I saw a concert a while back at the Chameleon Club. One of the opening bands was The Evan Anthem. All I knew about them were that they were local. Their live show ended up being the only interesting thing about the evening. They didn't totally suck and in fact, they worked together well as a band. However, I think the main reason they stuck in my mind was because several friends at that show told me I look just like their guitar player/back up vocalist. I am not fond of being told I look like other people. However, this was better than being told I look like my father. That one annoys me every time.
And then a couple of months ago I heard that they were the flagship band for the new label, Mono VS Stereo. That made me grunt a few times in shock. But new labels start up all the time, this won't be anything special, right? Normally, no. Except this label is actually going to be getting into the stores. Plus, Mono VS Stereo is releasing a limited 7" Relient K record. This seems like a label that could have some major clout down the road.
I saw them live again last week. They continued my general impression of working together as a band and not sucking. They threw an added curveball of having an artist do an abstract painting during the show. On the website they called the concert a soundtrack to the painting. That's all nice and artsy, but are they trying too hard?
Now, I've got the cd, which is due out September 16th. It pretty much sounds like their live show. Pulsating screamo. It starts off with a slow, acoustic ballad. Then, after a pause, track two blasts into a screamo frenzy. Some of the songs are slower and more "emo" and others are more like track two. As far as the artsy influences in their live show, those are pretty much erased recorded.
Article comments
1 - Kenny B
The Evan Anthem is not screamo. They are indie/rock, and they don't even scream... I guess in a few of their heavier tracks, they kind of yell, but it is most definitely not screamo.