Jef Chandler

Artist: Jef Chandler

CD: Everything Good is on the Highway

Home: Greenville, South Carolina

Style: Alt-Country


By Genevieve Will

appeared in Indiemusic.com, 2005

Jef Chandler “may be ... a pathetic dancer,” but this Southern boy isn’t deficient in the songwriting side of things. Coming out of Greenville, SC with his release Everything Good is on the Highway, Chandler grabs an easygoing time and lays it back a little farther. Strangely successful not only in merging country, rock, down-home blues, jam and pop, but also in tailoring his lyrics and tone to fit individual songs’ separate styles, Chandler can easily be dubbed a spiritual rocker who still knows how to get down.

Instrumentally, Chandler’s band has the notorious bayou sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival with a contemporary flair, but vocally, Chandler resembles a fine meshing of Primus’ Les Claypool and Phish’s Trey Anastasio. Once again, however, it’s not the distinct elements that make Everything Good work, but the remarkable dexterity with which Chandler brings it all together.

Depending on your locale, you might have a little trouble relating to Chandler’s colorful descriptions like:

It was in the land of NASCAR
Where we met at karaoke
You were singing "Coal-Miner’s Daughter"
And I was dripping old Jim Beam ...

But sketches similar to this, paralleled by outstandingly wide-open comments about life, tweak Chandler’s songwriting and distinguish it from the enormous pool of songwriters doing their best to push past relationships off their shoulders, onto listeners. Occasionally, perhaps because I am not in the South Carolina environment, Chandler’s overt (and maybe exaggerated) Southern-ness flirts with the irritating. A little is relative for those who know it and at least humorous for those who don’t, but there’s no need to turn it into another You Might Be A Redneck If ... book. Finely crafted metaphors adorn Everything Good and help translate the snot and sorrow of couple-dom into lines like “If I were in the broken-hearted circus, I’d walk that tightwire for all it’s worth.”

Additionally, Chandler demonstrates his guitar proficiency nearly as well. The instrumental “Open Door” features nice pieces of both acoustic and electric work by Chandler, although his band is certainly nothing to scoff at. Jeff Holland, percussion; Matthew Smith, drums; John Atkins, various guitars; Mark Dye, bass; and a handful of other guest members truly offer Chandler musical backing many songwriters would dream of. Paired with Chandler’s profound songwriting, Everything Good is on the Highway remains a for-sure-hear, regardless your milieu. - Indiemusic.com

by Mike Miller

appeared in The State, Columbia, SC, December 1999

It's been a busy year on the South Carolina pop scene, although not in the high-profile sense of recent years. Edwin McCain's "Messenger" is the year's biggest release, but fine records have been delivered by the Blue Dogs, 25 Ft. Stanly, Live Bait and Six Ten Split. Still to come are new discs from Isabelle's Gift and the Soul Mites.

Here's a look at three fine discs that are buzzing under the radar screen. All three deserve wider recognitions, especially the exceptional solo record from Greenville's Jef Chandler.

Bending the Rules-

The ingredients of Jef Chandler's music might go into the blender like tried-and-true country rock conventions -- assorted guitars, lap steel and mandolin floavors and sweet harmonies. But what comes out is far from conventional.

With his eclectic blend of pop, rock, folk and mountian music, Chandler has tapped into a new vein in the alt-country mine shaft, one that veers away from predictable, three-chord compositions and explores fresh ways to make melodies memorable.

Chandler is first and foremost a songwriter, and the 10 tunes on "Talking Out the Fire" (1F Records) are exquisite stories told with a clarity of insight and a wry sense of humor. "Freedom" finds a languid, Creedence-like groove and takes an optimistic approach to the tear-jerker break-up song. A cool sax solo from Simeon Kuic underscores the glee when Chandler sings, "I'm going out tonight and toast freedom at the bar."

"Moonwriting" starts out slowly, then breaks into a power chord-powered chorus that acts something like Southern rock's answer to Radiohead's "Creep." After building to a huge finish of intertwining electric guitars and pounding drums, it slides seductively back to an acoustic close.

