineup to record the EP Pick Me Up, while Luchkov continued as a touring drummer.[6]
Throughout 2006, Jitters engaged in extensive touring alongside Hair Peace Salon, Open Space, and Milque Twins,[7] including performances at Polish festivals such as Rock bez Igły in Tychy[8] and Fiesta Borealis in Olecko.[9]
In 2007, Karman became a member of Hair Peace Salon,[10] leading to the release of the split album Split Before, Together Now, which combined Jitters' EP Pick Me Up with Hair Peace Salon's Gipsy.[11] Music critic Alena Sobolevskaya commended the album for its thoughtful dynamism and assured production.[12]
Hiatus and Integration (2008)
Prior to the launch of their 2007 split album, Karman informed xlam.by that Jitters would enter a temporary hiatus to enable a collaboration with Hair Peace Salon, reflecting their long-established camaraderie and frequent musician collaborations. This alliance brought about the addition of dual lead vocals to Hair Peace Salon's sound. Meanwhile, Pavel Kudrin and Ivan Barzenka became members of beZ bileta, with Barzenka eventually taking the helm of the funk rock ensemble ContraBanda. Additionally, lead guitarist Syargey Kondratenka moved to the Netherlands.
Discography
- Promo Disk 2000 EP (2000)
- Promo Disk 2003 EP (2003)
- Promo Disk 2004 EP (2004)
- Promo Disk 2005 EP (2005)
- Jaded EP (2005)
- Pick Me Up EP (2006)
- Split Before, Together Now (split album with Hair Peace Salon, 2007)
Band members
- Konstantin Karman – bass, lead vocals (1998–2007)
- Syargey Kondratenka – guitar (1998–2007)
- Ivan Barzenka – keyboards, backing vocals, lead guitar (2005–2007)
- Pavel Kudrin – drums (2006–2007)
- Eugene Vial – drums (1998–2002)
- Aleh Vial – backing vocals, lead guitar (2003–2005)
- Artur Luchkov – drums (2003–2006)
- Timeline
Literature
- уклад. Дз. Падбярэзскі і інш