The Jet Age

Washington, D.C., indie rock trio the Jet Age don't want for ambition: the group's second album, What Did You Do During the War, Daddy?, is a Pete Townshend-like concept album about an average American family man who turns into a suicide bomber through his frustration and bewilderment at the actions of his government. Originally, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Eric Tischler had been the leader of the more conventional power pop act the Hurricane Lamps, but when that group split up in 2004, he quickly formed the Jet Age with bassist Dave Meyer and drummer Pete Nuwayser. Meyer left the trio during the recording of its first album; Tischler drafted former Hurricane Lamps bandmate Greg Barrett to replace him. That debut, Breathless, was released on the Sonic Boomerang label in 2006. During the writing sessions for the follow-up, Tischler wrote three songs in widely divergent musical styles but despaired at making them logically fit on the same album until he recalled an interview quote from his musical hero Pete Townshend, who claimed that songwriting always came easier if he had a brief to write to. Inspired by the idea of writing a Quadrophenia-like concept album, Tischler created a through-line for the songs that was informed by his own political pessimism and fears about the safety of his wife and two children. (However, in all interviews pertaining to the album, Tischler is very clear that he in no way advocates suicide bombing as a means of political protest.) What Did You Do During the War, Daddy? was released by Sonic Boomerang in late 2007.