Richard Jankovich

Jankovich attended Marquette University in Milwaukee in the 1990s where he formed the alternative rock band, Big Mother Gig.{{Cite web |url= https://bigmothergig.com/#bio |title= Big Mother Gig – A Band|website=bigmothergig.com|language=en-US |accessdate= 2017-10-23}} They released 2 LPs and 1 EP and played over 150 concerts around the Midwest before breaking up in 1996 when Jankovich moved to New York City.{{Cite news |url= https://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/jankovich.html|title=Ex-Milwaukeean Jankovich releases debut with new band|work=OnMilwaukee.com|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en}} In 1999, he founded Burnside Project while working in music licensing and advertising.{{Cite news|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/judges/richard-jankovich/|title=Richard Jankovich - Independent Music Awards|work=Independent Music Awards|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US}} Burnside Project released 4 albums on Bar/None Records and Sony Music Entertainment Japan and their 2003 track "Cue The Pulse To Begin" was the theme song for Queer as Folk on Showtime. Burnside Project received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and Spin and were nominated by Cameron Crowe for a Shortlist{{Cite news|url=http://www.popmatters.com/feature/assessing-their-performance-the-burnside-project-legacy/|title=Assessing Their Performance: The Burnside Project Legacy|work=PopMatters|access-date=2017-10-20}} Award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bar-none.com/burnside-project/|title=Burnside Project|website=Bar/None Records|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-20}}

In 2005, Jankovich began remixing under the name Pocket and released his first remix in 2005 to critical blog acclaim.[http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2005/04/joanna_newsom_p.html "The Perfect Joanna Newsom Remix"]. Retrieved April 28, 2009. Many of his subsequent remixes have received positive critical reviews from websites such as Stereogum,[http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/new-cat-power-remix-hate-pocketmix_002350.html "New Cat Power Remix "]. Retrieved April 28, 2009. Pitchfork[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/144953-new-music-beck-ft-jay-reatard-gamma-ray-pocket-mix-mp3 "New Beck Pocket Mix"]. Retrieved April 28, 2009. and Pampelmoose.[http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/2008/03/kristin-hersh-remixed-by-pocket "Two musicians in Portland working together"]. Retrieved April 28, 2009. In 2007, Pocket's remix for Radiohead's cover of Björk's "Unravel" was nominated for the 2007 Village Voice Pazz and Jop poll by Will Hermes.[http://pazzandjop.villagevoice.com/pazzandjop07/ballots.php?cid=213. "Village Voice Pazz and Jop nomination."] Retrieved April 28, 2009 In 2009, Pocket began releasing a series of singles which Pitchfork called "an impressive guest list"{{cite web |last1=Dombal |first1=Ryan |title=News in Brief: Donda West, Asobi Seksu, Pocket, Insomnia Festival |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/36823-news-in-brief-donda-west-asobi-seksu-pocket-insomnia-festival/ |website=Pitchfork |date=15 October 2009 }} including guest singers like Robyn Hitchcock, Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think), Steve Kilbey (The Church), Danny Seim (Menomena) and Mark Burgess (The Chameleons). In 2012, these singles were collected on an album, All of This Happened, released on Tirk Records.[http://music-by-pocket.com/new-pocket-lp-out-on-521/ "New LP Announcement"]. Retrieved June 11, 2012. Pocket admits the name was bestowed upon him by Brooklyn Vegan when the blog posted his Joanna Newsom "Bridges and Balloons (Pocket Mix)" and referred to him directly as Pocket.[http://evilmonito.com/2009/07/18/qa-richard-jankovich-pocket/ "Evil Monito Interview"]. Retrieved April 28, 2009

In 2008, Jankovich moved to Los Angeles and continued to make music as Pocket and Mon Draggor while working at in-store music providers like Mood Media.{{Cite news|url=http://www.allthingsrichard.com/2017/05/12/im-playing-again/|title=I'm playing Los Angeles for the first time!|work=Allthingsrichard|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://shopliftermusic.com/about-us/|title=Shoplifter Music - About Shoplifter|website=shopliftermusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-20}} Mon Draggor's double LP Pulling Strings/Pushing Buttons was selected as 9th best album of 2015 by PopMatters.{{Cite news|url=http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/472-popmatters-best-pop-albums-of-2015/|title=PopMatters' Best Pop Albums of 2015|work=Album of The Year|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US}}

In 2013, he launched [https://shopliftermusic.com/ Shoplifter]. Shoplifter specializes in helping artists and record labels get their songs placed into playlists that accompany the shopping experience (i.e. overhead or in-store music.){{Cite web|url=https://shopliftermusic.com/about-us/|title=Shoplifter Music - About Shoplifter|website=shopliftermusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-23}}

