Burning Airlines

Almost immediately following the April 1997 breakup of <a href="spotify:artist:0Fj0cWPHOpexJCZRdSHioP">Jawbox</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7oYW3vYjdqYo2Qy5IA8ad1">J. Robbins</a> (guitars/vocals) began writing and playing with ex-Wool and former <a href="spotify:artist:23TsZp8huaixFFF78vRnNO">Government Issue</a> bandmate Peter Moffett (drums). One day, the bassist couldn't make it to practice, so <a href="spotify:artist:2JJY9l2Ngrpm0tc9d0Ckgz">Robbins</a> convinced the other <a href="spotify:artist:0Fj0cWPHOpexJCZRdSHioP">Jawbox</a> guitarist and vocalist Bill Barbot to slide into the role. By the end of 1998, Burning Airlines (named after a <a href="spotify:artist:7MSUfLeTdDEoZiJPDSBXgi">Brian Eno</a> song) had their debut single and a split release with <a href="spotify:artist:36gdsrHzKZ0Wyb3uH7ZbEv">Braid</a> in the bins of mom-and-pop record shops.

The band took enough "time off" from a hectic touring schedule to record Mission: Control!, released in early 1999. As with the remainder of the band's major works, it was released by DeSoto, the label run by former <a href="spotify:artist:0Fj0cWPHOpexJCZRdSHioP">Jawbox</a> bassist Kim Coletta and spouse Barbot. Featuring arrangements that were sharper and scaled back from those of <a href="spotify:artist:0Fj0cWPHOpexJCZRdSHioP">Jawbox</a>, the record held the spirit of early <a href="spotify:artist:2qT62DYO8Ajb276vUJmvhz">XTC</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6zvul52xwTWzilBZl6BUbT">the Pixies</a>, along with retaining the Mission of Burma and <a href="spotify:artist:3AmWjMXXtBJOmNGpUFSOAl">Gang of Four</a>-influenced foundation of <a href="spotify:artist:0Fj0cWPHOpexJCZRdSHioP">Jawbox</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:2JJY9l2Ngrpm0tc9d0Ckgz">Robbins</a> also made a concerted effort to make his songwriting more direct, no longer writing in code or cut-and-paste snippets.

As the band set out to hit the road in support of the well-received record, Barbot decided that his responsibilities as an adult were too numerous to allow for the dusting off of his passport. Friend and <a href="spotify:artist:0Fj0cWPHOpexJCZRdSHioP">Jawbox</a> touring aide Mike Harbin was brought in, seamlessly fitting into the band as they toured for 18 months, traversing the United States as well as Japan, Europe, and Canada.

Since <a href="spotify:artist:2JJY9l2Ngrpm0tc9d0Ckgz">Robbins</a> had become an in-demand producer throughout the last few years, the trio wasn't able to visit the recording studio until mid-2000. Throughout the following six months, they recorded the fuller-sounding Identikit, which hit the shelves in May 2001. Just before the release of the record, the band became a quartet, adding the keyboard and guitar skills of D.C.-scene vet Ben Pape, which enabled <a href="spotify:artist:2JJY9l2Ngrpm0tc9d0Ckgz">Robbins</a> to be less of a juggling act on stage. Outside responsibilities, including <a href="spotify:artist:2JJY9l2Ngrpm0tc9d0Ckgz">Robbins</a>' hectic production schedule, led to the band's decision to split in 2002. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi