Do you ever wonder what happened to The Anniversary? Why did they break up? Where did they all go? These questions and more have most likely been on the minds of any indie-rocker who has heard the sweet melodies that came from The Anniversary. In its run of seven years, The Anniversary had acquired quite a fan base through its production of two albums before their break up in 2003.

Well, the members haven’t fallen off the face of the music world entirely. Adrianne Verhoeven went on to join a Kansas City band named The Gadjits. Justin Roelefs is working on a solo project. But it is the remaining three that we’re concerned about this day. James David, Josh Berwanger, and Christian Jankowski formed with Casey Prestwood (Hot Rod Circuit), Heidi Gluck (Some Girls), and T.K. Webb to form The Only Children.

Disclaimer:
The Only Children is NOT The Anniversary. They don’t sounds like The Anniversary. In fact they are in a completely different spectrum of music. Do not listen to the song expecting a flood of nostalgic joy bringing you back to the days of good times with The Anniversary; it’s just not going to happen. But before you click the “back” button, hold on a second.

The Only Children returns to the roots of classic folk rock and borderlines alternative country. Their influences lean to the harder side of folk in Neil Young territory, and you can even hear some Lynyrd Skynyrd if you listen close enough. The entire album takes on a very earthy tone; you know, the “eatin’ grandma’s homemade chicken fried steak on the porch of an old house on the plains of Kansas” feeling. That’s probably the best way I can describe it.

The song I chose to sample is called Sky Begins to Storm. As the first song of the album, it is a good lead to the rest of the album. It is a rather tame song that focuses on darker themes of break ups and cheating lovers presented with the use of twangy guitars and an Old West style piano solo.

Well, there you have it, your long awaited answers to your burning questions. I hope you enjoy the song, and appreciate the span of influences that the former members of The Anniversary are capable of.

- Curtis Riddle