Jars of Clay

== Band history ==

[[Dan Haseltine]], [[Stephen Mason (musician)|Steve Mason]], [[Charlie Lowell]] and [[Matt Bronleewe]] formed Jars of Clay at [[Greenville College]], in [[Greenville, Illinois]] in the early 1990s.<ref name="making the grade"/> [[Charlie Lowell]] first met [[Dan Haseltine]] after noticing that he was wearing a [[Toad the Wet Sprocket]] shirt. Pursuing a career in music together was not necessarily their original goal; some of the first songs they wrote together were for music and recording classes they were taking at the time.<ref name="making the grade"/> Their second guitarist [[Matt Odmark]] joined some time later.  While in college playing together at local coffee houses, Jars gained a reputation for their original arrangement of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" which had been adapted to the tune of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]'s "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

In 1994, the band submitted a demo to a talent competition run by the [[Gospel Music Association]] and were selected as finalists.<ref name="making the grade"/> They traveled to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] to perform and won the contest.<ref name="making the grade"/> Back in Greenville, they self-released a limited-run of the same demo, ''Frail'', after their [[Frail (Jars of Clay song)|song of the same name]]. The buzz from their performance in Nashville and the demo's popularity resulted in offers from record labels, so the band decided to drop school and move to Nashville. At this time, Bronleewe left the band to finish school and settle down with his fiancée. He was replaced with [[Matthew Odmark|Matt Odmark]], Lowell's childhood friend and fellow [[McQuaid Jesuit High School]] alum.

[[File:Jarsofclay.jpg|left|thumb|Jars of Clay performing at [[The University of Texas at Austin]]]]

The band signed with [[Essential Records (Christian)|Essential Records]] and started recording their first full-length studio album, ''[[Jars of Clay (album)|Jars of Clay]]''. [[Adrian Belew]], of [[progressive rock]] band [[King Crimson]], heard the band and offered to produce, leading to him producing two songs: "Liquid" and "[[Flood (Jars of Clay song)|Flood]]".<ref>{{cite web |title= Jars of Clay Credits| url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r224576|pure_url=yes}} | access-date= March 23, 2008}}</ref><ref name="other side">Jars of Clay. (2005). The Other Side of Lightning in a Bottle. [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=87021915&s=143441 iTunes Originals - Jars of Clay] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607053852/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=87021915&s=143441 |date=June 7, 2011 }}. [AAC Audio]. Essential Records.</ref> The band's self-titled debut released in 1995. When the single "Flood" began to climb the charts on mainstream radio stations, [[Silvertone Records (1980)|Silvertone Records]] (Essential's parent company) started to heavily promote the song, turning it into one of the biggest mainstream hits ever by a band on a Christian label.<ref name="other side"/> The album has since reached multi-platinum certification according to the [[RIAA]].<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com |title=RIAA.com |publisher=RIAA.com |access-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref> "Flood" peaked at No.&nbsp;37 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and No.&nbsp;12 on the [[Modern Rock Tracks|''Billboard'' Modern Rock]] chart, and was the band's only secular radio hit.

The band toured in support of other Christian acts, such as [[PFR (band)|PFR]], and with mainstream acts like [[Matchbox Twenty]], [[Duncan Sheik]], and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]. This resulted in a small [[backlash (sociology)|backlash]] from some Christian groups.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lutes | first=Chris |title= Faith Under Fire| url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/7c5/7c5016.html | access-date= March 23, 2008}}</ref>

The band released ''[[Drummer Boy (EP)|Drummer Boy]]'', a Christmas EP entitled, at the end of 1995. The EP was re-released, on Silvertone Records, in 1997 with a slightly different track listing. The band's second album, ''[[Much Afraid]]'', produced by [[Stephen Lipson]] was also released in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title= Much Afraid Credits| url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r277810|pure_url=yes}} | access-date= March 23, 2008}}</ref> The album sold well and like its predecessor, enjoyed crossover success.<ref name="90s">{{cite book |last1=Harrison |first1=Thomas |title=Music of the 1990s |date=2011 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-0-313-37942-0 |page= 141 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=989rmMpIgSkC&pg=PA141 }}</ref> The album went on to earn a [[Grammy]] for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album".<ref name="the grammy awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=jars%20of%20clay&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1 |title=The Grammy Awards |access-date=March 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229034747/https://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=Jars%20of%20Clay&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1 |archive-date=February 29, 2008 }}</ref> The album has since earned [[Platinum album|platinum]] certification by the RIAA.<ref name="riaa"/> They released two music videos for this album for the songs "[[Crazy Times]]" and "[[Five Candles (You Were There)]]". 

