The popular Christian band Building 429 performed in concert to a large and loud crowd at Ashland University on Jan. 22 in Hugo Young Theatre. The opening band for the evening was 33 Miles. The event was sponsored by Ashland University’s The Center for Religious Life and The Call.
Building 429 consists of Jason Roy, lead vocal and guitar; Michael Anderson, drums; and Jesse Garcia, guitar and keyboards. Having played 200 shows a year as an independent endeavor, Building 429 burst onto the scene in 2004 with their first project on a major label, “Space in Between Us.”
The band captured the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 2005 and was nominated by the Gospel Music Association for 2005 Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year & Song of the Year.
The album’s breakout single, “Glory Defined,” was named the 2005 Christian Song of the Year by BMI and it reached the No. 1 spot on eight different radio charts, including: Christian Radio Weekly’s Christian Hit Radio chart, Radio & Records’ Adult Contemporary Monitored and Christian Hit Radio charts, Billboard.com’s “AC Hot Christian Adult Contemporary” and “AC Hot Christian Singles and Tracks” charts and The PDAdvisor’s (PDA) Christian Hit Radio and Adult Contemporary charts.
“Glory Defined” climbed to No. 1 on Christian Radio Weekly’s Adult Contemporary chart faster than any other single in the publication’s history and remained there for 10 consecutive weeks. “Glory Defined” was the first single on Radio & Records from a debut artist ever to hold 100 percent of the Adult Contemporary panel all at the same time, and only the second time for any artist, debut or veteran.
The band then moved forward to release the next two studio efforts, 2006’s “Rise,” and 2007’s “Iris to Iris,” which were received favorably, making significant appearances on Billboard’s Christian charts and heavily impacting Christian radio. More information on Building 429 is available at the band’s website www.building429.com.
33Miles consists of Jason Barton, lead vocals; Chris Lockwood, guitar and vocals; and Collin Stoddard, keyboards and vocals. The band’s new album, “Believe” (INO Records), has the current single “Jesus Calling.”
The band’s 2008 album, “One Life,” entered the Top Christian Soundscan Album Sales chart and the Christian Digital chart at No. 5, while debuting at No. 160 on the Billboard Top 200. “One Life” debuted in the top 10 albums sold on iTunes the week of Sept. 15, 2008, and the band was recognized with one of the industry’s highest newcomer honors, a Gospel Music Association Dove nomination for “New Artist of the Year” in 2008.
The band also celebrated one of the highest-selling freshman albums of 2007 with its GMA Dove nominated project, “33Miles.”
Reaching over two million readers, Jason Barton and his wife were selected as the lead-in story in Redbook’s June 2008 feature “The State of Our Unions”, where nine couples opened up on the basic principles and challenges of marriage. More information on this band is available at www.33milesonline.com
Ashland University is a mid-sized, private institution conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.