These two tunes demonstrate Chandler's versatility and verve. But just when you think you've got a handle on his Miracle Legion-meets-Green on Red country rock style, he drops something totally unexpected -- such as the light-hearted vibe of "Caught Up," a jazzy little tune that's more Van Dyke Parks than Squirrel Nut Zippers. Or the country ballad "Answer Me," a mellow song that never gets maudlin.

Then there's the Appalachian pop rocker "Ellie," with its sweet harmonies and fancy flatpicking, and "You Drove Away," a beautiful acoustic guitar-based ballad about sad memories and broken hearts.

It shouldn't be a big surprise that Chandler's solo debut is so strong. His music has depth because his life experiences have been rich and varied. A Furman graduate, he taught school in Austria, played for a while on the Austin, Texas music scene and he's studied creative writing in Gainesville, Fla., and Columbia. As a member of the band Big Brown Bowl, Chandler made considerable contributions to the fine 1996 CD "Just Like You Left Us," and he's joined on "Talking Out the Fire" by Larry Hoskinson, Matt Morgan, Kevin Latham and Jeff Hook, all former members of a hot Upstate band, Seconds Flat.

"Talking Out the Fire" is one of the finest singer-songwriter records this year, and I hope there are many more songs where these came from. - The State -- Columbia, S.C.

by Mike Miller

appeared in The State, Columbia, SC, December 1999

It's been a busy year on the South Carolina pop scene, although not in the high-profile sense of recent years. Edwin McCain's "Messenger" is the year's biggest release, but fine records have been delivered by the Blue Dogs, 25 Ft. Stanly, Live Bait and Six Ten Split. Still to come are new discs from Isabelle's Gift and the Soul Mites.

Here's a look at three fine discs that are buzzing under the radar screen. All three deserve wider recognitions, especially the exceptional solo record from Greenville's Jef Chandler.

Bending the Rules-

The ingredients of Jef Chandler's music might go into the blender like tried-and-true country rock conventions -- assorted guitars, lap steel and mandolin floavors and sweet harmonies. But what comes out is far from conventional.

With his eclectic blend of pop, rock, folk and mountian music, Chandler has tapped into a new vein in the alt-country mine shaft, one that veers away from predictable, three-chord compositions and explores fresh ways to make melodies memorable.

Chandler is first and foremost a songwriter, and the 10 tunes on "Talking Out the Fire" (1F Records) are exquisite stories told with a clarity of insight and a wry sense of humor. "Freedom" finds a languid, Creedence-like groove and takes an optimistic approach to the tear-jerker break-up song. A cool sax solo from Simeon Kuic underscores the glee when Chandler sings, "I'm going out tonight and toast freedom at the bar."

"Moonwriting" starts out slowly, then breaks into a power chord-powered chorus that acts something like Southern rock's answer to Radiohead's "Creep." After building to a huge finish of intertwining electric guitars and pounding drums, it slides seductively back to an acoustic close.

These two tunes demonstrate Chandler's versatility and verve. But just when you think you've got a handle on his Miracle Legion-meets-Green on Red country rock style, he drops something totally unexpected -- such as the light-hearted vibe of "Caught Up," a jazzy little tune that's more Van Dyke Parks than Squirrel Nut Zippers. Or the country ballad "Answer Me," a mellow song that never gets maudlin.

Then there's the Appalachian pop rocker "Ellie," with its sweet harmonies and fancy flatpicking, and "You Drove Away," a beautiful acoustic guitar-based ballad about sad memories and broken hearts.

It shouldn't be a big surprise that Chandler's solo debut is so strong. His music has depth because his life experiences have been rich and varied. A Furman graduate, he taught school in Austria, played for a while on the Austin, Texas music scene and he's studied creative writing in Gainesville, Fla., and Columbia. As a member of the band Big Brown Bowl, Chandler made considerable contributions to the fine 1996 CD "Just Like You Left Us," and he's joined on "Talking Out the Fire" by Larry Hoskinson, Matt Morgan, Kevin Latham and Jeff Hook, all former members of a hot Upstate band, Seconds Flat.

"Talking Out the Fire" is one of the finest singer-songwriter records this year, and I hope there are many more songs where these came from. - The State -- Columbia, S.C.

