Burning Airlines

When beloved DC emo/punk band Jawbox dissolved in the late 1990s, singer J. Robbins and guitarist Bill Barbot kept the punk torch flaring in Burning Airlines. Barbot switched to bass and Peter Moffett, Robbins's fellow foot soldier in the '80s hardcore band Government Issue, rounded out the trio on drums. This lineup released one album to an excited audience and praiseful critics who appreciated the challenging intricacy of the songs and Robbins's thoughtful lyrics. Mike Harbin replaced Barbot for 2001's IDENTIKIT, a tough, melodic album that showcases Moffett's skillful drumming and Robbins's increasing vocal confidence. Sadly, Burning Airlines broke up in 2002, reportedly due to J. Robbins's burgeoning engineering/producing career, but by 2004, he had started a new band, Channels, who mine a similarly complex musical vein.