pictures of annie is:

Justin Curth: Vocals/Guitar
Ashleigh Raczkowski: Bass/Background Vocals

biography written by Dane Jackson

pictures of annie may have been named after a misinterpreted Dashboard Confessional lyric, but the music this Tecumseh, Michigan couple offer to the musical world is entirely genuine.

I write as a release of personal emotions and inner frustrations, Justin Curth said. “Writing music helps me to express these feelings in such a way that not only helps me to deal with them but may also help those who can relate to these same experiences.”

The band formed in the Spring of 2002, and honed their skills for a year before embarking on recording and playing shows. The year of practice paid off because not only is pictures of annie a fine tuned acoustic emo outfit, but they have been able to build a solid Michigan fan base. Their determination to put out the best music they could and get people excited about music again are major motivations behind finding new fans. Justin and Ashleigh have been able to gain their fans because of their tight musicianship, as well as through the Internet and mass mailings of sampler CDs. This was just the preview for what is to come for the band.

According to Ashleigh Raczkowski, she expects the reactions from the band’s debut full-length gather up the pieces to be similar to the reactions that we have received from our sampler CDs as well as the music that we have available online, which has been overwhelmingly positive.

It is with this youthful optimism and belief in their music that will make pictures of annie one of the next big things in the indie rock/emo scene.

The band takes inspiration from some of the heavy hitters in the emo/indie scene, including Chris Carrabba, The Get Up Kids, and Jimmy Eat World. After hearing the sincere lyrics and musicianship of pictures of annie, you may just think you’re listening to a hybrid between Carrabba and The Lyndsay Diaries. Curth isn’t planning on just being known as a Dashboard clone though.

“His (Carrabba) live show is amazing,” Curth said. “The raw emotion that he puts into each song and the effect that it has on people. I want to affect people in the same manner.”

After gather up the pieces gets released this summer, pictures of annie will get that chance.

If you’re looking for intense, acoustic-driven emo, with a lot of depth and diversity, then look no further than pictures of annie. Learn their name now, because you’ll be screaming it later.