Jef Chandler finds swing in his step

by Dan Armonaitis

appeared in Spartanburg Herald Journal, May 10, 2012

Jef Chandler grew up in Simpsonville and has been a fixture on the Upstate music scene since the mid-1990s, when he played in an acclaimed acoustic band called Big Brown Bowl.
Inspired by his older brother's “vast record collection” and by the musicianship of his two grandfathers, Chandler got interested in music at a young age. He took piano lessons starting at age 7 and got his first guitar when he was 12 years old.
A graduate of Furman University, Chandler has grown into one of the area's most respected singer-songwriters with an expansive catalog of heartfelt tunes that draw from a wide range of folk, country, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll influences.
Chandler released his debut album, “Talking Out the Fire,” in 1999 and has since released two more solo albums while also collaborating with some of the area's finest musicians.
Chandler is now a member of the Bad Popes, a Greenville-based quintet rounded out by Mike Bagwell on pedal steel, Joe Cash on drums, Chris Garrett on bass and Charles Hedgepath on guitar.
The Bad Popes, whose Americana-flavored sound is rooted in traditional country and Western swing, recently released their sophomore album, “Town & Country.” The band will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cellar Club in Spartanburg.
Question: As a songwriter, what do you believe is the most important thing every good song should have?
Answer: A good melody. That, and interesting lyrics, are the two main ingredients for me.
Q: Having shared many of the songwriting credits with the Bad Popes, what are the benefits of co-writing?
A: You get to do things that you wouldn't normally do. Plus, it helps expand your own vocabulary as a writer, lyrically, and as a musician. For instance, Mike, the pedal steel player, will come up with chord progressions that I wouldn't come up with.
Q: What makes the Bad Popes such a unique musical experience?
A: Around here, I don't think a lot of people are doing Western swing-type of songs. And, also, I like the way that Mike Bagwell and Charles Hedegepath play off each other with (instrumental) leads. You're not getting one voice; you're getting two voices with the leads.
Q: What impresses you about the Upstate music scene?
A: Just the incredible amount of good players here — good guitar players, good bass players, good drummers, everything. We have a lot of musicians in this area who are phenomenal, playing (on the level of) what you'd find in Nashville or some other large city. - The Spartanburg Herald Journal

Jef Chandler Sings Snapshots of Southern life

by Vincent Harris

appeared in Greenville Journal, December 21, 2012

Singer/guitarist Jef Chandler writes addictively melodic songs that work their way into the listener's subconscious before he even realizes it.
Chandler's lyrics are often snapshot-style views of the Southern way of life, delivered in an unassuming, here-goes-nothing vocal style that makes his songwriting skill all the more endearing. Chandler plays constantly around the Upstate, both on his own and with The Bad Popes, a local supergroup of sorts that also includes guitarist Charles Hedgepath and pedal-steel player Mike Bagwell.
Chandler's musical roots stretch back to his preteen years.
"I started taking piano lessons when I was about seven," Chandler says, "and that's when I started writing songs. But I guess I just thought guitar was cooler when I hit puberty, so I asked for a guitar for Christmas when I was 12. I played in some little bands in middle school and high school. I still have some old tapes of those days, and I'll listen to them and grin. It was an honest effort, anyway."
In my conversation with Chandler, the thing I found most fascinating was the perfect storm of influences around him that led him to a career in music.
"My older brother had this huge record collection," Chandler says, "and he was into all kinds of music. Any kind of money he had, he'd buy records. And he bought everything from Motown to groups like Uriah Heep or Black Sabbath. He was all over the place."
But family wasn't the only thing that had an influence on Chandler's musical development. During his formative years, FM radio was still a free-form arena.
"Back in the '70s, they had a radio station called WQOK, and WQOK played everything. So you had this radio station that would seamlessly go from Motown and James Brown to heavy metal to Marshall Tucker. I grew up in an era where everything wasn't so compartmentalized."
Chandler says that there were several key musicians that directly influenced him.
"Elvis Costello blew my mind when I first heard his stuff," he says. "I'd never heard anything like that before. And when I started playing guitar, I got into Jimi Hendrix, because everybody said he was the best. But the first group that I ever really liked was Three Dog Night. Of course, they didn't write their own songs, but they had a lot of great people writing songs for them, like Hoyt Axton and John Hiatt. I still cover some of those old Three Dog Night songs to this day."
Chandler discovered a more recent influence on his writing when he began collaborating with fellow Bad Pope Charles Hedgepath.
"When I work with Charles, we build songs together, essentially. I really enjoy co-writing songs with people, because it gives you another perspective. Someone else's ear might hear something that yours doesn't. There's that element of being surprised."
Chandler remembers "one song that Charles and I wrote called 'Wrong Turn,' where I pretty much had the whole song, and Charles just came up with this part that sounded nothing like the rest of the song. But it makes this nice little segment in the middle of the song, and it expands the song into something bigger that it was. And I like that. You can get in a rut or get stuck writing a song, and somebody else will have an idea, and the song has new life."
Chandler will be playing with The Bad Popes at The Handlebar on Dec. 21 as part of The Work's annual Christmas Jam, and at Smiley's Acoustic Cafe on Dec. 29. - The Greenville Journal

