Jawbreaker | Artist
Jawbreaker is an American punk rock band formed 1986 in New York City by Blake Schwarzenbach (vocals, guitar), Chris Bauermeister (bass, vocals) and Adam Pfahler (drums). Schwarzenbach's idiosyncratic lyrics, about personal and real-life matters, coupled with descriptive imagery and word choices made him a cult idol in rock and roll circles. The band is considered to be influential to the 1990s emo genre. The trio met as students at New York University where they began practicing. They recorded their debut album, Unfun in two days in January 1990. Released through Shredder, its pop punk sound was distinguished by Schwarzenbach's lyrical and vocal intensity. After a gruelling tour the trio fell apart with Schwarzenbach and Bauermeister returning to New York to finish their degrees. A year later they decided to reform and relocate to San Francisco, where they hung out with fellow bands Econochrist, Samian and J Church. Second album, Bivouac, recorded in San Francisco and released in 1992, solidified the band's emotive pop punk/post hardcore sound, and led to them undertaking a European tour. Third album 24 Hour Revenge Therapy was recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini at the controls, although on the album the production credit goes to Albini's pet cat "Fluss". Music journo Andy Greenwald wrote "24 Hour Revenge Therapy is arguably Jawbreaker's best album, but it is also far and away its most loved, the best example of Schwarzenbach's innate ability to marry the boozy, bluesy regretfulness of the Replacements with the loose, seat-of-the-pants attitude of Gilman Street punk". Jawbreaker began recording their fourth album and major-label debut, Dear You, in February 1995 at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, with Rob Cavallo, who had produced Green Day's breakthrough album Dookie the previous year. Recording sessions lasted two months and resulted in disenchantment and tension within the band. Whilst touring the album, differences between Bauermeister and Schwarzenbach erupted and they broke up once again. Following the breakup, Schwarzenbach moved to Brooklyn where he DJ'ed and wrote freelance video game reviews for websites, and fronted new band Jets to Brazil. Bauermeister meanwhile returned to his job at the toy store he had worked at before Jawbreaker had begun touring. Jawbreaker performed together for the first time in 21 years at the Ivy Room in Albany on August 3, 2017. They continue to play periodically to the present day, but have not recorded any more albums.
Artist Website: jawbreakerband.com
Featured Albums: Jawbreaker
Related Artists: Blake Schwarzenbach, J Church,
Video Clips: Boxcar, Fireman, Live in Leeds
