While lots of fans and critics have been looking for the great new voice of the alt-county scene in Chicago, Austin or St.Louis, folks in Seattle, Washington can tell you the group in question is alive and well in their own backyard -- Evangeline, a five piece band with heart, soul, great songs,superb vocals, and strong, confident
musicianship. Playing country-accented rock with the heart-broken grace of the Flying Burrito Brothers, the passion
of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones, and without a shred of smirking irony, Evangeline made waves in the Northwest
with their first album, 2001's Felt Like Home, and their second release, Big Choice, is bound to spread their reputation much further.
Evangeline were formed in 1998, after guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Cline had parted ways with Seattle rockers the Cheap Ones. Digging back into his early influences, Cline turned to classic sides by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and the Rolling Stones for inspiration, and soon found
himself searching out the classic country artists who had in turn influenced them,such as Hank Williams and George Jones. Armed with a new batch of original songs, Cline met vocalist Jennifer Potter, and her clear, smooth voice was the perfect counterpoint to his scruffy rockers' pipes.
After playing low-key duo gigs together and trying out seemingly every bassist and drummer in town, Cline and Potter unveiled Evangeline, with Kevin Suggs on guitar and pedal steel, Scott Summers on bass, and Kevin Warner behind the drums. (Warner would depart amicably after the recording of Big Choice; new drummer Terri Moeller appears on one track,"2000 and Raining.") After earning a local reputation through steady live work -- both as headliners and opening for the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Robbie Fulks
and the Gourds -- the band released their debut album, Felt Like Home, to enthusiastic reviews, both at home and around the country. Hopefully, Evangeline have saved room in their scrapbook of press clippings for Big Choice. Rocking with authority and strength on "Little World" and "The Ballad of Milo Paul" while laying open their hearts on "Border State"
and "Tupelo," Big Choice builds on the strengths of vangeline's debut, and the result is a set of powerful, heart-rending music. Evangeline are a band that deserve
and demand attention, and one listen to Big Choice will tell you why.
Jennifer Potter -- vocals, percussion
Chris Cline -- guitar, vocals, harmonica
Kevin Suggs -- pedal steel, guitar
Scott Summers -- bass
Terri Moeller -- drums
also available
Evangeline Felt Like Home
"Evangeline's sophomore outing is drenched in Americana romanticism, covering plenty of classic country-folk territory. Big Choice opens with "Little World", a song of wanderlust that nods to early-70's Jackson Browne. The fleeing-home-town theme is a well-traveled one, but vocalist Jennifer Potter's soprano is crystal enough to steer it away from cliche.
When guitarist/songwriter Chris Cline takes over singing on four of the album's ten tracks, he may be straining for a self-assured Gram Parsons, but he sounds more like a young Jeff Tweedy in phrasing and vocal inflection. The irony in Cline's voice on "Still Got You" evokes an uncanny similarity to Tweedy's reserved vocals from the early Uncle Tupelo days.
Other tracks on Big Choice cover familiar ground: heartbreak on "Killing Her Again", a lonesome holiday on "2000 and Raining", southern idealism on "Tupelo". There's even a rotten-toothed hillbilly murder number, "The Ballad of Milo Paul". Some may consider these to be stereotypes, but it's likely just the band's blatant respect for country music that is on display." BRIAN J. BARR - No Depression
"Evangeline don't need to show off, though they could. Chris Cline is a fine guitarist in full control of his axe, but his licks are spare and lyrical. Jennifer Potter's crystalline pipes service the song, leaving the emblematic gymnastics to less tasteful vocalists. With their big, warm chords, small-town twang, and the gentle peal of pedal steel, the "alt-country" tag is inevitable, but Evangeline invest their songs with the sincerity and grit it takes to cut through the hokum. Love sours, dreams fail, and then the sun comes out just long enough to illuminate the empty corners." FRED BELDIN - The Stranger
While lots of fans and critics have been
looking for the great new voice of the alt-county
scene in Chicago, Austin or St.
Louis, folks in Seattle, Washington can tell
you the group in question is alive and well
in their own backyard -- Evangeline, a five
piece band with heart, soul, great songs,
superb vocals, and strong, confident
musicianship. Playing country-accented
rock with the heart-broken grace of the
Flying Burrito Brothers, the passion
of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones, and
without a shred of smirking irony,
Evangeline made waves in the Northwest
with their first album, 2001's Felt Like
Home, and their second release, Big
Choice, is bound to spread their reputation
much further.