Jef Chandler Sings Snapshots of Southern life

by Vincent Harris

appeared in Greenville Journal, December 21, 2012

Singer/guitarist Jef Chandler writes addictively melodic songs that work their way into the listener's subconscious before he even realizes it.
Chandler's lyrics are often snapshot-style views of the Southern way of life, delivered in an unassuming, here-goes-nothing vocal style that makes his songwriting skill all the more endearing. Chandler plays constantly around the Upstate, both on his own and with The Bad Popes, a local supergroup of sorts that also includes guitarist Charles Hedgepath and pedal-steel player Mike Bagwell.
Chandler's musical roots stretch back to his preteen years.
"I started taking piano lessons when I was about seven," Chandler says, "and that's when I started writing songs. But I guess I just thought guitar was cooler when I hit puberty, so I asked for a guitar for Christmas when I was 12. I played in some little bands in middle school and high school. I still have some old tapes of those days, and I'll listen to them and grin. It was an honest effort, anyway."
In my conversation with Chandler, the thing I found most fascinating was the perfect storm of influences around him that led him to a career in music.
"My older brother had this huge record collection," Chandler says, "and he was into all kinds of music. Any kind of money he had, he'd buy records. And he bought everything from Motown to groups like Uriah Heep or Black Sabbath. He was all over the place."
But family wasn't the only thing that had an influence on Chandler's musical development. During his formative years, FM radio was still a free-form arena.
"Back in the '70s, they had a radio station called WQOK, and WQOK played everything. So you had this radio station that would seamlessly go from Motown and James Brown to heavy metal to Marshall Tucker. I grew up in an era where everything wasn't so compartmentalized."
Chandler says that there were several key musicians that directly influenced him.
"Elvis Costello blew my mind when I first heard his stuff," he says. "I'd never heard anything like that before. And when I started playing guitar, I got into Jimi Hendrix, because everybody said he was the best. But the first group that I ever really liked was Three Dog Night. Of course, they didn't write their own songs, but they had a lot of great people writing songs for them, like Hoyt Axton and John Hiatt. I still cover some of those old Three Dog Night songs to this day."
Chandler discovered a more recent influence on his writing when he began collaborating with fellow Bad Pope Charles Hedgepath.
"When I work with Charles, we build songs together, essentially. I really enjoy co-writing songs with people, because it gives you another perspective. Someone else's ear might hear something that yours doesn't. There's that element of being surprised."
Chandler remembers "one song that Charles and I wrote called 'Wrong Turn,' where I pretty much had the whole song, and Charles just came up with this part that sounded nothing like the rest of the song. But it makes this nice little segment in the middle of the song, and it expands the song into something bigger that it was. And I like that. You can get in a rut or get stuck writing a song, and somebody else will have an idea, and the song has new life."
Chandler will be playing with The Bad Popes at The Handlebar on Dec. 21 as part of The Work's annual Christmas Jam, and at Smiley's Acoustic Cafe on Dec. 29. - The Greenville Journal

The Highwayman

by James Nichols

appeared in MetroBeat, Feb. 15, 2005

Acclaimed Greenville singer-songwriter Jef Chandler recently completed his second full length album. Entitled Everything Good is on the Highway, the disc is chock full of Chandler's trademark eclecticism, veering from acoustic driven country and bluegrass to spirituals to amplified rock and lots of places in between. The new song cycle has been bending lots of ears, including those of WNCW, which has been playing various selections. Recorded over a four year period, the follow up to his 1999 solo debut Talking Out The Fire was a labor of love for the songwriter, but he characteristically emphasizes and praises the contributions of his friends and collaborators.

