The Anniversary

Last updated
The Anniversary
Origin Lawrence, Kansas
Genres Emo, indie rock, alternative rock, emo pop [1]
Years active
  • 1997–2004
  • 2016
  • 2020
  • 2022
Labels Vagrant
MembersJosh Berwanger
James David
Adrianne Verhoeven
Christian Jankowski
Justin Roelofs

The Anniversary is an American band formed in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1997 by Josh Berwanger, James David, Christian Jankowski, Adrianne Verhoeven and Justin Roelofs. The Anniversary was the solidification of a line-up that had been in flux for a year. After two years of playing shows across with the Midwest with bands that included The Get Up Kids, Braid and Superchunk, The Anniversary signed to Vagrant Records.

Contents

Originally perceived as a poppy, keyboard-driven emo band with the release of their debut album Designing a Nervous Breakdown in 2000, they developed a stronger, classic rock-influenced sound with the release of a split CD with Superdrag in 2001 and their second full length, 2002’s Your Majesty . After touring heavily throughout 2002 and 2003, The Anniversary began demoing tracks for what would be their third full length. But four years of constant touring and personal strains within the group led to the band’s demise in early 2004.

Four and a half years after their breakup, Devil on Our Side — a compilation of b-sides and unreleased tracks — was released by Vagrant Records.

History

Formation (1997–1999)

In 1997 Anniversary formed as a five-piece band in Lawrence, Kansas. Josh Berwanger, Justin Roelofs and Adrianne Verhoeven began playing together in 1996 as The Broadcast. In January 1997, the band recorded a few songs including "Crazy Makes Us Sane". After struggling to keep a permanent rhythm section, Chris "Janko" Jankowski and Jim David solidified the line-up later that year as the band changed their name to The Anniversary, partly because a British group already had the rights to the name The Broadcast.

Featuring Justin and Josh on guitar and vocals, Adrianne on keyboard and vocals, Jim on bass and Janko on drums, The Anniversary developed and refined their signature sound – sentimental guy/girl vocals, complemented by dueling guitar lines, with synth pop overlays and catchy choruses – with heavy touring throughout the Midwestern United States in 1997–1999. In January 1998 six songs were recorded at Kingsize Studios in Chicago. In October of that year six more songs were recorded for a debut EP on Kansas City-based Urinine Records. The Get Up Kids approached them in the spring of 1999 with a deal to record a full-length album on their new Heroes & Villains imprint on Vagrant Records which they accepted.

Designing a Nervous Breakdown (1999–2001)

During ten days in July 1999 The Anniversary returned to Kingsize to record their debut full length, Designing a Nervous Breakdown . Later that July, at Red House Studios in Eudora, Kansas two more songs were recorded, one of which appeared in November 1999 on a split 7-inch with The Get Up Kids entitled Central Standard Time/Vasil + Bluey to precede the debut and help to build a national fan base.

Designing a Nervous Breakdown was released on January 20, 2000, and The Anniversary soon after departed on their first national tour with fellow band The Get Up Kids on January 26, currently popular for their album Something to Write Home About Touring relentlessly throughout 2000 and 2001, the band still found time to break away and record new songs. In March 2000 The Anniversary returned to Red House Studios to record a song later released on a split 7” with Hot Rod Circuit. In August three more songs were recorded at Red House – one released on the Another Year on the Streets Vagrant sampler, and two that were featured in the January 2001 Sub Pop Singles Club.

Your Majesty (2001–2003)

As they continued to tour and write new songs they gradually developed a more mature, classic rock influenced sound. In June 2001 The Anniversary recorded their second full-length album, Your Majesty , at Sonora Records in Los Feliz, California. Your Majesty marked a departure for the band, leaving the poppy, catchy melodies behind in favor of a more polished riff-driven classic rock sound.

Originally slated for a September 2001 release, the album was delayed because of a legal matter between Vagrant Records and their distributor. During this time, The Anniversary recorded three new songs in September 2001 for a split CD with Superdrag, the first in a series of split releases from Vagrant bands. The Superdrag split was released on November 13, 2001, to coincide with a national tour together, and Your Majesty followed shortly thereafter on January 22, 2002.

In between tours, a few tracks were demoed in Rob Pope’s basement in the fall of 2002. However, rather than re-signing a new contract, Vagrant Records dropped The Anniversary in early 2003 because of personal tensions with the label and other bands on the roster.[ citation needed ] But picking up right where they left off, through extensive touring with the likes of Cheap Trick and Guided by Voices, The Anniversary continued to develop their live sound as shows incorporated new songs and re-visited and re-worked past crowd favorites, transforming them into a psychedelic jam loaded with classic rock riffs and gutter rock swagger.

