Clarksburg – The Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center and Born & Bred Music are excited to announce the return of The Born & Bred Concert Series on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the historic Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center located at 444 W. Pike St. in Clarksburg, WV.
The Born & Bred Concert Series was created by Brendan Gallagher and debuted as a music festival in Grafton, WV. In its new concert series form, The Robinson Grand will be producing multiple shows a year featuring talented musicians and performing artists that have been shaped by the Mountain State. The April 11th show will be the one for the books as it sees The Argument reuniting for their first show in 19 years! The show will also feature Last Year’s Model and will be hosted by Jason Young.
The story of the Argument is one of exhilarating indie rock successes and heart-breaking “almosts” grounded in incredible friendship and musical camaraderie.
Formed in the summer of 1997 in Morgantown, West Virginia, the Argument came together when four musicians—Scott Simons, Matt Warder, Brent Bunner, and Chris Russell—were introduced by a mutual friend. Their first meeting was at a Ben Folds Five show in Pittsburgh, where they were inspired to start an original band together.
Their first performance came shortly after when they signed up last minute for an open mic night in front of a group of mostly friends at the Nyabinghi Dance Hall in Morgantown. After the set, a roommate, amused by their inability to agree on a name, dubbed them the Argument. The name stuck.
By 1998, the Argument was gigging regularly around Morgantown, playing everything from house parties to grungy college bars to VFW halls. The band also found opportunities to perform in nearby Pittsburgh, where their reputation began to spread. As their fan base grew, they began attracting larger crowds and even opened for Busta Rhymes at a 14,000-student back-to-school concert at West Virginia University.
In April 2000, the Argument released their first album “Your New Favorite Band” and played a sold-out show at 123 Pleasant Street, the reopened music venue where they played their open mic debut. They started to hit the road, performing across the Northeast and Midwest, including stops in New York, Philadelphia, DC, Nashville, Cleveland, and Chicago. Their increasing profile also earned them a feature on public radio’s Mountain Stage, further expanding their reach nationally. In 2003, the Argument was named one of the “Top Ten Unsigned Bands in the Country” by the American Music Awards and they traveled to Los Angeles to perform at The Knitting Factory on Hollywood Boulevard as part of the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Argument’s second album “Recess Serenade” caught the attention of industry heavyweights like LA Reid, then head of Arista Records, who invited them to New York for a private showcase and their music began getting regional radio airplay. They continued touring the United States, hitting 25 states and Washington, DC with no label or promotion money behind them. They started selling out a 2,000-capacity theater in town and opened for nationally touring acts like Train, OK Go, Fountains Of Wayne, 3 Doors Down, OAR, Matt Nathanson and Keane. Eventually, their growing profile earned them more showcases with executives at major labels like Atlantic and Hollywood Records.
In 2005, they released a final EP which included their version of “Hello Again” that they were asked to contribute to a tribute album to The Cars. But, by 2006, after nearly a decade of touring and battling the challenges of the music industry, the band made the difficult decision to call it quits. Their farewell shows—one at the Met Theatre and another at 123 Pleasant Street —were sold out, tearfully marking the end of an era.
In the years that followed, the members remained in touch but pursued different paths in life that spread them out across the country making a reunion unlikely. A few years ago, nearly 20 years after their formation, the Argument decided to write and record new music—not with expectations of success, but for the sheer joy of it. The result? A collection of new songs that recapture the energy and chemistry of their early days spent in 15 passenger vans touring the country.
Due to the fun of making new music together again and the reception of longtime and new fans, the Argument is planning to return to the stage for their first show in nearly 19 years—an epic reunion performance on April 11, 2025, at the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center in Clarksburg, WV. The reunion show will be almost exactly 25 years to the day since the release of their debut album which is fitting because after all these years, the Argument still wants to be your old new favorite band.
Last Year’s Model is a rock and roll band hailing from West Virginia, known for their captivating blend of heartland rock and storytelling. With influences that blend elements from Bruce Springsteen’s evocative lyricism to Pearl Jam’s dynamic energy, to the emotive music of The Cure, the band has carved out a unique niche in the music scene.
Last Year’s Model crafts songs that delve into the depths of human emotion, exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of life. Their music resonates with listeners, offering a nostalgic yet contemporary sound that evokes the spirit of classic rock while remaining firmly rooted in the present. Since their formation, Last Year’s Model has steadily gained recognition for their powerful live performances and heartfelt songwriting. Their dedication to their craft is evident in every note they play and every word they sing.
