4 Compositions from Gordon Withers' JAWBREAKER ON CELLO Featured Within Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker

Not entirely unlike Michael Rapaport's 2011 documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, Tim Irwin & Keith Schieron's Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker unintentionally helped reunite yet another Punk/Hardcore band. Blake Schwarzenbach, Adam Pfahler & Chris Bauermeister were originally active as Jawbreaker from 1986-96, released four albums and countless EP's/singles, fostered a die-hard underground following, toured with everyone from Nirvana to Foo Fighters, signed to DGC/Geffen Records, and, essentially, self-imploded before ever really "making it big." Since September 2017, Blake, Adam & Chris have been effectively reunited as Jawbreaker, selling out shows across the world, and, supposedly, working on what would be their first proper album of new material since 1996's Dear You. Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker features the band and their associates/supporters re-telling "their "rags-to-riches-to-rags" story writhe with inner-band turmoil, health issues, and the aftermath of signing to a major label." It showcases interviews with Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day,) Steve Albini (Big Black, Nirvana,) journalist Jessica Hopper, Chef Graham Elliot, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters,) Josh Caterer, and many more.


After a period of exclusive screenings and a very limited release, Don't Break Down has now been released to the general public and is currently available on most digital streaming platforms (excluding Netflix.) I was fortunate enough to watch Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker from the comfort of my own home last week and aside from the story itself, one of my personal favorite elements was cellist Gordon Withers' arrangements tastefully strewn throughout Tim Irwin & Keith Schieron's film. "Six or seven years ago, Adam [Phahler] from Jawbreaker reached out about doing a few cello arrangements for the Jawbreaker documentary, Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker. Four tracks ended up in the film and two years ago, it, finally, was released for screenings in select theaters. As of August 6, it's finally available to stream/buy on major services, too," Withers explained within a press statement. Gordon Withers has performed within outfits such as Office of Future Plans (Dischord Records,) BELLS≥ (Zach Barocas of Jawbox,) Betwixt, Kill Dalton Ames, We All Inherit The Moon, Woodworkings, and currently plays as part of The J. Robbins Band (J. Robbins of Jawbox, Government Issue, Burning Airlines, etc.)


"Of course, I couldn't stop at just four tracks, though. Earlier this year, an album's-worth of tracks were finally complete. And now, it's coming out on New Granada Records—whose founders just completed a tour with Jawbreaker in their main band POHGOH!" Withers ecstatically continued. I've been fortunate enough to attain an early press stream of Gordon Withers' JAWBREAKER ON CELLO and trust me, it's a phenomenal piece of work! Alternative Press is currently hosting an exclusive stream of Gordon's "Bivouac" re-work, which originally appeared on Jawbreaker's 1992 sophomore album of the same name. New Granada Records' first pressing of 500 LP's of Gordon Withers' JAWBREAKER ON CELLO has already been completely sold out... however, a second press on colored vinyl is currently available for pre-order. JAWBREAKER ON CELLO will see a wide-release on Friday, November 1, 2019. Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker is currently available to stream on most digital streaming platforms. I would, honestly, strongly recommend both JAWBREAKER ON CELLO and Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker for fans new, old, or even within their earliest discovery of Punk/Hardcore as a genre.