Breakup (2003–2004)

During the spring and summer of 2003 the band began producing demos for songs intended for their third full-length album. Around this time, they had signed to new management and received an offer from DreamWorks Records. [2] The Anniversary continued to explore their songwriting prowess as they incorporated elements of reggae, blues, and even country. Before embarking on an October–November tour, they headed to Hideaway Studios in Sedalia, Colorado to record two tracks for the album. However, tensions within the band had been growing for some time, and The Anniversary played what would become their final show in San Antonio, Texas on November 23, 2003.

The band officially broke up in January 2004, and posted the following message on their website on February 6:

Hello everyone.
Due to a number of reasons, The Anniversary has broken up. This may take some of you by surprise, but it was a long time coming. We'll be selling stuff online a little longer so buy it up now because their [sic] collector's items. Thank you all for your support in our efforts to make the music world a better place. We just weren't prepared for it. Please feel free to check out this website www.theholyghosts.com. It's another project that Josh, Jim, myself, Casey from Hot Rod Circuit, and T.K. Webb are working on. Justin is working on some solo stuff right now. Here's a link to some of his new songs, click. Those of you on the e-mail list will receive updates from The Holy Ghosts from now on. Take care all and pleasant thoughts. Questions or comments may be addressed to theanniversary@hotmail.com.
Peace out, Janko

Solo projects (2004-2007)

Justin Roelofs formed a solo project called White Flight and released his debut album on Range Life Records on March 6, 2007. [3]

Adrianne Verhoeven played in Fourth Of July and Art In Manila before recording (as "Dri") a solo record called "Smoke Rings", which came out on Range Life Records on November 6, 2007. [4]

Josh Berwanger formed a band called The Only Children, which released "Change Of Living" in 2004 [5] and "Keeper of Youth" in 2007. [6]

Devil on Our Side and possible reformation (2008–present)

Nearly four years after the farewell messages were sent, a new blog was posted on The Anniversary's MySpace page on January 1, 2008, the first official communication from the band since the breakup. The band announced Devil on Our Side, a double disc compilation of unreleased songs, B-sides and rarities, released by Vagrant Records on June 24, 2008.

In 2008, Justin Roelofs recorded a sophomore White Flight record called "White Ark", which was never officially released. The "White Ark" singles "Panther" and "Children of the Light" were released in 2010, digitally on Range Life Records and as a 7-inch in the UK on Make Mine., [7] [8] In 2014 Justin and co-producer E*vax of Ratatat released a single as ABUELA on the label Canvasback. [9]

In 2009 Adrianne and husband/producer Alex deLanda, formed a band based out of San Francisco called Extra Classic. [10] Extra Classic has released two albums: 2011's Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like A Laser Beam, released by Manimal Vinyl and Burger Records [11] and 2014's "Showcase", released on their own imprint, Nopal Records. [12]

Berwanger released the album "Strange Stains" (as Josh Berwanger) in 2013 on Good Land Records [13] and the EP "Demonios" (as Berwanger) in 2015 on High Dive Records. [14]

On March 22, 2016, the band created separate Facebook, [15] Twitter, [16] and Instagram [17] accounts each with a profile picture that simply showed the band's logo and the year 2016, [18] apparently teasing something on the horizon. [19]

On March 28, 2016, it was announced that The Anniversary would join headliners Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday at the Taste of Chaos Festival on July 16, 2016, in San Bernardino, CA. [20]

On September 8, 2016, the band kicked off its reunion tour in Boston, Massachusetts, at The Brighton Music Hall. [21]

Band members

Discography

YearTitleTypeLabel
1998"The Anniversary/Proudentall Split" Split EP Paper Brigade Records
1999"Central Standard Time/Vasil + Bluey" Split EP Vagrant Records
2000"Fall Tour EP" EP Vagrant Records
2000 Designing a Nervous Breakdown Album Vagrant Records
2001"Sub Pop Singles Club" EP Sub Pop
2001"The Anniversary/Superdrag Split" Split EP Vagrant Records
2002 Your Majesty Album Vagrant Records
2002"The Anniversary/Hot Rod Circuit Split" Split EP Vagrant Records
2003"100 Ships" Single Devil in the Woods Magazine
2008Devil on Our Side: B-Sides & Rarities Compilation Vagrant Records

