Jr. Gone Wild

ByLets Go Punk
Edmonton’s Jr. Gone Wild mixed country and punk rock

Jr. Gone Wild is a Canadian country and punk rock band from Edmonton, Alberta, with a run of touring and album releases through the 1980s and 1990s before the group split in 1995 and returned to performing and recording years later.

Overview

Based in Edmonton, Jr. Gone Wild became known for mixing country and punk rock, while working steadily as a touring band and putting out multiple records across two decades. After ending their first run in 1995, the band regrouped in 2013 and began playing shows again, along with reissuing earlier material and recording new songs.

How The Band Got Started

The band was founded in Edmonton in 1982. The original lineup included Mike McDonald, Tom Wolfe, Adele Wolfe, and Bill (Will) Pontez. Early on, they played a small number of gigs in Calgary, including at the Calgarian Hotel and the National Hotel, and then broke up after only a few shows.

Reforming in Edmonton and First Album

After the early split, McDonald brought the name back to Edmonton. A later lineup included Mike McDonald, David Lawson, Dave “Dove” Brown, and Ed Dobek. That group recorded the band’s first album, Less Art, More Pop!, released in 1986 on the BYO label.

Lineup Changes, Touring, and an Industry Award

In 1988, Dobek and Lawson left the band. Jr. Gone Wild continued with McDonald and Brown, joined by Steve Loree and Paul Paetz. Over the years that followed, the band toured and went through additional personnel changes. In 1994, Jr. Gone Wild won an Alberta Recording Industry Award for best rock band.

1995 Release and Breakup

The band recorded several albums leading up to Simple Little Wish, released in early 1995. Later that year, Jr. Gone Wild broke up.

Connections to Other Bands

Jr. Gone Wild was associated with the Edmonton and Montreal based band Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra, with overlapping members at different points.

Reunion Era

Jr. Gone Wild reformed in 2013 and played a reunion show featuring Mike McDonald, Dove Brown, Steve Loree, and drummer Larry Shelast. After using the Alberta crest in promotional material, the band ran into legal difficulties. The reunion show was well received, and the group continued performing live, independently re-released their debut album, and recorded a few new songs.

Later Projects and Covers

In 2015, NTT Films began filming a feature length documentary following the band’s history from their first gig through later recording sessions and live shows. That same year, Jr. Gone Wild performed at the Edmonton Music Awards gala. In 2016, the Calgary band Napalmpom recorded the song “Cosmos,” originally from Less Art, More Pop!.

Discography

  • Less Art, More Pop! (1986)
  • Folk You (The Guido Sessions) (1989)
  • Too Dumb to Quit (1990)
  • Pull The Goalie (1992)
  • Simple Little Wish (1995)
  • Live at the Hyperbole (1995) (with Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie)
  • Still Got The Jacket (2021)

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