Adam Pfahler on Unfun, Jawbreaker Weekend

I first bought Jawbreaker's debut album, Unfun, on cassette during my senior year in college and listened to it practically every day. For me, its sound was a missing link between epic (to me) punk bands that I grew up listening to like the Buzzcocks and Hüsker Dü and what was happening with the more local, more melodic punk bands on Lookout! and Cruz that were coming up at the time, made extra interesting with some experimental jamming and noise that bands like Steel Pole Bathtub were screwing around with. And what college student couldn't relate to "Want"? Of course I bought the vinyl when I saw it used at Rhino for $2.98 (the price tag is still on the sleeve) and eventually upgraded to the CD when Shredder released that.

Later on, I became friends with Jawbreaker's drummer Adam Pfahler through his involvement in J Church and my contributions to GR. (His last band, Whysall Lane, actually played Wendy's and my Chinese wedding banquet!) By now you probably know that he is reissuing the album on his Blackball imprint. My fourth copy of the album. Not only does the repressing sounds better than ever, but the songs stand the test of time. Blake's lyrics were beyond his years even then, and the band had extraordinary chops to back up its youthful power. Plus, the music just plain rocks.

I bugged Adam about the new version of Unfun, and here's what he had to say:

The original LP with lyric sheet, as well as the band's second 7" single that comes as bonus material on the CD and download.

GR: Why now? Did you just sell the rest of your stash or something?
AP: It's the 20-year anniversary of our first record release. Now more than ever!

GR: When was the last time you listened to these songs? Did they trip you out at all--maybe how good or bad they were? How good or bad you were?
AP: I listened to it a lot while I was transfering the analog tapes to digital and deciding which ones to use. I had the originals that needed to be baked, but also the backups that were copied at a lower IPS that didn't need to be baked. I had to see which was better between those two and then determine if it could beat a remaster from the existing digital CD. I ended up using the baked original. It sounded best, especially after John Golden worked his magic on them. Anyway, it is a trip listening to those songs so obsessively again. I love that record. In terms of playing, I can hear myself really trying hard to squeeze in every trick I knew at the time, which incidentally was like three moves, but I have to say they're pretty strong.

GR: What was Chris and Blake's involvement in the project? Or do they pretty much let you do whatever you want?
AP: They turned me loose like they did on the other Blackball releases. They've always trusted my aesthetic. They are going to be helping me with press stuff. (If you want to talk to those guys, lemme know.) I hit them up for some photo editing, as usual. The photos are hilarious. I included the only shots I had from the time of recording. They're washed out Polaroid Land Camera pics of us hanging around Jeff Martin's (Idaho) practice space in Lincoln Heights. We look like children.

GR: Is the sound much different than the original pressing? Is it as drastic as, say, The Beatles being redone?
AP: It's not too noticeable unless you really know that record. It sounds more colorful--if that makes sense. The mids are more in there and I pulled back on the high end a bit. Anyway, it sounds rad.

GR: Everyone's going to ask about a tour, but I won't. What are some things you'll be doing instead? Maybe related to the other albums?
AP: I'm going to remaster Bivouac and 24 Hour Revenge Therapy. I don't mean to change the sound or even mess with the EQ. It's just that when these records went to CD back in the day, the sampling rate was like half what it is now. So hopefully I'll get closer to the original vinyl pressings and the tapes we brought out of the studio to begin with. About the other thing: Don't you have a birthday coming up?

I got this note from Adam when I sent a SASE for stickers back in the day. Now we've moved onto email and cell phones.

Right now: Adam is in Ventura, where Bivouac is being remastered by John Golden. Are you ready?

Coming up: Jawbreaker Weekend at the Giant Robot stores in L.A., S.F., and NYC. It'll be even better than Sammy Hagar's. We're playing nothing but JB on the GR sound systems, and will have special goodies and surprises. Seeya there!