NASHVILLE |FR: SHAZILA MOHAMMED/CHELSI SCHRIVER
RELEASE SELF-TITLED DEBUT FULL LENGTH REGIONALLY AND ON ITUNES;
JERRY HARRISON-PRODUCED ALBUM IN STORES LATER THIS YEAR;
CRITICAL PRAISE BUILDS FOR AUSTIN, TX BAND AS THEY HEAD INTO SXSW
Austin, TX is known for its amazing BBQ, their beloved University of Texas Longhorns and home to the annual SXSW music conference and festival, which has bolstered the city’s unstoppable music scene (ie: Spoon, Explosions in the Sky, Voxtrot, What Made Milwaukee Famous). Enter THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS and their self-described “twitchy electro-dance pop that rocks.”
Formed in 2004, the indie rock quartet—Scott Butler (vocals, guitars), Landon Thompson (guitar, keyboard), John Aldridge (bass) and Billy Potts (drums)—have established themselves as not-to-be-missed local favorites, receiving critical praise from many of the area’s esteemed rock critics.
2008 will see the nationwide in-store release of the band’s self-titled debut release–produced by former Talking Heads and Modern Lovers’ keyboardist/guitarist Jerry Harrison–on Houston’s Brando Records. The album was initially issued in late-February regionally and on iTunes.
How does a young Austin band find a producer like Jerry Harrison to take the helm of their debut album? They don’t… he finds them! Based on early critical buzz comparing the band—accurately or not—to Jerry’s former band Talking Heads, he came to the band’s official SXSW showcase in 2007 out of curiosity. One of only seven people at the show–it was off the beaten path in a parking lot and they were the first of five bands–the band’s live performance captivated him and he invited them to record at his Sausalito Sound studio in the Bay Area.
THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS return to the SXSW stage this year, playing their official showcase on Thursday, March 13 at Maggie Mae’s. The band was also invited to play the Mayor of Austin’s official SXSW Welcoming Party. See below for a full list of SXSW-week performances.
THE BLACK & WHITE YEARS’ current tour dates:
| Tue, 3/11 | Austin, TX | Art Disaster at Beauty Bar | ||
| Wed, 3/12 | Austin, TX | Red Bull Party at the Moon Tower | ||
| Wed, 3/12 | Austin, TX | Mayor’s SXSW Welcoming Party | ||
| Thu, 3/13 | Austin, TX | SXSW-Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room **Official Showcase** |
Recent Press Quotes:
"Austin's Best New Local Band 2008."
"…genre-blurring, squiggly synth rock… The Black and White Years aren’t what you’ve heard before… "
“…they elicit quirky embellishments and innovative arrangements while retaining a catchy, tap-along pop feel. Gently rubbing shoulders with an assortment of styles, random pianos, congas and synth strings are intuitively weaved in and out of every track, creating a lush, pop sound that's close to perfection
For more information on THE BLACK & WHITE YEARS, visit:
www.theblackandwhiteyears.com
www.myspace.com/theblackandwhiteyears
www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.asp?epk_id=120965 (media kit)
For additional information, press requests and to RSVP to any of the SXSW shows, contact:
MSO 818.380.0400
Shazila Mohammed, x238 shazila@msopr.com
Chelsi Schriver (regional), x231 cschriver@msopr.com
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