In 1999, Jars of Clay released their third album, ''[[If I Left the Zoo]]'', which was produced by [[Dennis Herring]].<ref>{{cite web |title= If I Left the Zoo Credits| url= {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r443860|pure_url=yes}} | access-date= March 23, 2008}}</ref> The record was their third to crossover into the mainstream,<ref name="90s"></ref> and it earned the band their second Grammy award.<ref name="the grammy awards"/> It was during this time that touring drummer Scott Savage left the band's touring group to play for [[Jaci Velasquez]] and was replaced by Joe Porter. Lead radio single, "[[Unforgetful You]]", was also featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture ''[[Drive Me Crazy]]''.<ref>Jars of Clay. (1999). Unforgetful You. [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001O2UF/ Drive Me Crazy]. [CD]. Jive.</ref> "Collide" was also featured on the motion picture "Hometown Legend". Upon the release of ''If I Left the Zoo'' they also released ''Front Yard Luge'' and after a year ''[[The White Elephant Sessions]]''. ''If I Left the Zoo'' so far has the most singles released by Jars of Clay.

In 2001, the four members of the band received honorary degrees at [[Greenville College]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jars of Clay Receive Honorary Diplomas |url=http://www.caaccm.com/artists/artist_news.asp?display=article&artist_id=10&id=99&printer=1 |access-date=March 22, 2008 }} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Only three of them, Haseltine, Lowell, and Mason, had studied at the school before dropping out in 1994 to move to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. Odmark still received an honorary degree, despite having attended the University of Rochester in upstate New York.<ref>Jars of Clay. (2005). We Were Becoming One With the Mud. [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=87021915&s=143441 iTunes Originals - Jars of Clay] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607053852/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=87021915&s=143441 |date=June 7, 2011 }}. [AAC Audio]. Essential Records.</ref>

In 2002, the band self-produced and released their fourth album, ''[[The Eleventh Hour (Jars of Clay album)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', which earned them a [[Grammy]] award for the third album in a row.<ref name="the grammy awards"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Jars of Clay - Jars of Clay Intimately Involved in the Eleventh Hour |url=http://ccm.caa.com/artists/artist_news.asp?display=article&artist_id=10&id=205&printer=0 |access-date=March 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203002227/http://www.acponline.org/favicon.ico |archive-date= February 3, 2011 }}</ref> The album relied on studio musicians and the band's touring musicians to fill in for the band's lack of drummer and bass player. Concerts from the subsequent "Eleventh Hour Tour" were recorded for later projects, including the release of a live concert DVD, [[11Live: Jars of Clay in Concert]].

The double-disc ''[[Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage]]'' features an acoustic disc and a live disc. The acoustic disc consisted of reworked and rearranged fan favorites, two ''The Eleventh Hour'' [[b-side]]s, and a cover of [[Adam Again]]'s "Dig".<ref>{{cite web|title=Jars of Clay - Furthermore-From the Studio: From the Stage |url=http://ccm.caa.com/artists/artist_news.asp?display=article&artist_id=10&id=250&printer=0 |access-date=March 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418094108/http://www.wvxu.org/images/bluesquares_1.gif |archive-date= April 18, 2009 }}</ref> The latter was actually intended for a tribute album for [[Gene Eugene]], who had died recently. The live disc features a recent concert recording that include songs from throughout the band's career.

The band continued the acoustic and organic approach that was featured on ''Furthermore'' for their fifth studio album entitled ''[[Who We Are Instead]]'', which released on November 4, 2003. On the album, the band revisited various styles they had used previously, as well as experimenting with new influences, such as gospel, hymns, and [[Nickel Creek]]'s "newgrass" style.

