October 17, 2009 8pm
The Summit
2210 Summit St.
(614) 268-9377
$5 adv / $7 door
Ages 18+ - under 21 $2 surcharge at the door
The Black And White Years
http://myspace.com/theblackandwhiteyears
The Black and White Years are an indie art rock band based in Austin, Texas. Formed in 2006, the band consists of Scott Butler, Landon Thompson and John Aldridge. Scott, Landon, and John met while attending Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Billy Potts joined the band in January 2008 after their debut album had already been recorded.
In 2002 Scott Butler, Landon Thompson and John Aldridge met during an orientation ritual at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. The three easily became friends as they shared a common interest in recording and performing. Their inability to fit into the culture at a Baptist university was also a common trait the three shared. Scott and Landon started performing acoustically at various venues before Scott convinced John to put down his guitar and pick up the bass. In the Spring of 2003 the trio recorded their first effort together in a campus apartment with drummer Robbie Tucker. Having no official band name, the record was titled ‘The Living Room Recordings.’ The band went on to record in various university owned studios including Ocean Way and the historic RCA Studio B where Thompson served as a staff engineer. After graduation in 2005 the band, that at that time included drummer Jonathan Klipstein, decided to move to Austin, TX where they believed they would find a more receptive audience and accepting community. After a small stint with a band they called The Trees the group again lost their drummer and decided to pick up a drum machine and change their sound to a more dance and new wave feel. This would prove advantageous as the style would lead to a relationship with legendary new wave band Talking Heads.
During their showcase at Opal Divine during SXSW 2007 the Black and White Years won the attention of former Talking Heads and Modern Lovers member Jerry Harrison. It is said that Harrison and the band made a strong connection and Harrison led them to a pool-side jam session with David Byrne and Brazilian band Forro in the Dark where rumors of a Talking Heads reunion circled. After agreeing to produce the group’s debut LP, the band spent six weeks in Harrison’s studio in Sausalito, California. At the time of the recording sessions, the band did not have a drummer, preferring instead to play live with the aid of programmed loops and sequenced drum tracks. For the recording, Harrison recruited Steve Ferrone, of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, to play the live drum tracks. The band released their self titled LP nationally and on iTunes September 9, 2008 on Brando Records and ADA/Adrenaline Distribution.
The band has participated in SXSW, CMJ and the 2008 international music industry trade fair Midem in Cannes, France. In September 2008, the group made their festival debut at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and went on to play both days at the 2009 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London.
The band was awarded five Austin Music Awards at SXSW 2009 including Best New Band, Best Song (”Power to Change), Best Bassist, Best Performing Rock Band and Best Producer (Jerry Harrison).
On June 27, 2009 band member Scott Butler married his high school sweetheart, Adrienne Brabham. They had their honeymoon on a Black and White Years tour in England in July 2009.
The Black and White Years are currently finishing their sophomore LP with Erik Wofford at Cacophony Recorders in Austin, TX. The first EP from this effort will be released on vinyl, CD and digital formats September 15, 2009. - Wikipedia