Jitters[A] (
Russian: «Джи́ттерс»)[1] was a rock band from
Minsk, Belarus, which played mostly
rock and
post-grunge.[2][3] The band was formed in 1998 and released the album Split Before, Together Now (with
Hair Peace Salon), as well as several EPs.[4] In 2007, Jitters broke up and its members joined other groups: Konstantin Karman teamed up with Hair Peace Salon,[5] and Ivan Barzenka[6] and Pavel Kudrin joined
beZ bileta.[7]
Their first performance was held at the Minsk club Alternative (later known as the A-Club[10]) in 1999.[11] Their
debut promo CD included two English-language compositions, "Floating Light" and "Consumed". Oleg "OK" Klimov from the Muzykalnaya Gazeta reviewed the disc and said the songs were written by "new romantics who have been down with
Britpop".[9][12]
Thanks to the demo, the band was invited to participate in the national music festival
Rock-kola in
Novopolotsk in 2001.[13]
The following year, Jitters almost disbanded as drummer Vial emigrated and left the trio, while Karman began playing bass with the band
Маркі. Jitters went on a half-year hiatus but returned with a new lineup.
Quartet (2003–2007)
In 2003, Jitters became a quartet. Guitarist and backing vocalist Aleh Vial and drummer Artur Luchkov joined founders Konstantin and Syargey.[14][15] Both new musicians played in the
indie rock band
Hair Peace Salon as well.[16][17]
The band won first prize in the category "Rock Music" at the Piirideta Muusika festival in
Narva, Estonia, in June 2004, where Hair Peace Salon performed as well.[18] In July of the same year, they participated in the Polish festival
Basovišča.[19][20][21] For this performance,
Volha "OSa" Samusik from Muzykalnaya Gazeta compared them to British rock band
Muse[22]
In October 2005, Vial left Jitters in order to devote more time to Hair Peace Salon, where he sang lead vocals and played guitar. He was replaced by Ivan Barzenka, who had previously played in the bands
Rosary,
Paparis,
Port Mone, and
Па Глазам.[23][24][25] In the spring of 2006, Jitters invited a new drummer, Pavel Kudrin, to record the EP Pick Me Up. Luckov remained with the band as a touring drummer.[24][26][27]
Jitters spent 2006 playing frequent concerts and touring with Hair Peace Salon,
Open Space, and
Milque Twins.[28][29]
Together with Hair Peace Salon, they played the Polish festivals Rock bez Igły in
Tychy,[30] and Fiesta Borealis in
Olecko.[31][32][33]
In 2007, Karman joined Hair Peace Salon,[34][35] and the two bands released the split album Split Before, Together Now, which combined Pick Me Up with Hair Peace Salon's Gipsy.[4][36]
Music critic Alena Sobolevskaya from Muzykalnaya Gazeta, in reviewing the album, wrote "The collective captivates with very intelligent but interesting and bold energy. Hooligan vocals insistently crawl through the ears, very confident arrangements give a pleasure".[37]
Cessation of activity (2008)
On the eve of the release of the split album in 2007, Karman told
xlam.by "We decided to temporarily freeze the Jitters project, and since we have been acquainted and on friendly terms with Hair Peace Salon for a long time, there were no obstacles to unification. We have been exchanging musicians previously. There will be two voices in HPS now".[38]
Pavel Kudrin[39] and Ivan Barzenka[24] joined
beZ bileta.[40] Barzenka later became the frontman of the funk rock band
ContraBanda.[41] Lead guitarist Syargey Kondratenka moved to
the Netherlands.[42]
Ivan Barzenka – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (2005–2007)
Pavel Kudrin – drums (2006–2007)
Eugene Vial – drums (1998–2002)
Aleh Vial – lead guitar, backing vocals (2003–2005)
Artur Luchkov – drums (2003–2006)
Timeline
Footnotes
^The term, which comes from
Bristol, UK, is used to describe (sometimes in a derogatory manner) a fan of (hard)
rock music or men with long hair, also being a slang term commonly used to refer to
skateboarders or people who wear baggy clothes, sweatshirts, and listen mostly to rock music (including
punk-rock).
^Сьвярдлоў, Павал (30 July 2004).
"Больш ня плача песьня наша" [Our song is not crying anymore]. Nasha Niva (in Belarusian).
Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
^"Анонсы концертов" [Announcements of concerts] (in Russian).
talks.by. 29 January 2005. Archived from
the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
^Сарокіна, Кася (25 September 2007).
""Кіназдымкі" beZ bileta" ["The motion pictures" of beZ bileta]. Tuzin.fm (in Belarusian). mpby.ru.
Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2018.