Evangeline were formed in 1998, after
guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Cline
had parted ways with Seattle rockers the
Cheap Ones. Digging back into his early
influences, Cline turned to classic sides
by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and the Rolling
Stones for inspiration, and soon found
himself searching out the classic country
artists who had in turn influenced them,
such as Hank Williams and George Jones.
Armed with a new batch of original songs,
Cline met vocalist Jennifer Potter, and her
clear, smooth voice was the perfect
counterpoint to his scruffy rockers' pipes.
After playing low-key duo gigs together
and trying out seemingly every bassist and
drummer in town, Cline and Potter
unveiled Evangeline, with Kevin Suggs
on guitar and pedal steel, Scott Summers
on bass, and Kevin Warner behind the
drums. (Warner would depart amicably
after the recording of Big Choice; new
drummer Terri Moeller appears on one
track,"2000 and Raining.") After earning
a local reputation through steady live
work -- both as headliners and opening for
the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Robbie Fulks
and the Gourds -- the band released their
debut album, Felt Like Home, to
enthusiastic reviews, both at home and
around the country.
Hopefully, Evangeline have saved room
in their scrapbook of press clippings
for Big Choice. Rocking with authority
and strength on "Little World" and
"The Ballad of Milo Paul" while laying
open their hearts on "Border State"
and "Tupelo," Big Choice builds on the
strengths of Evangeline's debut, and
the result is a set of powerful, heart-rending
music. Evangeline are a band that deserve
and demand attention, and one listen to
Big Choice will tell you why.
Jennifer Potter -- vocals, percussion
Chris Cline -- guitar, vocals, harmonica
Kevin Suggs -- pedal steel, guitar
Scott Summers -- bass
Terri Moeller -- drums
also available
Evangeline Felt Like Home
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.evangelinewa.com
Track List:
1. Little World
2. I Know Better
3. Killing Her Again
4. Tupelo
5. Border State
6. Sun Valley
7. Still Got You
8. The Ballad of Milo Paul
9. 2000 And Raining
10. Say Goodnight
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
musicianship. Playing country-accented rock with the heart-broken grace of the Flying Burrito Brothers, the passion
of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones, and without a shred of smirking irony, Evangeline made waves in the Northwest
with their first album, 2001's Felt Like Home, and their second release, Big Choice, is bound to spread their reputation much further.
Evangeline were formed in 1998, after guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Cline had parted ways with Seattle rockers the Cheap Ones. Digging back into his early influences, Cline turned to classic sides by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and the Rolling Stones for inspiration, and soon found
himself searching out the classic country artists who had in turn influenced them,such as Hank Williams and George Jones. Armed with a new batch of original songs, Cline met vocalist Jennifer Potter, and her clear, smooth voice was the perfect counterpoint to his scruffy rockers' pipes.
After playing low-key duo gigs together and trying out seemingly every bassist and drummer in town, Cline and Potter unveiled Evangeline, with Kevin Suggs on guitar and pedal steel, Scott Summers on bass, and Kevin Warner behind the drums. (Warner would depart amicably after the recording of Big Choice; new drummer Terri Moeller appears on one track,"2000 and Raining.") After earning a local reputation through steady live work -- both as headliners and opening for the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Robbie Fulks
and the Gourds -- the band released their debut album, Felt Like Home, to enthusiastic reviews, both at home and around the country. Hopefully, Evangeline have saved room in their scrapbook of press clippings for Big Choice. Rocking with authority and strength on "Little World" and "The Ballad of Milo Paul" while laying open their hearts on "Border State"
and "Tupelo," Big Choice builds on the strengths of vangeline's debut, and the result is a set of powerful, heart-rending music. Evangeline are a band that deserve
and demand attention, and one listen to Big Choice will tell you why.
Jennifer Potter -- vocals, percussion
Chris Cline -- guitar, vocals, harmonica
Kevin Suggs -- pedal steel, guitar
Scott Summers -- bass
Terri Moeller -- drums
also available
Evangeline Felt Like Home
"Evangeline's sophomore outing is drenched in Americana romanticism, covering plenty of classic country-folk territory. Big Choice opens with "Little World", a song of wanderlust that nods to early-70's Jackson Browne. The fleeing-home-town theme is a well-traveled one, but vocalist Jennifer Potter's soprano is crystal enough to steer it away from cliche.