Compilation appearances

YearAlbumSongs FeaturedRecord Label
2000It Certainly Was a Grand Piano"Low Tide and Hospital Bed"Abominable Records
2000Another Year on the Streets"D in Detroit" and "I Believe That the End of the Reign of Terror is Soon Near" Vagrant
2000No-Fi Trash"Hold Me Tonight"Floppy Cow Records
2001Another Year On The Streets, Vol. 2"Sweet Marie" Vagrant
2008Vagrant Records Sampler"To Never Die Young" Vagrant

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Moody Blues</span> English band

The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals), and Clint Warwick (bass/vocals). Originally part of the British beat and R&B scene of the early–mid 1960s, the band came to prominence with the UK No. 1 and US Top 10 single "Go Now" in late 1964/early 1965. Laine and Warwick both left the band in 1966, with Edge, Pinder and Thomas recruiting new members Justin Hayward (guitar/vocals) and John Lodge (bass/vocals). They embraced the psychedelic rock movement of the late 1960s, with their second album, 1967's Days of Future Passed, being a fusion of rock with classical music that established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Get Up Kids</span> American rock band

The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Kansas City. Formed in 1995, the band was a major act in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music. Their second album Something to Write Home About remains their most widely acclaimed album, and is considered to be one of the quintessential albums of the second-wave emo movement. They are considered forefathers of the emo genre, and have been widely credited as being an influence, both by contemporaries Saves the Day and later bands such as Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday and the Wonder Years.

Superdrag is an American alternative rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. They had a hit single in 1996, "Sucked Out", from their album Regretfully Yours. The original lineup reunited in 2007, releasing a full-length album in 2009: Industry Giants. The same lineup reunited again in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senses Fail</span> American rock band

Senses Fail is an American rock band formed in Ridgewood, New Jersey, in 2001. Founded by vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Garrett Zablocki and Dave Miller, and bassist James Gill ; the band has seen many lineup changes, with Nielsen being the only consistent member. The band has released eight studio albums, two EPs, and one live album. Discovered by their first manager, Heath Miller of Excess dB Entertainment, booked them on a show opening for Catch 22 at Rexplex, where the owner's of Drive Thru Records saw them live for the first time and offered to sign them on November 30, 2002.

Vagrant Records is an American record label based in California. It was founded in 1995 by Rich Egan and Jon Cohen. The label focuses on rock, but features artists in a variety of other genres including folk, soul, electronic, and pop. It is home to artists such as The 1975, Death Spells, Eels, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, CRUISR, Active Child, PJ Harvey, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, James Vincent McMorrow, Black Joe Lewis, Wake Owl, Blitzen Trapper, and Bombay Bicycle Club. Originally, Vagrant Records was mostly focused on emo bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Saves the Day, The Get Up Kids, Senses Fail, and Alkaline Trio. The label is considered one of the pre-eminent labels of the emo music scene.

<i>Good Mourning</i> 2003 studio album by Alkaline Trio

Good Mourning is the fourth studio album by American rock band Alkaline Trio, released May 13, 2003 on Vagrant Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saves the Day</span> American rock band

Saves the Day is an American rock band formed in 1997 in Princeton, New Jersey. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Rodrigo Palma, and drummer Claudio Rivera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mates of State</span> American indie pop duo

Mates of State are an American indie pop duo, active since 1997. The group is the husband-and-wife team of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moneen</span> Canadian indie rock band

Moneen is a Canadian indie rock band from Brampton, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue October</span> American rock band

Blue October is an American rock band originally from Houston, Texas, formed in 1995. It currently consists of singer/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, bassist Matt Noveskey, and lead guitarist Steve Schiltz.

<i>Stay What You Are</i> 2001 studio album by Saves the Day

Stay What You Are is the third studio album from American rock band Saves the Day, released in 2001. The album received positive reviews from critics at the time of its release and remains an influential album in the emo and pop punk genres. It has been described as "channel[ling] the thrill of pop punk, the intellect of indie rock, and the raw emotion of emo all at once." Lead single "At Your Funeral" charted in the United Kingdom and Scotland.

Hot Rod Circuit (HRC) is an American emo band from Auburn, Alabama, established in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Pryor (musician)</span> American musician (born 1978)

Matthew Pryor is an American musician who lives in Lawrence, Kansas. He is best known as a founding member and the lead vocalist of The Get Up Kids, one of the most influential acts of the second-wave emo music scene.

White Flight is the solo project of Justin Roelofs, longtime musician and former singer/guitarist for The Anniversary. Roelofs released an experimental self-titled debut album in 2006, followed by a re-release in 2007.

