Jawbox

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

Robbins had played in the final incarnation of Government Issue, which was the longest lived of the original D.C. hardcore bands. After Government Issue called it quits, Robbins formed Jawbox with Kim Coletta and Adam Wade. The trio recorded their first, self-released single and the Grippe album. (This was also the beginning of Desoto Records, which went on to become a successful independent record label.) Shortly afterwards, Bill Barbot joined the band as second guitarist and second singer. They shortly thereafter 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. Zach's adoption of various stage-names caused some confusion at the time; he used the name Jim Shortz, and even the name of the famous Japanese actor Takashi Shimura.

They had a minor MTV hit with "Savory" in 1994. 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).

The band recorded a second album for Atlantic, but was eventually dropped by the label; 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, Peter Moffett, formed the band Burning Airlines, which itself broke up after releasing two albums. Barbot and Coletta continue to run DeSoto Records. Barocas became a part of The Up on In which, like Burning Airlines, broke up quickly thereafter. Robbins is currently part of the band Channels, and has also gone on to become a successful producer.