Biography
Pittsburgh natives and longtime friends Anthony Badamo and Ian Glinka launched Black Tie Revue in 2003. Although the group cycled through at least five drummers before completing its first recording, the central unit of singer-guitarist Badamo, bassist Matthew Hanzes, and guitarist John-Paul McCormick (who had started on keyboards) stayed intact after Glinka departed in 2004 to join the national Democratic Party. Keyboardist Jesse Ley then entered, allowing McCormick to switch instruments, and the band—now featuring drummer Jackie Robin—built a following in its hometown with Ramones-derived chord structures and melodies recalling the Cars and Big Star. That local momentum prompted the self-release of the three-song EP Introducing in early 2005, which earned the group an invitation to Austin’s SXSW Festival without any label affiliation. Plans for a full-length album later that year were postponed by additional drumming changes and a subsequent deal with Gearhead; the resulting debut, Code Fun, finally appeared in spring 2007 with Paul Felty on drums and included every track from the earlier EP plus seven new songs.