The Biltmores are an indie rock quartet that originated in Providence, Rhode Island. Danny Baxter and his older brother George had been writing and recording songs together for years prior to Dan's enrollment at Providence College, but it wasn't until Dan approached Jon and Brendan in October of 2005 that The Biltmores came to life. Brendan's post-punk influences and Jon's affinity for folk-inspired classic rock helped balance out the indie-grunge attributes of the Baxter brothers and created the dynamic and unique sound for which The Biltmores are known.
The band played its first live show in December 2005 and soon developed a following of devoted fans and a reputation for energetic live performances. The group's debut record, Same Story, Same Ending, was tracked over five days in June of 2006 in Brendan's hometown of Chicago. The band recruited producer Mike Lust (of the band Tight Phantomz, and formerly of Lustre King) and used his Phantom Manor Studios in Chicago to lay down the thirteen songs that comprise Same Story, Same Ending.
Same Story, Same Ending is a collection of many different musical styles and arrangements, ranging from the folk-inspired epic "Pigeonhole Blacktop" to the radio-friendly melodies of "Weight of the World," a song which helped the band finish in second place out of approximately one hundred and twenty bands in WFNX/The Boston Phoenix's December 2006 Last Band Standing Contest which incorporated both listener votes and judge's scores; an impressive feat for a band that had yet to play in Boston at the time. Singer Danny Baxter's vocals "terrify in the most delightful of ways" with lyrics that are "plaintive, yet brutally adamant." The Biltmores soon branched out from Providence College and began to develop an "impressive" local following, according to Performer Magazine, by playing regular shows in the greater Boston and NYC area and sharing the stage with bands like The Oranges Band and Nine Days, among others. Songs from Same Story, Same Ending have been played on radio stations in Providence, Boston and Philadelphia and have been used on such TV networks as MTV, VH1, NBC and PBS and are currently available on iTunes and other outlets.
Not content to rest on their laurels, The Biltmores quickly went to work on their second album. They moved into a house together in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and spent ten intense months writing and practicing new material and playing many live shows in New England. The closeness created by the new living arrangement allowed each member of the band to create in ways that simply weren't possible before. The result is a totally different side of the band that harkens back to a more vintage and contemplative rock sound and shows that they are not afraid to push themselves beyond their comfort zones. In June 2007, the band again recruited Mike Lust to help them record their follow-up full length album, Never Go Home, which was released in May 2008. This time, however, The Biltmores would not return to Rhode Island after recording, instead permanently relocating to Chicago, which is Brendan's hometown and a city known for its very vibrant music scene. Never Go Home is a record that is more cohesive and thematic in nature than its predecessor. The driving and calculated song structures help bring the latent pop melodies to the surface over repeated listens, as the layers slowly begin to peel away. Never Go Home is an expertly-crafted labor of love for a maturing band on its own personal journey.
The Biltmores have never been stronger or tighter than they are presently and are currently working to perfect their live show by performing in the Chicago area and, as always, writing new songs. Please be sure to check this site often for updates on music, videos, news, merchandise and show information!