When guitarist/songwriter Chris Cline takes over singing on four of the album's ten tracks, he may be straining for a self-assured Gram Parsons, but he sounds more like a young Jeff Tweedy in phrasing and vocal inflection. The irony in Cline's voice on "Still Got You" evokes an uncanny similarity to Tweedy's reserved vocals from the early Uncle Tupelo days.
Other tracks on Big Choice cover familiar ground: heartbreak on "Killing Her Again", a lonesome holiday on "2000 and Raining", southern idealism on "Tupelo". There's even a rotten-toothed hillbilly murder number, "The Ballad of Milo Paul". Some may consider these to be stereotypes, but it's likely just the band's blatant respect for country music that is on display." BRIAN J. BARR - No Depression
"Evangeline don't need to show off, though they could. Chris Cline is a fine guitarist in full control of his axe, but his licks are spare and lyrical. Jennifer Potter's crystalline pipes service the song, leaving the emblematic gymnastics to less tasteful vocalists. With their big, warm chords, small-town twang, and the gentle peal of pedal steel, the "alt-country" tag is inevitable, but Evangeline invest their songs with the sincerity and grit it takes to cut through the hokum. Love sours, dreams fail, and then the sun comes out just long enough to illuminate the empty corners." FRED BELDIN - The Stranger
While lots of fans and critics have been
looking for the great new voice of the alt-county
scene in Chicago, Austin or St.
Louis, folks in Seattle, Washington can tell
you the group in question is alive and well
in their own backyard -- Evangeline, a five
piece band with heart, soul, great songs,
superb vocals, and strong, confident
musicianship. Playing country-accented
rock with the heart-broken grace of the
Flying Burrito Brothers, the passion
of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones, and
without a shred of smirking irony,
Evangeline made waves in the Northwest
with their first album, 2001's Felt Like
Home, and their second release, Big
Choice, is bound to spread their reputation
much further.
Evangeline were formed in 1998, after
guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Cline
had parted ways with Seattle rockers the
Cheap Ones. Digging back into his early
influences, Cline turned to classic sides
by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and the Rolling
Stones for inspiration, and soon found
himself searching out the classic country
artists who had in turn influenced them,
such as Hank Williams and George Jones.
Armed with a new batch of original songs,
Cline met vocalist Jennifer Potter, and her
clear, smooth voice was the perfect
counterpoint to his scruffy rockers' pipes.
After playing low-key duo gigs together
and trying out seemingly every bassist and
drummer in town, Cline and Potter
unveiled Evangeline, with Kevin Suggs
on guitar and pedal steel, Scott Summers
on bass, and Kevin Warner behind the
drums. (Warner would depart amicably
after the recording of Big Choice; new
drummer Terri Moeller appears on one
track,"2000 and Raining.") After earning
a local reputation through steady live
work -- both as headliners and opening for
the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Robbie Fulks
and the Gourds -- the band released their
debut album, Felt Like Home, to
enthusiastic reviews, both at home and
around the country.
Hopefully, Evangeline have saved room
in their scrapbook of press clippings
for Big Choice. Rocking with authority
and strength on "Little World" and
"The Ballad of Milo Paul" while laying
open their hearts on "Border State"
and "Tupelo," Big Choice builds on the
strengths of Evangeline's debut, and
the result is a set of powerful, heart-rending
music. Evangeline are a band that deserve
and demand attention, and one listen to
Big Choice will tell you why.
Jennifer Potter -- vocals, percussion
Chris Cline -- guitar, vocals, harmonica
Kevin Suggs -- pedal steel, guitar
Scott Summers -- bass
Terri Moeller -- drums
also available
Evangeline Felt Like Home
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.evangelinewa.com
Track List:
1. Little World
2. I Know Better
3. Killing Her Again
4. Tupelo
5. Border State
6. Sun Valley
7. Still Got You
8. The Ballad of Milo Paul
9. 2000 And Raining
10. Say Goodnight
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- ROCK: Roots Rock
- COUNTRY: Country Rock
- TYPE: LYRICAL