Jawbreaker Playing Austin in July

Updated, May 2, 10am: Jawbreaker will perform at the Skyline Theater – the front lawn of the Long Center – on July 13. Tickets go onsale Friday, 10am, here. General admission is $44. It’s their only Texas show on the books.

Getting Jawbreaker to Austin has proved something of a white whale for veteran booker Graham Williams, whose Margin Walker Presents is co-promoting the concert. They were among the most requested bands for his erstwhile Fun Fun Fun Fest, alongside Fugazi and the Misfits. He came close to nabbing them a couple times over the years, including a scenario where Jawbreaker reunited to play FFF, FYF Fest, and Coachella, but it never came to fruition.

“People are really emotionally connected to Jawbreaker – more than other bands,” said Williams on Tuesday, the Austin native having seen them twice in the Nineties at his old workplace, Emo’s, and also at a Riot Fest reunion last year. “They have the kind of show where everyone is singing every word. There are fans who haven’t seen them in 22 years and, because they were so influential, younger fans who’ve never seen them and everyone’s ecstatic.”

ORIGINAL STORY (May 1)

Margin Walker posted a video clip on its Facebook page showing a skateboarder ollie over a Morton Salt container, backdropped by Austin’s skyline, which any punk rock fan can easily deduce as a hint that a local Jawbreaker show is eminent.

An appearance by the California trio is major score for the Austin concert bookers. Singer/guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach, drummer Adam Pfahler, and bassist Chris Bauermeister reunited after 21 years apart in 2017 and have played about a dozen shows since. They’re not doing a full tour – just special appearances.

Jawbreaker ranks among punk’s most cult acts, outpouring a poetic and emotional genre brand that proved immensely influential, especially in the years following their 1996 break-up.

Here’s a clip of of Jawbreaker playing “Boxcar” at the old Emo’s in 1995. “One, two, three, four! Who’s punk? What’s the score?”