<i>Designing a Nervous Breakdown</i> 2000 studio album by the Anniversary

Designing a Nervous Breakdown is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Anniversary, released on January 25, 2000, through Vagrant and Heroes & Villains Records. After finalizing their line-up and changing their name, the band self-released a three-track demo tape in 1998. The following year, they signed to Vagrant imprint Heroes & Villains Records at the insistence of the Get Up Kids bassist Rob Pope. In July 1999, the Anniversary recorded their debut with producer David Trumfio at Kingsize Soundlabs in Chicago, Illinois. Designing a Nervous Breakdown has been described as an emo, indie rock and synth-pop release, drawing comparison to Devo, the Rentals and Sonic Youth.

<i>Your Majesty</i> (album) 2002 studio album by The Anniversary

Your Majesty is the second studio album by American rock band the Anniversary. It was released on January 22, 2002, through Vagrant Records. Following the release of their debut studio album, Designing a Nervous Breakdown in early 2000, the band started writing new material by that August. They later recorded the album in June 2001 at Sonora Recorders in Los Feliz, California, with producer Rob Schnapf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss May I</span> American metalcore band

Miss May I is an American metalcore band from Troy, Ohio. Formed in 2007, they signed to Rise Records in 2008 and released their debut album, Apologies Are for the Weak through the label while the members were still attending high school. The album reached 76 on the Billboard 200, No. 29 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers, and No. 66 on Top Independent Albums. The band has also had some of their material featured in big name productions; the song "Forgive and Forget" is featured on the Saw VI Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and their song "Apologies Are for the Weak" is included in the video game Saints Row: The Third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Close to Home (band)</span> American post-hardcore band

Close to Home was an American post-hardcore band from Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, that was formed in 2005. They have released two EPs and three full-length albums, Picture Perfect; their major label debut, Never Back Down, which was released on February 15, 2011; and their most recent effort, Momentum, which was released July 31, 2012 via Artery Recordings. Close to Home has toured across the United States and Europe with bands such as Silverstein, Emery, Dance Gavin Dance, In Fear and Faith, We Came as Romans, and Electric Callboy. They have also participated in 2010 and 2012's Scream It Like You Mean It tours. On December 10, 2010, they signed with Artery Recordings; however this contract has been fulfilled. The band was previously managed by Outerloop Management. Close to Home is commonly depicted as CTH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Phillip</span> American drummer

Jon Phillip is an American musician, sober living enthusiast, and record collector. He currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is the drummer for Josh Berwanger of the Anniversary and frontman of Mini Meltdowns. From 2010-2015, Phillip spent time recording and touring with Tommy Stinson, the Paul Collins Beat, and Trapper Schoepp & The Shades. He spent much of the mid-2000s playing drums for the now-defunct California-based twangy rock band Limbeck. He has also played in Drive-Thru Records' power-pop band The Benjamins, The Obsoletes, Ben Weasel & His Carnegie Bandsmen, Shaft, and a punk band in high school called Tralfez.

Schatzi is an American band from Oklahoma, based in Austin, Texas, formed in 1996 by Montez Williams, Christian Kyle, Jason Westbrook and Jason Altman.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "The Anniversary Formed in Lawrence, KS in 1997". Lawrence.com. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  2. ↑ Mullen 2012, event occurs at 24:13–7
  3. ↑ "White Flight: White Flight Album Review - Pitchfork". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "Smoke Rings - Dri - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Change of Living - The Only Children - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Only Children: Keeper of Youth Album Review - Pitchfork". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Premiere: White Flight, "Panther" (prod by Ratatat) MP3". Thefader.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Panther Single, by White Flight". Make Mine. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Song : ABUELA : "True Colors" « My Old Kentucky Blog". Myoldkentuckyblog.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "EXTRA CLASSIC". Nopal Records. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "PopMatters Slipped Discs 2011: Extra Classic". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "RELEASES". Nopal Records. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Stream Former the Anniversary Leader Josh Berwanger's Shimmering Solo Debut 'Strange Stains'". Spin.com. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "Berwanger - High Dive Records". Highdiverecords.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Anniversary". Facebook.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "THE ANNIVERSARY (@TheAnniversary_) - Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "The Anniversary (@the_anniversary) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "POhotographic image" (JPG). Pbs.twimg.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  19. ↑ "The Anniversary Hint at 2016 Reunion". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "The Anniversary". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "The Anniversary Calendar 2016, Tour Dates & Concerts – Songkick". Songkick.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.