Californian art-rock band Evaline have returned to the UK to play festival and club dates both here and in Europe. With their debut album Woven Material released on 27 June, iTunes single of the week both in the UK and the USA, the bands final show in the UK is going to be as support to My Chemical Romance at the Roundhouse on 9 July as part of the iTunes festival.
M asked Evaline to keep a road diary of their time over here so far and Spencer Rinkus, who travelled with the band, reports on what went on...
'London, it’s good to be back. After playing Hard Rock Calling on Saturday on Bon Jovi night, we were wondering why we ever left. During our set, the tent was mostly full, and we could just feed off the energy of everyone in there. It wasn't a "what have you done for me lately?" kind of crowd - everyone watching seemed like they actually wanted to be at a rock show - and we loved it. Plus, we got to have a few beers and hear Living on a Prayer. What's not to like?
That's not to say that we didn't enjoy these last few festivals and club dates across the channel, the experience was just, shall we say…different.
Before boarding a Ferry in Dover last week, we did the touristy things around here that everyone says you've got to do: The Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, The House of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, etc. It's safe to say that a few of us were quite enamored with the Queen's Guard. What focus! It's an absolute fact that when the six of us are together, we can't go for more than eight minutes without talking, needing to eat, or searching for a bathroom.
M asked Evaline to keep a road diary of their time over here so far and Spencer Rinkus, who travelled with the band, reports on what went on...
'London, it’s good to be back. After playing Hard Rock Calling on Saturday on Bon Jovi night, we were wondering why we ever left. During our set, the tent was mostly full, and we could just feed off the energy of everyone in there. It wasn't a "what have you done for me lately?" kind of crowd - everyone watching seemed like they actually wanted to be at a rock show - and we loved it. Plus, we got to have a few beers and hear Living on a Prayer. What's not to like?
That's not to say that we didn't enjoy these last few festivals and club dates across the channel, the experience was just, shall we say…different.
Before boarding a Ferry in Dover last week, we did the touristy things around here that everyone says you've got to do: The Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, The House of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, etc. It's safe to say that a few of us were quite enamored with the Queen's Guard. What focus! It's an absolute fact that when the six of us are together, we can't go for more than eight minutes without talking, needing to eat, or searching for a bathroom.
The night before playing Southside Festival, we arrived at one of the more bizarre hotels any of us have ever had the pleasure of lodging at. We sat in our beds, in this odd little hotel in a small town about 30 minutes removed from the festival site, mentally preparing for the show the next day (or thinking about girls or video games or whatever else goes through our weird California minds) while there were torrents of rain crashing down outside. All night long, it sounded like someone was standing up there just stomping around and emptying the entire ocean onto the roof of our hotel.
And that sort of sent the tone for the next few gigs we had over there. We're definitely not on the same page as Mother Earth.
During our check-in at Southside, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But, like clockwork, right as we took the stage, we were greeted with pouring rain. Naturally, the conditions kept most of the festival-goers home. The fans that did make it out were incredible, though. There were a few poncho-clad fans in the front row that couldn't get enough of Greg.
In thick German accents they yelled, 'Greg - the best drummer of all time!'
It was a quick set. Let's just call it a warm-up for the downpour.
Hurricane fest was very, very true to its name. While we were setting up to play that morning, it felt like someone directed a fire hose, turned on full-bore, at the stage and, by extension, all of our gear.
Dom, Steve, Christian and Dan all had to get creative with the placement of their pedal boards. Dom set an umbrella up over his. Christian blocked the rain with the case from one of Greg’s drums, Dan hid his under his keyboard and Steve just wrapped his in a big blue bag and guessed which pedals were which.
You know what, though?
Might have been the best show of the tour. The fans that did stick it out were incredible—nodding along with each track while being absolutely pelted with raindrops. It was a blistering set, and the wetness intensified it tenfold. The production folk standing side stage held their breath as we all (save Greg, comfortably stationed behind the chaos on his drumming throne) continually came within one bad step of slipping and cracking a bone or two. We staved off electrocution this time around, maybe next time we won’t be so lucky.
Afterwards, we looked like a pretty rag-tag crew with our hair matted to our heads and our clothes clinging to our bodies (we’ll chalk this up to the rain…but we get pretty damn sweaty up there, too). If we hadn’t left soon after the show, someone might have tried to turn us into the ASPCA (Ed - RSPCA for the UK readers) .
'That was fun. The rain definitely adds a different dynamic to the set,' said Dan.
'Yeah, but you know what's going to be even more fun?' Asked Dom. 'Plugging in this stuff at the show tomorrow to see if it actually still works.'
We caught the Foo Fighters later that night and they absolutely killed it. There are a lot of bands you wish you'd seen in some little club somewhere, before they got huge. Not these guys. They seem like they're at their peak when playing before 80,000 strong.
And that sort of sent the tone for the next few gigs we had over there. We're definitely not on the same page as Mother Earth.
During our check-in at Southside, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But, like clockwork, right as we took the stage, we were greeted with pouring rain. Naturally, the conditions kept most of the festival-goers home. The fans that did make it out were incredible, though. There were a few poncho-clad fans in the front row that couldn't get enough of Greg.
