Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"(EVO) has been professional and persistent with attempts to get booked...I like their sound a lot...it reminds me of 311 and Sublime with their own original touches too." ~ Lenore Kinder, press representative for Blue Cats (Knoxville, TN) - The Daily Beacon
"These guys were interesting to say the least. Picture, if you can, a rock-rap sound similar to the Beastie Boys with funk bass and emo dancing." ~ritz - Whim Internet Magazine
"some of the best music you will ever hear" ~ Mel, Va Beach, Va.
"1 word: awesome" ~ Sarge, Tinley Park, Illinois
"um they sound like fun......like 311....the bassist sounds a lot like old school pnut if u wanna listen to raw cali sounds listen to EVO" ~ Drea, San Antonio, Texas
"cool dudes with an awesome sound thats different from the rest!!!" ~ Kristi, Johnson City, TN
"E.V.O is E.V.O., there isn't anything like it. The music is unique, as are the ones who make it. E.V.O. is more than just music, it is a way of life, and judging by the positive, upbeat lyrics and rythms in the music, it is a great way to live. The songs are about things that actually have meaning, not just stuff people will say to get on MTV or Vh1. Stay positive. ~matt" ~Matt, McKinney, Texas
"E.V.O. have just gotten better and better since their start as Merchant of Style. Johnson City's foursome is a melotic, funk-rock band. Their originals are just that, original. They're catchy and refreshing from the carbon copy radio rock songs. Their covers are always a crowd pleaser, too. Their live shows are always high energy" ~RockStar, Johnson City, TN
- fans, critics, etc.
Discography
In the summer of 2005 E.V.O recorded their first EP "So Much Color" with ex-Pedestrians bassist Tony Rominger. The band has sold copy after copy at live shows and through their websites while also landing airplay with "Tricky Backwards Head" in Knoxville, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
E.V.O formed in Johnson City, Tennessee in late winter 2004 at East Tennessee State University. Drummer David Ramey and bassist Patrick Loven of popular Kingsport reggae/punk band NSTC began jamming with Jason Holsinger, an excellent guitarist from Richmond, Virginia. They were united by their love for upbeat, funky alternative music, whether it was rap-rock bands like 311, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or R.A.T.M., punk legends like Rancid, Green Day, the Clash and Sublime, or reggae heroes Toots and the Maytals and Desmond Dekker. They meshed perfectly, creating an ethereal combination of heavy guitar riffs, funky bass lines and reggae and hip-hop beats. The band decided to incorporate yet another element into their already eclectic sound when they added Luke Brogden, an occasional guest emcee and friend of NSTC. Now with harmonizing vocals and a unique style of rap, the mix was a perfect complement to the guys’ creatively technical instrumentation. E.V.O had become a brilliant orchestration of sound with the ability to create music that continues to defy the boundaries of any genre or label defined by music today. E.V.O had transformed their melting pot of styles into a masterful combination of alternative rock, hip hop, reggae, funk and even a hint of dancehall drawing comparisons to anything from Living Colour to 311.
E.V.O instantly penetrated the local scene as “Merchant of Style” playing venues and various house parties all over northeast Tennessee. E.V.O has shared the stage with many artists including Amber Pacific (Hopeless Records www.amberpacific.com), New York rapper J-Zone (Fat Beats/Old Maid Ent www.zonesite.net), D.C. based Running With Scissors (www.runningwithscissors.com) and many more. E.V.O also earned their first radio and press coverage in the University of Tennessee’s The Daily Beacon and airtime on 90.3 WUTK-FM. In the summer of 2005 the band recorded their first EP, “So Much Color,” with ex-Pedestrians bassist Tony Rominger at his Note-Orious Sound studio in Elizabethton, TN. Immediately following its completion E.V.O hit the road, traveling to Richmond, VA for shows at Wonderland with RVA Records founders Channel 43 ( ww.c43rocks.com ) and Alley Katz with Running with Scissors. On July 30, 2005 E.V.O celebrated the release of “So Much Color” by playing a packed show at one of Johnson City’s hottest music venues, The Sophisticated Otter, which plays host to many of the region’s best local talent along with countless national acts. July 30th proved to be a hit success for E.V.O while earning praise from the venue’s owner for drawing “the best crowd of any Saturday night all summer.” The release of “So Much Color” has landed the band airplay on WUTK 90.3 The Rock and WMTS 88.3 with their track “Tricky Backwards Head” now in rotation and receiving frequent requests. Through solid perseverance, E.V.O also landed the opening spot for the band Long Beach Shortbus (Skunk Records www.skunk.com ) featuring long time heroes Eric Wilson (Sublime) and Ras One (Long Beach Dub All-stars) at Knoxville’s premier music venue Blue Cats. With a solid fan base in the Tri-Cities and Knoxville, E.V.O has also witnessed growing internet popularity nationwide on MySpace and PureVolume. The band guarantees a solid draw and satisfied listeners, continuing to win people over one at a time with their unique sound and positive message.
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