Charles Jenkins (musician)

Charles Jenkins is a musician based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is a member of Icecream Hands,[2] has released eight solo albums and is a member of Charles Jenkins and the Zhivagos.[3]

Charles Jenkins
Jenkins performing in Semaphore, South Australia 2017
Background information
Born1966 (age 53–54)
Mildura, Victoria[1]
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar
LabelsParole Records, Dust Devil Music, Rubber Records, Silver Stamp Records
Associated actsThe Mad Turks From Istanbul, Icecream Hands

Early life

Following his birth in Mildura, Victoria, Jenkins moved to Adelaide, South Australia.

Music

Jenkins started as a solo performer and later joined the band The Mad Turks From Istanbul. In 1989, Jenkins relocated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with the band, but the Mad Turks disbanded soon after the move and Jenkins formed a new band called 'Icecream Hands'. The band formed in 1992 and was originally named 'Chuck Skatt and His Icecream Hands'.[4] Jenkins revealed in 2007 that the first of the five albums that Icecream Hands recorded, Travelling... Made Easy , sold poorly and he attributed this to "too many chords and too many words".[5]

Icecream Hands functioned as a band for 16 years and Jenkins has stated that becoming a father significantly affected the manner in which he wrote songs for the quartet, as he was forced to exercise a greater degree of self-restraint: "I'm very fond of that album (Memory Lane Traffic Jam) because of the heartache that went into it. It was a real struggle."[5]

The band's third album Sweeter than the Radio was released in 1999 and the independent label they were signed to had secured an arrangement with major label Bertelsmann Music Group, otherwise known as BMG. Up until that point, the band had never received the backing of a corporate music company and subsequently released five songs from their BMG-backed work, followed by constant touring. Jenkins explained afterwards: "I never saw (the lack of chart success) as a missed opportunity. I thought we were lucky just to have a major label."[5]

By the time the third album Sweeter Than The Radio was released, again through independent Melbourne, Australian label Rubber Records, but BMG was no longer involved and Jenkins spoke of "one girl in Melbourne" handling duties by that stage. Prior to the band's fifth and final album, a 'best of' compilation, titled The Best of the Ice Cream Hands - You Can Ride My Bike was released by Rubber Records on the first day of 2004. Containing 43 songs, the live performance that coincided with the release of the compilation was described by an Australian music journalist as "strong, poetic songs filled the show with moments of sweet sonic purity. Melbourne is lucky to have them [Icecream Hands]."[6]

During periods of inactivity by the members of Icecream Hands, Jenkins recorded three solo albums,[1] including Bungalow from 2004. As a solo artist, Jenkins released a total of four studio albums between 2004 and 2010, and 2010's Blue Atlas, released on Dust Devil Music, introduced the public to a new band called the Zhivagos. Writing for website Mess + Noise, JP Hammond concluded that "There's no better soundtrack of hope [Blue Atlas] to close 2008."[7]

Charles Jenkins and the Zhivagos have released three studio albums as of January 2014: Walk This Ocean (2010), Love Your Crooked Neighbour with Your Crooked Heart (2012) and Blue Atlas (2010).[8] Released on Silver Stamp Records, Love Your Crooked Neighbour with Your Crooked Heart received a 4-star rating from music journalist Iain Shedden, who, writing for The Age newspaper, stated:

There's a smattering of gospel-tinged singalong, exquisitely crafted balladry and melodic invention in the mix as well, all matched by a sharp tongue and an ear for a killer hook.[9]

Jenkins received a grant from the Australia Council in 2013 to record an album centred upon the theme of water. Along with band members Dave Mine, Davey Lane, Art Starr and Matty Vehl, Jenkins created Too Much Water in the Boat that consists of songs such as "Sweet Mildura", "Seven Creeks (the cross dresser Steve Hart)" and "The Barrel Song". On 3 January 2014, Jenkins's band previewed the album on "The Inner Sleeve", Paul Gough's program on the ABC's Radio National network. Gough described Jenkins's work as "wry, insightful pop songs that have more to say than most".[10] Too Much Water in the Boat was produced and engineered by Justin Rudge, and features backing harmonies from ex-Icecream Hands member Douglas Lee Robertson, described by Jenkins as "extraordinary".[11]

Discography
  • Bungalow (2004) - Parole Records
  • The City Gates (2005) - Parole Records
  • Blue Atlas (2008) - Dust Devil Music[3]
  • Walk This Ocean (2010) - Dust Devil Music
  • Love Your Crooked Neighbor With Your Crooked Heart (2012) - Silver Stamp Records
  • Too Much Water in the Boat (2014) - Silver Stamp Records
  • The Last Polaroid (2017) - Silver Stamp Records
  • When I Was on the Moon (2019) - Silver Stamp Records
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References
  1. The Age 20 August 2004 Cold hands, warm heart by Andrew Murfett
  2. Bernard Zuel (17 September 2004). "Here's a scoop". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  3. Courier Mail 29 October 2008 Charles Jenkins delves into movies to sing the blues by Noel Mengel
  4. "Icecream Hands". Discogs. 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  5. Andrew Murphett (5 July 2007). "Icecream Hands". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  6. Daniel Ziffer (7 December 2004). "Icecream Hands". The Age. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. JP Hammond (2008). "Charles Jenkins Blue Atlas". Mess+Noise. Mess+Noise p/l. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  8. "Charles Jenkins and the Zhivagos". iTunes Preview. Apple, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. Iain Shedden (15 September 2012). "Love Your Crooked Neighbour with Your Crooked Heart (Charles Jenkins and the Zhivagos)". The Age. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  10. Paul Gough (3 January 2013). "Charles Jenkins previews new album with Davey Lane". Radio National - The Inside Sleeve. ABC. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  11. Charles Jenkins (29 August 2013). "Too much water in the boat ***NEW ALBUM from Charles Jenkins and The Zhivagos***". Charles Jenkins. charlesjenkins.com.au. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
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