In thick German accents they yelled, 'Greg - the best drummer of all time!'
It was a quick set. Let's just call it a warm-up for the downpour.
Hurricane fest was very, very true to its name. While we were setting up to play that morning, it felt like someone directed a fire hose, turned on full-bore, at the stage and, by extension, all of our gear.
Dom, Steve, Christian and Dan all had to get creative with the placement of their pedal boards. Dom set an umbrella up over his. Christian blocked the rain with the case from one of Greg’s drums, Dan hid his under his keyboard and Steve just wrapped his in a big blue bag and guessed which pedals were which.
You know what, though?
Might have been the best show of the tour. The fans that did stick it out were incredible—nodding along with each track while being absolutely pelted with raindrops. It was a blistering set, and the wetness intensified it tenfold. The production folk standing side stage held their breath as we all (save Greg, comfortably stationed behind the chaos on his drumming throne) continually came within one bad step of slipping and cracking a bone or two. We staved off electrocution this time around, maybe next time we won’t be so lucky.
Afterwards, we looked like a pretty rag-tag crew with our hair matted to our heads and our clothes clinging to our bodies (we’ll chalk this up to the rain…but we get pretty damn sweaty up there, too). If we hadn’t left soon after the show, someone might have tried to turn us into the ASPCA (Ed - RSPCA for the UK readers) .
'That was fun. The rain definitely adds a different dynamic to the set,' said Dan.
'Yeah, but you know what's going to be even more fun?' Asked Dom. 'Plugging in this stuff at the show tomorrow to see if it actually still works.'
We caught the Foo Fighters later that night and they absolutely killed it. There are a lot of bands you wish you'd seen in some little club somewhere, before they got huge. Not these guys. They seem like they're at their peak when playing before 80,000 strong.
Two days later, we had a show with the Sick Puppies in Dortmund, Germany. On the outset, it didn't appear like their crowd would be too receptive to our stuff, but we were pleasantly surprised. When the whole show was over, we went out to the reception area and met with a bunch of fans - it's always fun to see what people say about the show. Of course, most of the ladies that were hanging around had a particular affinity for Greg's abs - but who wouldn't? Here's a clip from the show.
Paris was next. The venue wasn't anywhere near all that good stuff you see in photographs, so that was slightly disappointing. We made up for it by eating as many crepes as possible.
The show was a little rough, at times. Dom broke a string during Hours and a few people in the front row narrowly missed losing an eye as he flailed about. There was a nice crowd of about 100 or so and there were a handful of people that were singing along. That's always fun to see, especially before the album was even out.
Our little excursion to Paris marked the end of our travels outside of the UK. We drove that van back through those expansive French highways (we're not convinced that there is anything in France outside of Paris), boarded a ferry from Calais to Dover and drove up to Swindon.
We played a quick show at a small bar up there. When we say small, we mean it. This was one of those situations when we might say, 'we're too big to play that venue.' Not ego-wise, but we have six people in the band, we're literally too big to play the venue. Still, we made it work. That one was a good time. And, they had a really spicy curry dish that got our noses all runny and our faces beet red. Spice is nice.
Which takes us back to Hard Rock Calling – it was so great to have the sun shining whilst we played – it makes for a great feeling in the crowd too. After playing HRC, we're pumped to play again in London especially as it’s the week of release of our CD Woven Material. So, Bull and Gate on the 29 June , let's see what you've got.
Then we’re off to Belgium to play Rock Werchter, France to play Main Square Festival in Arras and a club show in Amsterdam before crossing the channel once again for T in the Park and finishing on the iTunes Festival show with My Chemical Romance on 9 July. Phew….
Paris was next. The venue wasn't anywhere near all that good stuff you see in photographs, so that was slightly disappointing. We made up for it by eating as many crepes as possible.
The show was a little rough, at times. Dom broke a string during Hours and a few people in the front row narrowly missed losing an eye as he flailed about. There was a nice crowd of about 100 or so and there were a handful of people that were singing along. That's always fun to see, especially before the album was even out.
Our little excursion to Paris marked the end of our travels outside of the UK. We drove that van back through those expansive French highways (we're not convinced that there is anything in France outside of Paris), boarded a ferry from Calais to Dover and drove up to Swindon.
We played a quick show at a small bar up there. When we say small, we mean it. This was one of those situations when we might say, 'we're too big to play that venue.' Not ego-wise, but we have six people in the band, we're literally too big to play the venue. Still, we made it work. That one was a good time. And, they had a really spicy curry dish that got our noses all runny and our faces beet red. Spice is nice.
Which takes us back to Hard Rock Calling – it was so great to have the sun shining whilst we played – it makes for a great feeling in the crowd too. After playing HRC, we're pumped to play again in London especially as it’s the week of release of our CD Woven Material. So, Bull and Gate on the 29 June , let's see what you've got.
Then we’re off to Belgium to play Rock Werchter, France to play Main Square Festival in Arras and a club show in Amsterdam before crossing the channel once again for T in the Park and finishing on the iTunes Festival show with My Chemical Romance on 9 July. Phew….