"I'm proud of it," Chandler says of the new record. "It's a reflection of the people I've played with over those years. I'm happy I was able to play with such talented people." This pool of musicians has grown over the years, and includes many prominent members of the Upstate music scene. Charles Hedgepath and Mark Dye, (members of Greenville's most popular jam-band the Work) for instance, are some of Chandler's biggest advocates.

Dye and Chandler have been acquainted with each other for about 15 years. "I started playing with him in the fall of 2000," says Dye, "but we'd known each other a while before that." Dye's assessment of his attraction to Chandler's music is simple. "I gravitate to songwriters. 'Ellie,' from his first album, has an odd time signature. 'Smashed Penny Earrings' is a story of literally taking some smashed penny earrings down to the jockey lot to sell. He has a strong sense of lyricism."

Dye played electric bass on the new set. He notes that his ongoing gig with Chandler predates his current run with the Work. "The Work has already done one of his songs," Dye says. "We enjoy his stuff so much we'll probably incorporate another into our repertoire."

Steel guitarist Mike Bagwell shares Mark Dye's admiration for Chandler. "'Jordan' is a beautiful song," Bagwell enthuses. "I just love his songs. Lyrically and melodically they're great. His songs are so logical, from a player's standpoint. Not simple but easy to play." Bagwell also expresses awe at the prolific nature of Chandler's writing, noting that most times they get together for rehearsal, he has new tunes written. "He writes all the time. I think he has to write. He's just got so many songs, it's amazing." John Atkins concurs. "He always has like five new tunes," the guitar player states. "Jef is such a good writer. He writes in binges."

"I try to write a melody first and then work out a chord structure, Chandler reveals. "Lyrics are usually last. They're just whatever I'm thinking about." This comes as something of a surprise from a Furman graduate with a degree in English. But he goes on to note that "A lot of people say my forte is lyrics." Indeed, Chandler's literacy, experience and unique outlook definitely affect his lyric writing. "I love to read and write," he asserts, " and I minored in Foreign Languages."

Chandler's enchantment with words led him to Europe after graduation. "I taught English in Innsbruck, Austria," he states. Although he had been writing songs since he was a teenager, Chandler really started to come into his own while abroad. "I lived over there," he recalls. "I was paid by the Austrian government. I traveled around to Italy, Holland, Ireland and England on weekend excursions." Time spent overseas without a comfortable base of family and old friends gave Chandler the solitude he needed to develop as a songwriter. "I had a lot of time to myself," he says. "I bought a guitar, and that kept me company a lot. I started writing songs."

His restlessness didn't end upon repatriation, however. After his year in Europe, Chandler "bopped around" various places in the United States, including Austin, Texas. "It was cool to be in Austin, a music city. It whetted my appetite to get more involved in the music business." He finally made his way back to Greenville, and has been playing music professionally for about 11 years, the last 6 of which he has spent playing throughout the southeast.

It is in these past few years that Chandler has steadily made his presence known on the scene. In the mid-'90s, he played guitar in Big Brown Bowl, an acoustic band. More recently, he fleetingly added his electric guitar-work and vocals to Greenville melody merchants the Lackies. And he's played tons of shows both solo and with the backing of his ever widening circle of friends.

