The Anniversary
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 in Lawrence, Kansas, United States |
| Founder | Josh Berwanger, James David, Christian Jankowski, Adrianne Verhoeven, Justin Roelofs |
| Defunct | January 2004 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited in 2016 |
| Headquarters | Lawrence , United States |
Area served | United States, Midwest touring |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
| Website | www |
The Anniversary is a U.S. band that originated in Lawrence, Kansas in 1997, founded by Josh Berwanger, James David, Christian Jankowski, Adrianne Verhoeven, and Justin Roelofs. After a year marked by lineup adjustments, the group reached a stable formation. They spent two years touring the Midwest alongside bands such as The Get Up Kids, Braid, and Superchunk before securing a contract with Vagrant Records.
Their debut album, Designing a Nervous Breakdown (2000), presented them as an emo band characterized by pop-infused keyboard melodies. However, their style shifted toward classic rock influences on their 2001 split release with Superdrag and the 2002 album Your Majesty. Following rigorous touring throughout 2002 and 2003, they began working on demos for a third album. Ultimately, after four years of nonstop touring and internal challenges, the band disbanded in early 2004.
Approximately four and a half years later, Vagrant Records issued Devil on Our Side, a collection featuring b-sides and previously unreleased recordings.
Formation (1997–1999)
The Anniversary was established in 1997 as a quintet based in Lawrence, Kansas. Prior to this, Josh Berwanger, Justin Roelofs, and Adrianne Verhoeven performed together under the name The Broadcast in 1996. Early recordings included tracks like "Crazy Makes Us Sane." Later that year, Chris "Janko" Jankowski joined on drums and Jim David on bass, solidifying the lineup and prompting a name change to The Anniversary due to conflicts over the original name.
With Justin and Josh handling guitar and vocals, Adrianne contributing keyboard and vocals, Jim on bass, and Janko on drums, The Anniversary crafted their distinctive sound—characterized by emotional male/female vocal harmonies, interwoven guitars, synth-pop textures, and memorable choruses—while extensively touring the Midwest between 1997 and 1999. In January 1998, they recorded six songs at Kingsize Studios in Chicago, followed by six additional tracks for their debut EP released through Kansas City's Urinine Records later that year. In spring 1999, The Get Up Kids extended an offer for The Anniversary to record a full-length album under their Heroes & Villains imprint affiliated with Vagrant Records, which the band accepted.
Designing a Nervous Breakdown (1999–2001)
In July 1999, recording sessions for their first album, Designing a Nervous Breakdown, took place at Kingsize Studios as well as Red House Studios located in Eudora, Kansas. One song appeared on a split 7-inch alongside The Get Up Kids in November 1999, aiding in expanding their national audience.
The album was officially released on January 20, 2000. Subsequently, The Anniversary embarked on their inaugural nationwide tour supporting The Get Up Kids. Throughout 2000 and into 2001, they continued both touring and producing new songs for various projects including a split 7” with Hot Rod Circuit, contributions to the Another Year on the Streets Vagrant sampler, and participation in the January 2001 Sub Pop Singles Club.
Your Majesty (2001–2003)
By June 2001, The Anniversary had shifted toward a refined classic rock style driven by prominent riffs for their sophomore album Your Majesty, which was recorded at Sonora Records in Los Feliz, California. Although initially planned for release in September 2001, legal complications between Vagrant Records and its distributor postponed the launch.
During this interval, the band recorded three new tracks for a split CD with Superdrag, released in November 2001 to align with a national tour. The album Your Majesty was eventually released in January 2002.
Despite creating demos late in 2002, The Anniversary was dropped by Vagrant Records in early 2003 amid interpersonal difficulties. Nonetheless, they sustained momentum through extensive tours alongside groups such as Cheap Trick and Guided by Voices, incorporating new psychedelic and classic rock influences into their live shows.
Disbandment (2003–2004)
In 2003, following the acquisition of new management and an offer from DreamWorks Records, The Anniversary commenced recording demos for their third studio album. During sessions at Hideaway Studios in Colorado, they infused elements of reggae, blues, and country into two of their tracks.
Nevertheless, escalating internal conflicts culminated in their final performance on November 23, 2003, in San Antonio, Texas. The group formally dissolved in January 2004 and publicly disclosed the breakup in February, expressing gratitude to their supporters and directing attention to side endeavors such as The Holy Ghosts and Justin Janko’s solo pursuits.
Individual endeavors (2004–2007)
Justin Roelofs introduced his solo venture White Flight, releasing its initial album through Range Life Records on March 6, 2007.
Adrianne Verhoeven collaborated with Fourth Of July and Art In Manila before unveiling a solo album under the name "Dri," titled Smoke Rings, which came out on November 6, 2007, via Range Life Records.
Josh Berwanger established The Only Children, launching Change Of Living in 2004 followed by Keeper of Youth in 2007.
Devil on Our Side release and reunion prospects (2008–present)
After nearly four years without activity, The Anniversary updated their MySpace blog on January 1, 2008. They revealed Devil on Our Side, a two-disc collection featuring unreleased tracks, B-sides, and rare material, released by Vagrant Records on June 24, 2008.
In the same year, Justin Roelofs recorded a second White Flight album titled White Ark, which never saw an official release. Digital singles "Panther" and "Children of the Light" were issued in 2010 via Range Life Records and as a UK 7-inch through Make Mine. Later, in 2014, Roelofs partnered with co-producer E*vax of Ratatat to release a single under the moniker ABUELA on Canvasback.
In 2009, Adrianne Verhoeven joined forces with her husband and producer Alex deLanda to form Extra Classic, a San Francisco-based band. They produced two albums: Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like A Laser Beam in 2011 through Manimal Vinyl and Burger Records, followed by Showcase in 2014 released independently on their Nopal Records label.
Josh Berwanger issued the solo album Strange Stains in 2013 via Good Land Records and later released the EP Demonios in 2015 under High Dive Records.
On March 22, 2016, The Anniversary established official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles featuring the band's emblem alongside the year 2016, hinting at renewed activity.
Shortly thereafter, on March 28, it was announced that The Anniversary would perform alongside Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday at the Taste of Chaos Festival scheduled for July 16, 2016, in San Bernardino, California.
The band launched their reunion tour beginning September 8, 2016, at The Brighton Music Hall located in Boston, Massachusetts.
Band members
- Josh Berwanger – vocals, guitar
- Justin Roelofs – vocals, guitar
- Adrianne Verhoeven – keyboards, vocals
- James David – bass guitar
- Christian Jankowski – drums
- Ricky Salthouse – guitar (substituted for Justin during the 2016 and subsequent reunion tours)
Discography
| Year | Title | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2008 | Devil on Our Side: B-Sides & Rarities | Compilation | Vagrant Records |
Compilation Appearances
| Year | Album | Tracks Included | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | It Certainly Was a Grand Piano | "Low Tide and Hospital Bed" | Abominable Records |
| 2000 | Another Year on the Streets | "D in Detroit" and "I Believe That the End of the Reign of Terror is Soon Near" | Vagrant Records |
| 2000 | No-Fi Trash | "Hold Me Tonight" | Floppy Cow Records |
| 2001 | Another Year On The Streets, Vol. 2 | "Sweet Marie" | Vagrant Records |
| 2008 | Vagrant Records Sampler | "To Never Die Young" | Vagrant Records |
References
Citations
Sources
External links
- Official website of The Anniversary
- The Anniversary at Vagrant Records