In early 2005, the band released ''[[Redemption Songs]]'', a collection of hymns and traditional songs with new melodies and rearranged the music. "[[God Will Lift Up Your Head]]", reworked as an acoustic rocker, was a hit for the band on Christian radio. They also covered five hymns from the ''[[Indelible Grace]]'' CD series (a series which originated from the work of [[Reformed University Fellowship]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tollbooth.org/2005/reviews/joc.html|title=Redemption Songs|author=Wray, Burton|date=September 10, 2005}}</ref>

Their next album, ''[[Good Monsters]]'', was released on September 5, 2006 and was labeled by Jars of Clay "their first ever rock record".<ref>{{cite web |title= Jars of Clay 2006 Interview, "Good Monsters" | url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/JarsOfClay2006.asp | access-date= March 22, 2008}}</ref> In the September 2006 edition of ''[[CCM Magazine]]'', the band credited fellow artist [[Ashley Cleveland]] with inspiring the improvisational sound of the album.<ref>{{cite web |title= Big Monster on Campus| url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/search/11534414/ | access-date= March 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>Jars of Clay. (2005). A Modern Day Hymn. [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=87021915&s=143441 iTunes Originals - Jars of Clay] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607053852/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=87021915&s=143441 |date=June 7, 2011 }}. [AAC Audio]. Essential Records.</ref> The magazine called it "the most profound album the Christian music community has released in years".

On September 4, 2007, two albums from the band were released simultaneously. The first was a mainstream release of ''[[Live Monsters (EP)|Live Monsters]]'', an EP of live concert recordings of songs, originally recorded for ''Good Monsters'' and that had been previously released through the [[iTunes Store]] and the official Jars of Clay online store. The second release, through Essential/[[Legacy Recordings|Legacy]], was a [[greatest hits album]], ''[[The Essential Jars of Clay]]''. On April 1, 2008, Essential Records released the band's third greatest hits album, the second in that year, ''[[Greatest Hits (Jars of Clay album)|Greatest Hits]]''. Included was the new song "Love is the Protest".

In March 2007, the band announced at a concert in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], that they were no longer on Essential Records and would now be releasing music independently. Later, press releases announced the name of their label as [[Gray Matters (Music Label)|Gray Matters]], which would be a partnership with [[Nettwerk Music Group]].<ref>{{cite web| last=Moring| first= Mark |title= Jars of Yule| url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2007/jarsofclay-1207.html | access-date= March 22, 2008}}</ref> Along with the announcement of their new label, the band mentioned that they are planning to record the soundtrack to [[Honoring a Father's Dream: Sons of Lwala]], a documentary about Milton and Fred Ochieng' - brothers from the African village training to be doctors in the States, working to build a clinic in their home town.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051514/jars-of-clay-launching-own-label-with-nettwerk|title=Jars of Clay Launching Own Label With Nettwerk|magazine=Billboard.com|date=June 15, 2007|author=Price, Deborah Evans}}</ref> The band's first release through Gray Matters was a full-length Christmas album, ''[[Christmas Songs (Jars of Clay album)|Christmas Songs]]'', on October 16, 2007. On July 29, 2008, Gray Matters Records released ''[[Closer (Jars of Clay EP)|Closer EP]]'' exclusively through online digital music stores. It was subsequently released on CD on August 19, 2008 and included reworked versions of "Flood", called "Flood (New Rain)", and "Love Song For a Savior ('08)" from their debut album. 