In 2016, Burnside Project released the previously shelved album Syntax and Semantics (recorded in 2004) on Bar/None Records. {{cite web |url=http://www.bar-none.com/store/burnside-project-syntax-and-semantic |website=Bar None Records |access-date=17 November 2024 |title=Burnside Project - Syntax and Semantics }} In 2017, Big Mother Gig returned with a new EP and began performing live.{{Cite web|url=http://puregrainaudio.com/videos/big-mother-gig-make-their-long-awaited-return-with-alvarado-music-video|title=BIG MOTHER GIG Make Their Long Awaited Return with "Alvarado" Music Video|last=Willschick|first=Aaron|website=puregrainaudio.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-20}} In 2018, Pocket released 5 EPs of unreleased songs and remixes with Robyn Hitchcock, Tanya Donelly (Belly), Yuki Chikudate (Asobi Seksu), Vic Godard (Subway Sect), Dave Smalley (Dag Nasty), Styrofoam, Mux Mool, Mount Sims, RemoteTreeChildren and Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket).{{Cite news|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mYYSxxn1a401TNLCmLN95cARKtpwCPBaWKXgnHo3OrA/edit|title=Pocket VLT C Press Release|work=Google Docs|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en}}

In February 2021, Big Mother Gig announced{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2114877/big-mother-gig-the-underdog-feat-slothrusts-leah-wellbaum/music/| title=Big Mother Gig – "The Underdog" (Feat. Slothrust's Leah Wellbaum)|website=www.stereogum.com| date=2 February 2021|language=en|access-date=2021-02-05}} their new LP Gusto on Stereogum and released the first single, "The Underdog" featuring Leah Wellbaum of Slothrust. Gusto was released on 30 April 2021, to positive reviews by Stereogum, NPR, American Songwriter, BrooklynVegan and more. In the Fall of 2021, the band supported the album with a 3-week US tour{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/LAs-Big-Mother-Gig-Announce-Fall-US-Tour-Supporting-Black-Joe-Lewis-The-Honeybears-20210616| title=LA's Big Mother Gig Announce Fall U.S. Tour Supporting Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears|access-date=2022-11-17}} opening for Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears.

In 2023, Burnside Project member Paul Searing passed away unexpectedly and the band officially broke up after releasing their final single "Ancient Artifact" in 2024. {{cite web |url=https://kidrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/ancient-artifact-single |website=Kid Recordings |access-date=17 November 2024 |title=Ancient Artifact - Single, by Burnside Project }} In November 2024, Big Mother Gig announced their dissolution and Jankovich announced a new act called Long A with fellow Big Mother Gig member Albert Kurniawan. {{cite web |url=https://bigmothergig.com |website=Big Mother Gig |access-date=17 November 2024}}

Burnside Project:

• Burnside Project "Syntax & Semantics" (2016, Bar/None Records)
• Burnside Project "The Finest Example Is You" (2005, Bar/None Records)
• Burnside Project "The Networks, the Circuits, the Streams, the Harmonies" (2003 Bar/None Records / Sony DefSTAR Japan)
• Burnside Project "Burnside Project" (2000, Fraga)

Big Mother Gig:

• Big Mother Gig "Gusto" (2021, Sweet Sweet)
• Big Mother Gig "No More Questions" (2018, Sweet Sweet)
• Big Mother Gig "Almost Primed EP" (2017, Sweet Sweet)
• Big Mother Gig "Quintessentially Average: 92-96" (2016, Sweet Sweet)
• Big Mother Gig "Smiling Politely" (1996, Fraga)
• Big Mother Gig "Transition EP" (1994, Fraga)
• Big Mother Gig "My Social Commentary" (1993, Fraga)

Pocket (musician):

• Pocket "VLT A", "VLT B", "VLT C", "VLT D", "VLT E" EPs (2018, Fraga)
• Pocket "All Of This Happened" (2012, Tirk)
• Pocket "Singles" (2009, 24 Hour Service Station)

Mon Draggor:

• Mon Draggor "Passing Time, Picking Bones" (2018, Fraga)
• Mon Draggor "Pushing Buttons" (2015, Fraga)
• Mon Draggor "Pulling Strings" (2015, Fraga)

• "Nine O'Clock in France (Pocket vs. Ray Ketchem Mix)" - Elk City (2010)
• "My Beautiful Girl (Tokyo) (Pocket Mix)" - XO (2009)
• "Blood Pressurize (Pocket Mix)" - RemoteTreeChildren (2009)
• "Your Friends (Pocket Mix)" - Faux Hoax (2009)
• "We're Here to Save the Day (Pocket Mix)" - The Constellations featuring Asher Roth (2009)
• "Gamma Ray (Pocket Mix)" - Beck (2008)
• "Slippershell (Pocket Mix)" - Kristin Hersh (2008)
• "Lost My Taste (Pocket Mix)" - Mendoza Line (2008)
• "Unravel (Pocket Mix)" - Radiohead (2007)
• "Cherries in the Snow (Pocket Mix)" - Elk City (2007)
• "Marfa Lights (Pocket Mix)" - Dirty on Purpose (2006)
• "How Lester Lost His Wife (Pocket Mix)" - Of Montreal (2006)
• "Hate (Pocket Mix)" - Cat Power (2006)
• "My Lady Story (Pocket Mix)" - Antony and The Johnsons (2005)
• "Bridges and Balloons (Pocket Mix)" - Joanna Newsom (2005)

• Hit Brands: How Music Builds Value For The World's Smartest Brands (2013), Palgrave MacMillan

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Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:American writers

Category:Marquette University alumni

Category:People from Los Angeles