Jawbox

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Jawbox
Origin Washington, D.C.
Genres Post-hardcore, indie rock, emo
Years active 1989 – 1997, 2009
Labels Dischord Records (1989-1993)
Atlantic Records (1993-1997)
TAG Recordings (1995-1997)
Desoto Records (1989-1997)
Associated acts Government Issue, Shudder to Think, Burning Airlines, Channels
Website http://desotorecords.com
Former members
Adam Wade
J. Robbins
Bill Barbot
Kim Coletta
Zach Barocas

Jawbox was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C.. Its original members were J. Robbins (vocals/guitar), Bill Barbot (guitar), Kim Coletta (bass guitar) and Adam Wade (drums).

Contents

[edit] History

Robbins had played in the final incarnation of Government Issue, which was the longest lived of the original Washington, D.C. punk bands. After Government Issue called it quits, Robbins formed Jawbox with Kim Coletta and Adam Wade. The trio recorded a demo cassette and their first, self-released single (this was also the beginning of their use of the Desoto Records rubric, which went on to become a formal, successful independent record label); inclusion of the song "Bullet Park" on the Maximumrocknroll compilation They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard (1989) was their most widespread early exposure. They also recorded a four-song EP, Jawbox (1990), which was incorporated into the CD release of their first album, Grippe (both released by Dischord Records). Shortly afterwards, Bill Barbot joined the band as second guitarist and second singer. Not long after, they recorded Novelty with Iain Burgess, and toured the USA.

Wade then left the band to play drums with Shudder to Think, and their friend Zach Barocas was called upon to play the drums. Barocas' adoption of various stage-names caused some confusion at the time; he used the monikers Jim Schortz, El Jefe and even borrowed the name of the Japanese actor Takashi Shimura.

Jawbox gained some notoriety in the indie music community by becoming one of only two bands to defect from legendary record label Dischord Records for a major label, when they signed to Atlantic Records for 1994's For Your Own Special Sweetheart (the other band was Shudder to Think). Some Dischord fans boycotted their records, thinking that the band changed style or had sold out, but the band's sound on its two major label records largely remained faithful to their roots. The band had a minor MTV hit with Savory in 1994. A second single, Cooling Card, was issued and received some MTV and radio play, but it wasn't as popular as "Savory".

The band recorded a second album for Atlantic, produced by John Agnello, but during the sessions, Atlantic started a vanity label for alternative artists, TAG Recordings, which had the band Fountains of Wayne signed to it, and they transferred Jawbox to the new label. In 1996, they released the album, which was surprisingly successful and had a college radio hit with Mirrorful and a cover of Tori Amos' Cornflake Girl, but Jawbox was eventually dropped by the label due to a perceived lack of singles on the album.

In early 1997, at the completion of the tour supporting the self-titled record, Barocas decided to move back to New York, and Jawbox called it a day. After the split, Robbins and Barbot, along with former Government Issue drummer, Pete Moffett, formed the band Burning Airlines, which itself broke up after releasing two albums. Barbot and Coletta continue to run DeSoto Records. Barbot is owner[1] of Threespot[2], a web agency in Washington, DC. Coletta is also currently a substitute teacher at Landon School in Bethesda, MD. Barocas became a part of The Up on In which, like Burning Airlines, broke up quickly thereafter. Barocas currently lives in New York and publishes poetry. Robbins is currently part of the band Channels, and has also gone on to become a successful producer.

[edit] Possible reformation and Jimmy Fallon performance

On October 7, 2009 it was announced that Jawbox would reform for a one-night-only performance of "Savory" on the December 8, 2009 episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[3] This was their first show since early 1997.

J. Robbins has also put to rest rumors of a full-fledged reunion, saying that the band will not play any concerts outside of the Late Night appearance.[4]

In addition to taping "Savory" for their Jimmy Fallon appearance as planned, Jawbox also performed "68" and "FF=66" during their rehearsal. Footage of the extra songs was then released online.[5]

[edit] Desoto buys the rights

In December 2006, Desoto Records bought the rights of Jawbox's Atlantic Records albums and put them on iTunes and eMusic, along with the Dischord albums and EPs. They also released the albums in stores under the Desoto print and put the videos for all of the major label albums on their site, including their rendition of a Tori Amos song, Cornflake Girl, originally released as a hidden track on 1996's Jawbox.

[edit] Discography

(split w/ Leatherface)

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.linkedin.com/in/bbarbot
  2. ^ http://threespot.com
  3. ^ http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2009/jawbox-reuniting-on-fallon
  4. ^ http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2009/jawbox-no-reunion/
  5. ^ http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2009/jawbox-jimmy-fallon-68-ff-66-reunion
  6. ^ www.social.zune.net: Andy Kellman, All Music Guide, Retrieved on 2009-11-04

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawbox"
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