The band's tenth studio album, ''[[The Long Fall Back to Earth]]'', was released on April 21, 2009. and contained 14 songs, including "Closer" and "Safe to Land", from the ''Closer EP'', and is influenced by 80s music, specifically [[Tears for Fears]] and [[The Cure]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081211/ENTERTAINMENT0301/312119937 |title=Love Coming Down |author=Dave Richards |access-date=January 21, 2009 |newspaper=Erie Times-News |date=December 11, 2008 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607010713/http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081211/ENTERTAINMENT0301/312119937 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''The Long Fall Back to Earth'' debuted at No.&nbsp;29 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] mainstream charts, which was Jars of Clay's highest debut since ''The Eleventh Hour'' which debuted at No.&nbsp;28 in 2002.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jars of clay|chart=Billboard 200}} |title=Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref> The second single off the album is "Heaven."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/10/29.JFH%20MORNING%20NEWS%20SHORTS%20FOR%20THURSDAY%20OCTOBER%2029%202009.asp |title=Music News, September 2009: JFH MORNING NEWS SHORTS FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 29, 2009 |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |date=October 29, 2009 |access-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref> The song "Hero" was featured on a trailer for NBC's ''[[Kings (American TV series)|Kings]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5c1Vr1fcZI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/u5c1Vr1fcZI| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=YouTube - NBC's TV show "Kings" trailer feat. JARS OF CLAY's song "Hero" | website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=April 15, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''The Long Fall Back to Earth'' was nominated for the Grammy to the "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album", though they didn't win in the category.

''[[The Shelter (album)|The Shelter]]'' was released October 5, 2010 and features eleven tracks. During their promotion for the album, the band streamed the entire album for a few days before its release on their website. In early 2011 they toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by [[MercyMe]].<ref>{{cite news|title=MercyMe, Jars of Clay part of The Rock and Worship Road Show in Sioux City|url=http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110131/ENT/110131012/MercyMe-Jars-Clay-part-Rock-Worship-Road-Show-Sioux-City|access-date=February 5, 2011|newspaper=[[Argus Leader]]|date=January 30, 2011}} {{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In July 2012, the band traveled to [[Portland, Oregon]], to begin recording ''[[Inland (Jars of Clay album)|Inland]]'' at [[Flora Recording & Playback]], a music studio owned and operated by [[Tucker Martine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jarsofclay.com/news/2012/7/18/jarlandia.html |title=Jarlandia |access-date=June 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724080804/https://www.jarsofclay.com/news/2012/7/18/jarlandia.html |archive-date=July 24, 2013 }}</ref> The new album was released on August 27, 2013 and features twelve tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/aYeVMNr9F-/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/aYeVMNr9F- |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=instajars on Instagram|access-date=June 17, 2013}}{{cbignore}} </ref> On March 18, 2013, the band released an exclusive track, "Love in Hard Times", that could only be acquired with the purchase of their EP ''Under the Weather (Live in Sellersville, PA)'' directly from their website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jarsofclay.com/news/2013/3/15/stageit-20-years-and-new-live-ep.html |title=StageIt, 20 Years and New Live EP |access-date=June 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518035251/https://www.jarsofclay.com/news/2013/3/15/stageit-20-years-and-new-live-ep.html |archive-date=May 18, 2013 }}</ref> On June 17, 2013, the band released a free download of the song "Inland" through ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s website.<ref>{{cite news|title='Inland' by Jars of Clay - Free MP3|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inland-by-jars-of-clay-free-mp3-20130617|access-date=June 17, 2013|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=June 17, 2013|archive-date=June 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620103124/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inland-by-jars-of-clay-free-mp3-20130617|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first single off of the album, "After the Fight", was released on June 18.<ref>{{cite news|title=First Single from INLAND available on iTUNES! |url=http://www.jarsofclay.com/news/2013/6/18/first-single-from-inland-available-on-itunes.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624180448/http://www.jarsofclay.com/news/2013/6/18/first-single-from-inland-available-on-itunes.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=June 19, 2013 }}</ref>

The group's activities have been limited in recent years (as of 2022), each band member focusing on individual pursuits, but they continue to release music and perform sporadically. They collaborated with pop group [[SHEL]], performing a Christmas concert in Nashville that led to a 6-song Christmas-themed EP titled ''A Family Christmas'', which included four original songs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audiofemme.com/playing-nashville-shel-jars-of-clay-family-christmas-ep/ | title=SHEL and Jars of Clay Collaborate for "A Family Christmas" EP | date=December 5, 2019 }}</ref> In 2022, they contributed a track to ''There's a Rainbow Somewhere'', a tribute album to [[Randy Stonehill]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1494682535334486016|user=jarsofclay|title=We have a new song out today on the Randy Stonehill tribute. Enjoy!|date=February 18, 2022}}</ref>