UPDATE: 11/11/2011 - Listen to the full performance and interview with Jessica Hopper of the Hit It Or Quit It podcast above.

Blake Schwarzenbach is a hero to fans of early emo for the albums his band, Jawbreaker, released throughout the early nineties. That band formed in 1986, toured with Nirvana in 1993, and signed to Geffen in 1995. After releasing their polished major-label debut, Dear You, the band broke up in 1996.

Schwarzenbach then formed Jets to Brazil and released three albums on Jade Tree Records between 1997 and 2002. That band expanded on Jawbreaker’s sound incorporating drum machines and piano, alienating some fans.

Following that band’s break-up, Schwarzenbach went to grad-school to study English literature. He says living in New York City around the time of the World Trade Center attacks led to a much more radical approach to politics.

He expresses this point of view in his new trio, forgetters. The band is rounded out by bassist Caroline Paquita (formerly of Bitchin’) and drummer Kevin Mahon (formerly of Against Me!). Forgetters is a band with an old-fashioned work ethic and more classic punk sound than Schwarzenbach’s most recent musical projects. We were pleased to have them stop by our Jim and Kay Mabie Performance Studio recently. That performance plus an interview with Hit It Or Quit It podcast host, Jessica Hopper, aired Wednesday evening at 8 P.M. on vocalo.org. 

Watch videos of the songs they performed here:

forgetters - “Stupid Libations”

forgetters - “Seconds”

forgetters - “Hart Crane Pike”

forgetters - “It’s a Death Trip, Baby”

forgetters - “I’m Not Immune”