| Building 429 | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Origin: | Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genre: | CCM, Christian rock |
| Years Active: | 1999–present |
| Current Members: | Jason Roy |
| Past Members: | Michael Anderson
|
Building 429 is an American Christian rock band from Fayetteville, North Carolina. The band's name refers to Ephesians 4:29, a Biblical passage that (in the New International Version of the Bible) reads: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."[1]
Building 429 was named the Gospel Music Association 2005 New Artist of the Year. The band is known for its hit songs "Glory Defined" (2004) and "Where I Belong" (2012).
In late 1999, bassist Scotty Beshears and guitarist/vocalist Jason Roy met in North Carolina at the final performance of Roy's band All Too Familiar. Beshears had formerly been involved with Elijah's Ride, another independent band. They teamed up with drummer Christian Fuhrer to form a new band which blended modern pop-rock music with Christian-themed lyrics. The trio began to perform under the name "Building 429".[2]
According to Roy, the band's name originated from a youth group. Roy's wife Cortni had once belonged to a youth group that had a system called the "429 Challenge,"[3] based on Ephesians 4:29.[4] Whenever someone in the group spoke negatively about another, others were allowed to issue a verbal "four twenty-nine." This resulted in the offender having to say something nice to the person that was offended. The band members took this challenge and created a name around it: "Building 429".
Throughout the year 2000, Building 429 held a relentless touring schedule, with over 100 shows played and 3,000 copies of their first (self-titled) CD sold.[5]
In the summer of 2002, Building 429 released the EP Preflight, featuring three rough-mixed recordings from their forthcoming second independent release and four acoustic demos. This EP was only available at live shows and on the band's website. In the fall of 2002, the band's second full-length independent album, entitled Flight, was released.
In 2003, Building 429 continued to tour in and around North Carolina. During the summer, Building 429 joined rock worship band Sonicflood on tour. This experience would garner the band national exposure, leading to a record deal with Warner Music Group label Word Records. Studio work immediately began on the band's major-label debut album.
"Glory Defined", Building 429's first nationally serviced radio single, rose to No. 1 on eight combined Christian AC and CHR charts in early 2004, remaining No. 1 on Christian Radio Weekly's (CRW) AC chart for ten consecutive weeks and claiming the spot faster than any single in the history of the publication.[6] The song was the title track from the Glory Defined EP, released April 6, 2004. On July 27, 2004, Building 429's national debut, Space in Between, was released. Produced by Jim Cooper, the album gave three more radio hits: "Above It All", "The Space in Between Us" and "No One Else Knows". The release of the album was followed by tours with artists such as Jeremy Camp, Tree63, and Sonicflood.
Building 429 received four Dove Award nominations and was honored as New Artist of the Year by the Gospel Music Association in 2005. Touring also continued alongside artists Todd Agnew, BarlowGirl, Casting Crowns and Paul Colman.[7] An expanded edition of Space in Between was released in August 2005, which included the full original album plus two tracks from the Glory Defined EP ("All You Ask of Me" and "Free"), the AC mix of "Glory Defined", a radio mix of "No One Else Knows" and a cover of Chris Tomlin's "Famous One".[3]
Produced by Monroe Jones, Rise (released March 14, 2006) featured a heavy sound more in line with the band's live performances. The first singles to be released from the record were "Searching For a Savior", "Fearless" and "I Belong to You". Following the release of Rise, Building 429 headlined their own tour with TAIT, the band fronted by former dc Talk member Michael Tait. Parts of the tour also featured Travel the Road missionaries Tim Scott and Will Decker. The end of 2006 saw Building 429 travel to Germany for their first overseas tour; shows were performed in Heidelberg, Hanau, Baumholder, and Denmark.
Recording continued throughout January 2007 for Building 429's third major studio release, entitled Iris to Iris. "Grace That is Greater", a track from the album, was made available as a digital single through the iTunes music service on March 6, 2007. During the spring of 2007, Building 429 joined another former dc Talk member, TobyMac, on the "Portable Sounds Tour", which also featured Thousand Foot Krutch and Family Force 5. Iris to Iris was released May 1, 2007. In May 2007, the band embarked on a month-long schedule of tour dates with up-and-coming band Jackson Waters to promote Iris to Iris. After performing a few festivals in the summer, Building 429 continued with a second leg of their touring with Jackson Waters, adding and 2006 GMA New Artist of the Year The Afters to the performance lineup. Touring continued in 2008 with Pillar, Wavorly and Brooke Barrettsmith on Pillar's "For the Love of the Game" tour, and with Remedy Drive and Bread of Stone on the LifeLight Communications' "Lifelight" tour (April 9–19).
On July 3, 2008, the band released , a greatest hits collection from the albums under the Word Records label. The CD contained all previously released tracks.
A press release dated September 10, 2008 stated that Building 429 had moved to INO Records after almost five years with Word Records.[8] The self-titled album Building 429 was released on October 21, 2008 to mark the "new beginning" of the band with the new label.[9] "End of Me" was the first single from the new album to be released to Christian AC and CHR radio outlets, followed by "Always". Soul-Audio, a Christian music publication, granted the album an average score, speaking highly of the band by saying "Forget the future—the present is pretty bright for this trio."[10] Building 429 started out with Essential Records by releasing Listen to the Sound.[11] Throughout 2011 and 2012, Building 429 released new singles "Listen to the Sound", "Right Beside You" and "Where I Belong". The single, "Where I Belong" was No. 1 on the Billboard NCA charts and was named the 2013 Billboard Magazine Christian Song of the Year.[12]
On June 4, 2013, Building 429 released We Won't Be Shaken, their eighth studio album.[13] The CD debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.[14]
On April 29, 2015 (in celebration of 4/29), Building 429 released "Impossible" as the single for their ninth studio album, Unashamed, which was released in September 2015.[15]
In 2018, the band participated in the I Am A Christian Tour featuring New Song, Citizen Way, and Caitie Hurst.[16] In 2019, the band participated in the Live the Journey Tour featuring Blanca, Stars Go Dim, The Color, We Are Vessel, and Sanctus Real.[17] Also in 2019, the band participated in A Thrill of Hope Tour.[18]
See main article: Building 429 discography.
In 2005, Building 429 was nominated for four Dove Awards at the 36th GMA Dove Awards.[19] The band won the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year.[20]
At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, the band's We Won't Be Shaken album was nominated for "Best Contemporary Christian Music Album".[21]