Shadow of the Jawbones reminder to its faithful By JOE TARR Collegian Staff Writer Jerry Davids, a regular at the Jawbone Cof feehouse since 1966, speaks of the "old" Jawbone like a dead friend. "As the Jawbone used to be, I thought it was something really neat and cosmic," Davids said. In its heyday the Jawbone Coffeehouse, 223 S. Garner St., was a popular place to hang out, listen to music for free or play songs for an appreciative crowd on weekend nights. "People would come in a lot of hippie-type people who would play folk music or even jug band music," Davids recalled. "They'd have an old cooker going making Jawburgers and a lot of people would be playing table games and socializing." In recent years the Jawbone's popularity has dwindled, say its organizers, who have had trou ble finding groups to play there. Only a few cof feehouses have been held this semester. Founded in 1963 by the University Lutheran Parish, the Jawbone was originally located in an old house on Foster Avenue. In 1983 the cen ter moved to 223 S. Garner St. One of the few decorations tacked to the walls of the new Jawbone is an album cover from a LP put out in 1963, called "Sounds of the Jawbone." "We're not going to try and evangelize people and we don't necessarily try to keep acts in line with the faith." Chris Johnson intern pastor at University Lutheran Church The artists including Connie Woodring, Daniel Shaffer and John Haag —who were recorded at the Jawbone are now largely forgot ten. But they left a legacy people now only dream about. "We get a lot of comments like, 'The Jaw bone's not like it used to be,' " said Chris John son, intern pastor at the University Lutheran Church. "The Jawbone was pretty much a part of the hippie scene and that spirit is kind of gone." Local musician Renee Campbell remembers wandering around one night in the early 1980 s when she happened upon the old Jawbone. "I walked in and watched a guy play ragtime piano and I think there was someone playing guitar," Campbell said. "It was like going into someone's living room. The new one is a little more sterile." Now the Jawbone is located in the basement of the University Lutheran ministry building. Its cement block walls are covered with white paint and a few decorations including a Laurel and Hardy poster and a Fernando Botero print. There is a small stage located in one corner, surrounded by about 10 tables drapped with plaid cloths. Across the room is a kitchen, a soda machine and an old "church" piano. Those who remember the old building say it was bursting with character. Many of its walls, especially in the bathrooms, were covered by graffiti, which the administrators openly encouraged. "Most of the graffiti did seem intelligent, rath er than the gross stuff you see in some bath rooms," Davids said. The Jawbone committee may soon allow graf fiti, said committee member Bill Fullerton. But members are unsure of whether they should let people write on the walls or provide poster paper or boards for them to clutter with ink. Fullerton, who is in charge of booking acts for the coffeehouse, said the Jawbone looks only for performers who will play for free. The Jawbone does not try to attract harder rock bands, he added. Golden Key Members and Best of America Volunteers REMINDER: TRAINING SESSION DATES Saturday, March 23 at Ipm Or Thursday, March 28 at 7pm Both to be held in 73 Willard CONGRATULATIONS: CLASS OF '9l! One TOYOTA VA: THE BPsi Get The Best Deal Going At Your Local Toyota Dealer Today. "It's a good place for a musician who is just starting out and isn't used to-playing for a crowd. At the coffeehouse it's not as high pressured." Renee Campbell local musician In the 1980 s, acoustic music the Jawbone's musical staple gave way to harsher punk and metal groups. Many of these acts, such as the Mushroom Orchestra of Love (also known as Jesus Christ on a Stick), were too loud for the Jawbone's small.room, Johnson said. "Not that we want to be really strict about who can and can't play," Fullerton said. "But when you get right down to it, the Jawbone is just too small for some types of groups." Although there have been a few times where groups were disrespectful, the Jawbone com mittee generally doesn't censor musicians, Johnson said. "We would like for people to be aware that DEAL GOI 4RUNNER COROLLA The Daily Collegian Tuesday, March 19,1991- I*- )121r11171.11€331.^ SUPRA _''zi,_,-- Lutherans are sponsoring this," he said. "We're not going to try and evangelize people and we don't necessarily try to keep acts in line with the faith." While the Jawbone may have lost some of its 1960 s counter-culture appeal, it is still one of the best venues in town to play, some local musi cians said. • love playing there," said Susan Kemper, who plays traditional folk music. "It's intimate, warm and casual." "It's a good place for a musician who is just starting out and isn't used to playing for a crowd," Campbell said. "At the coffeehouse it's not as high pressured." But the Jawbone still has trouble drawing crowds because most people don't know it exists, Johnson and Fullerton said. Low funds have pre vented any large scale advertising efforts. And as a result many of the Jawbone's "open mike" nights, where anyone is welcome to play music or read poetry, are less frequent. "We haven't had a lot of 'open-mike nights because we've been afraid that nobody would show up," Fullerton said. The Jawbone is slowly showing some life once again. An open mike night held there last Friday was successful, Fullerton said. TERCEL 7" 0 \ CELICA
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers