J. Robbins, frontman of post-hardcore band Jawbox, plays free show at Up on the Sun Records in Yucca Valley Tuesday (9/29)
Playing in notable punk rock bands like Government Issue in the 80s, Jawbox in the 90s, then Burning Airlines in the early 2000s, J. Robbins career has gone from off the map all-ages punk venues to unlikely major label darlings on MTV, when Jawbox’s single ‘Savory” could be found on regular rotation on Alternative Nation. Yet with all his travels’ peaks and valleys, Robbins says Tuesday’s in-store appearance at Up on the Sun Records will be his first time ever coming to the Joshua Tree area. He’ll be taking advantage of some days off opening for Sugar (led by fellow post-punk legend Bob Mould of Husker Du), right before their L.A. show at the Hollywood Palladium.
“This is a place I’ve always wanted to go I used to love driving through it you know like driving through the desert on tour was always something I really looked forward to it. What happened was the Sugar tour, the California part of it, is literally just a show in San Francisco and a show in at Hollywood Palladium which is the 30th and in between I just thought, ‘Well, I could kind of twiddle my thumbs or I could see what else I could do.’ A friend of mine in Yucca Valley suggested that I try playing out there and Jay (of Up on the Sun Records) was super responsive to the idea so it’s great ’cause I do love that part of the world. I haven’t spent nearly enough time there so I’m super stoked,” said Robbins.
While his previous bands are known for their high volume, discordant, and punchy songs, J. Robbins will be reinterpreting his catalog into solo acoustic renditions on this tour, though he maintains the songs are not “gentle” and still carry his aggressive approach. He uses Lou Reed and John Cale as examples of musicians who can play their songs in any arrangement and they’re still immediately recognizable and hopes to carry in that tradition. His song “Exquisite Corpse” firmed itself deeply in my head while writing this article.
Robbins says he loves playing solo for the laid bare immediacy and because touring has become prohibitively expensive for most bands, he likes it for the economic practicality.
“Touring has become so difficult and so expensive. I have grown to really love doing solo shows and I love it on an artistic level and an expressive level, and I love the immediacy of it, I love all of these kind of aesthetic and emotional things about it, but also on a practical level it is the most economical way to tour because it’s just me. I don’t mind crashing on someone’s couch, that kind of thing,” said Robbins.
J. Robbins solo acoustic show is Tuesday September 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Up on the Sun Records in Yucca Valley, located at 57063 Twentynine Palms Highway, next to Stater Bros “West.” The show is free, but Robbins will be taking donations for the gas tank to get him to his next gig at the Hollywood Palladium.
