BIO / PRESS
photo by Chandler Mays
Jungol is the musical vehicle of brothers Josh and Graham Yoder, child hood friend Andres Miller and newest member Mark Garretson. The music they create hangs in the territory of electronic experimental rock, being sometimes moody and ethereal and sometimes loud and complex.
“Much of the respect for Jungol by the Atlanta music community comes from the sheer originality of their songwriting, as well as their impressive technically skilled experimental style.” Performer Magazine
Brothers, and founding members Josh and Graham met Andres in the summer of 1997 and bonded musically from the beginning. Together, they have inhabited Atlanta’s rock scene with various ensembles since their high school years. Mark Garretson is the newest member of Jungol, joining in May of 2012. Former drummer Jason Monseur, joined the brothers from 2003 to 2012. In 2005 Andres Miller went on hiatus and multi-instrumentalist, Zack Varner, joined the group from 2005 to 2009. Andres began to reappear more frequently as a musical guest at Jungol’s Atlanta shows during 2010 and 2011, which has led to the eventual reunion. They’ve toured the southeast relentlessly since forming as a group, and have since expanded nationally with tours up the east coast as well as out west.
After their debut LP received glowing reviews, the band released Places, a 6 song EP unveiled in February 2009, which showcased Jungol’s renewed musical vision consisting of more concise songs with prominent vocals. Places also demonstrated their passion for creating new sounds through the use of samplers, synths, glockenspiel, field recordings and string arrangements. Local blog Ohm Park listed Places as one of the top 10 Atlanta albums released in 2009.
Jungol hasn’t merely captured the attention of critics – on April 30 2010, the band performed before their first sold-out crowd at the Earl in Atlanta GA for the release of their latest full-length album, Over the Sun and Under the Radar. The album marked Jungol’s first effort as a 3-piece and has been lauded by fans and critics alike. The use of unconventional synth sounds and strong vocal melodies drives the songs on OTSAUTR. Jungol followed up the release with a tour up the eastern seaboard before heading back to Atlanta to begin work on new material.
“Over the Sun and Under the Radar presents the refined sound resulting from the immense growth and exploding creativity of a band that has been relentless on Atlanta’s music scene.” The Silver Tongue
In 2011 Jungol stayed busy as usual by putting their efforts into several new releases including a new single called Who’s In Bed as well as a full length concert DVD filmed at the Earl in 2010. They toured part of the year, sharing runs with The Winter Sounds, Today the Moon Tomorrow the Sun and The Zou. Several unique shows took place in their hometown of Atlanta including opening for Echo and the Bunnymen, opening for Free Moral Agents (Featuring Ikey Owens from the Mars Volta) and an acoustic opening set before Gogol Bordello’s show at Center Stage. Jungol’s headlining local concerts continue to be explosive sellout events, dressed with LED lights, theatrics and a crowd of singing fans reluctant to stand still.
Graham’s solo project has also been busy over the last year and a half. Dark Room has shared the stage with several great artists including Baths, Braids, Astronautalis and POLIÇA. Both Jungol and Dark Room also attended and performed at the 2012 SXSW in Austin TX.
In March of 2012 Jungol released a very special 16 minute piece of music. Dust: A Collection of Forgotten Sounds is a Jungol time capsule of sorts. The bulk of this material was created in the basement of Andres’ parent’s house between 2001 and 2003. At that time they found themselves digging a little deeper into ambient music and began creating loops and layering soundscapes using mostly guitars and a cheap Casio keyboard. In January of 2012 these sounds were rediscovered, remastered and deemed ready for some fresh ears. The guys are currently continuing their work on the next full-length Jungol album as well as a coinciding video project.
SOME THINGS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID
” There are bands that find their niche in the local music scene, and then there are bands that create one of their own. Jungol is an example of the latter, having forged their own path in Atlanta and beyond.”
-Performer Magazine 2010 (Featured Band June 2010)
“The album stays true to Jungol’s indefinable experimental path…thriving tribal beats, soaring guitar riffs, electro pop power and skyrocketing and passionate vocals that will no doubt carry Jungol and Over the Sun and Under the Radar to the glory that they both undoubtedly deserve. ”
-Beatlanta (on OTSAUTR)
“This is pop, catchy and hook-heavy, masquerading as artful, angular prog, and it’s simply brilliant. Few Atlanta records this year sounded this polished… or thrilling.”
-Latest Disgrace 2011 (Top 10 Best Atlanta Albums of 2010)
“Jungol/ Best Local Experimental Music Act/Runner Up/Reader’s Pick”
-Creative Loafing best of 2010
“They have found a way to distill all of their knowledge, built upon years and years of sonic experimentation, into sharply focused pop with an uncompromising quantity of artistic depth.”
-Ohmpark 2010 (On OTSAUTR)
“Over the Sun and Under the Radar”
-Ohmpark – Best 50 ATL albums of 2010
“Places”
-Ohmpark – Best 20 ATL albums of 2009