Many of these friends will join Jef Chandler this Saturday at the Bohemian Café this Saturday. Although Everything Good is on the Highway is already available at local record stores and on Chandler's website (www.jefchandler.com), this two hour show will be the official CD release party. The all acoustic performance -featuring friends Mike Bagwell, Chris Garrett, Charles Hedgepath, Mark Dye, - metro beat

The Highwayman

by James Nichols

appeared in MetroBeat, Feb. 15, 2005

Acclaimed Greenville singer-songwriter Jef Chandler recently completed his second full length album. Entitled Everything Good is on the Highway, the disc is chock full of Chandler's trademark eclecticism, veering from acoustic driven country and bluegrass to spirituals to amplified rock and lots of places in between. The new song cycle has been bending lots of ears, including those of WNCW, which has been playing various selections. Recorded over a four year period, the follow up to his 1999 solo debut Talking Out The Fire was a labor of love for the songwriter, but he characteristically emphasizes and praises the contributions of his friends and collaborators.

"I'm proud of it," Chandler says of the new record. "It's a reflection of the people I've played with over those years. I'm happy I was able to play with such talented people." This pool of musicians has grown over the years, and includes many prominent members of the Upstate music scene. Charles Hedgepath and Mark Dye, (members of Greenville's most popular jam-band the Work) for instance, are some of Chandler's biggest advocates.

Dye and Chandler have been acquainted with each other for about 15 years. "I started playing with him in the fall of 2000," says Dye, "but we'd known each other a while before that." Dye's assessment of his attraction to Chandler's music is simple. "I gravitate to songwriters. 'Ellie,' from his first album, has an odd time signature. 'Smashed Penny Earrings' is a story of literally taking some smashed penny earrings down to the jockey lot to sell. He has a strong sense of lyricism."

Dye played electric bass on the new set. He notes that his ongoing gig with Chandler predates his current run with the Work. "The Work has already done one of his songs," Dye says. "We enjoy his stuff so much we'll probably incorporate another into our repertoire."

Steel guitarist Mike Bagwell shares Mark Dye's admiration for Chandler. "'Jordan' is a beautiful song," Bagwell enthuses. "I just love his songs. Lyrically and melodically they're great. His songs are so logical, from a player's standpoint. Not simple but easy to play." Bagwell also expresses awe at the prolific nature of Chandler's writing, noting that most times they get together for rehearsal, he has new tunes written. "He writes all the time. I think he has to write. He's just got so many songs, it's amazing." John Atkins concurs. "He always has like five new tunes," the guitar player states. "Jef is such a good writer. He writes in binges."

"I try to write a melody first and then work out a chord structure, Chandler reveals. "Lyrics are usually last. They're just whatever I'm thinking about." This comes as something of a surprise from a Furman graduate with a degree in English. But he goes on to note that "A lot of people say my forte is lyrics." Indeed, Chandler's literacy, experience and unique outlook definitely affect his lyric writing. "I love to read and write," he asserts, " and I minored in Foreign Languages."

Chandler's enchantment with words led him to Europe after graduation. "I taught English in Innsbruck, Austria," he states. Although he had been writing songs since he was a teenager, Chandler really started to come into his own while abroad. "I lived over there," he recalls. "I was paid by the Austrian government. I traveled around to Italy, Holland, Ireland and England on weekend excursions." Time spent overseas without a comfortable base of family and old friends gave Chandler the solitude he needed to develop as a songwriter. "I had a lot of time to myself," he says. "I bought a guitar, and that kept me company a lot. I started writing songs."

His restlessness didn't end upon repatriation, however. After his year in Europe, Chandler "bopped around" various places in the United States, including Austin, Texas. "It was cool to be in Austin, a music city. It whetted my appetite to get more involved in the music business." He finally made his way back to Greenville, and has been playing music professionally for about 11 years, the last 6 of which he has spent playing throughout the southeast.

It is in these past few years that Chandler has steadily made his presence known on the scene. In the mid-'90s, he played guitar in Big Brown Bowl, an acoustic band. More recently, he fleetingly added his electric guitar-work and vocals to Greenville melody merchants the Lackies. And he's played tons of shows both solo and with the backing of his ever widening circle of friends.

Many of these friends will join Jef Chandler this Saturday at the Bohemian Café this Saturday. Although Everything Good is on the Highway is already available at local record stores and on Chandler's website (www.jefchandler.com), this two hour show will be the official CD release party. The all acoustic performance -featuring friends Mike Bagwell, Chris Garrett, Charles Hedgepath, Mark Dye, - metro beat