FSS: How’d the Jimmy Fallon thing come about? Is Jimmy a fan?
Kim Coletta: Jonathan Cohen, the music booking person for Jimmy Fallon, is a friend and fan. Jonathan used to work for Billboard Magazine (he still freelances there I believe) so we’ve known him for a while. He got wind that Sweetheart was going to be re-released and decided to contact us. I have to say that my first impulse was to say no to the offer, but the band started discussing it and we finally decided it was a fun and unique opportunity.
FSS: Where you surprised to see Carrie Brownstein (Sleater Kinney) and Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) in the crowd?
KC: Definitely not surprised to see Fred as we’re old friends with him. Fred was in a great Chicago band called Trenchmouth and we did lots of touring together. Fred is a great musician in addition to being a very smart and funny guy. I met Carrie for the first time that day and we got to chat for a few minutes which was cool. I’ve always admired her music.
FSS: What kind of reaction did you feel the performance got?
KC: I believe it got a pretty good reaction! The Fallon studio is a lovely, small space with great sound. Much of the audience was there to see us play so there was a good, positive, nostalgic vibe in the air.
I need to say too that Jimmy Fallon was completely gracious and seemed to genuinely enjoy our performance. All the Fallon people were super cool and it was also a treat to meet Jimmy’s house band, The Roots. Amazing band.
FSS: If given the chance would you do it again?
KC: Absolutely!
FSS: What have you been up to since the band broke up?
KC: I still run my label, DeSoto Records, although it’s more catalog maintenance at this point. My son Nick was born in 2001 and 2002 I got a master’s in library science. I’ve done some work in libraries and have also taught in an all boys’ middle school.
FSS: How did DeSoto Records go about getting the rights back to For Your Own Special Sweetheart?
KC: A great lawyer named Bryan Christner worked his magic on Atlantic. Really, I have no idea what he said or did to bring it about, but I got the rights to the Atlantic records back. Cost $10,000 for both records, but worth every penny.
FSS: How did you go about hooking up with Dischord again for the re-release?
KC: This is an easy one; they came and asked us if we’d like to do it. They’ve been re-releasing a lot of records. It wasn’t on our minds at all, but I’m glad they had the idea. It’s a DeSoto imprint, but Dischord did all the manufacturing and distro.
FSS: What was the process for remastering the album like? Is there a difference in sound between the vinyl and the cd? Where you happy with how it came out?
KC: We really just left the remastering to the great Bob Weston. He emailed us the files for approval and we definitely approved. Sweetheart finally has the low end that it lacked in the original. The mastering was different for the vinyl and the CD to make it the best it could be for each format.
FSS: Who’s responsible for the new artwork?
KC: Jason Farrell (Swiz, Bluetip, Retisonic) did the artwork. He did a fantastic job; I’m really happy with the updated look that still pays tribute to the original art.
FSS: Did you ever imagine a day where vinyl would make such a comeback?
KC: I really didn’t! I know it’s not cool to say this, but I don’t love vinyl. It’s cumbersome and big and a pain to flip the sides. I much prefer to plug in my iPod and go. I’m not such an audiophile that I notice the extra warmth in vinyl. I guess I really don’t care about format as long as I can access great music.
FSS: Now that FYOSS is back out on record shelves where it belongs and now that the Fallon show has aired, what’s next for Jawbox?
KC: We would like to do something together as Jawbox again in the future, but we haven’t really figured out yet what that something is. Sorry to be cryptic, but it’s true! Personally, I would love to write some new Jawbox songs, but that is contingent on finding the time.
Related Articles: Jawbox on Fallon, FYOSS Reissue, FSS Best of 2009
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good stuff