East Coast Trio:
JEFF MICHAELS (piano, vocals)
BEN REYNOLDS (bass, vocals)
JASON BREWER (drums)
West Coast Band:
JEFF MICHAELS (piano, vocals)
SCOTT BARKEN (guitar, vocals)
ADAM SMASH (bass)
RYAN MACHAMER (drums)
Influences
"Another Song About Life"
Sounds Like
Even Elroy: No More Rainbows promo
Even Elroy: Live on Inside San Diego KUSI Morning Show (pop-up video style)
Even Elroy: Live on Musical Cafe, Santa Barbara
NO MORE RAINBOWS currently in rotation on:
KPCW - Park City, UT
KRVM - Eugene, OR
KDEC - Decorah, IA
KDNK - Carbondale, CO
KVNF - Paonia, CO
KSMF - Ashland, OR
WEIU - Charleston, IL
WDIY - Allentown, PA
WRRW - Virginea Beach, VA
and on HD Radio at:
101.9 HD2 - Chicago, IL
103.5 HD2 - Washington, DC
102.2 HD2 - Salt Lake City, UT
101.1 HD2 - St. Louis, MO
92.3 HD2 - Phoenix, AZ
Songs featured this season on:
The Hills - MTV
Real World - MTV
My Super Sweet 16 - MTV
The Bad Girls Club - Oxygen Network
Kim Kardashian Project
Dr. Steve-O
Lindsay Lohan Show
America's Psychic Challenge
...and shows on USA Network, ETV!, and TRU TV
"'No More Rainbows' is a delicate piece of pop perfection that would sound fantastic on the radio, yet it’s the infectious chorus of 'Girls Kissing Girls' that I can’t get out of my head. Even Elroy can take pleasure in knowing that this critic 'gets it' and that they maintain standards set by the best, which should make them proud."~Gina Morris, Evolution of Media
“...from straightforward guitar rock, to piano-based pop reminiscent of Van Morrison, to piano ballads that would sound at home on any Billy Joel album. Even Elroy covers this well-trodden territory with skill, enthusiasm, and an evident respect for the timeless classics.” ~Aaron Rubin, Co-Opted Music, Berkeley, CA
"Fun lovin' band with unique songwriting talent...great protruding melody in each and every one of their songs... hard not to like." ~Naomi Allaway, InSite Editor, London
“...a blend of fascinating energy and melodic piano pop-rock... exciting and refreshing, with a style and sound that will never fade." ~Caroline Leonardo, Evolution of Media
"Great music! Great bunch of guys! Fun crowd!" ~ Rick, O'Connells Club Owner, San Diego, CA
Hailed by Co-opted Music Magazine as a band that is "clearly determined to succeed," and "exciting and refreshing, with a style and sound that will never fade" by Evolution of Media, Even Elroy is perhaps this decade's answer to Ben Folds Five in the '90's... with the added element of stellar guitar work, a lead singer/piano player who literally dreams about songwriting, and well, guts. Because to succeed as an independent band in today’s musical world takes guts. A whole lot of ‘em.
Even Elroy’s journey from their beginnings as small, piano-led act from the Bay Area to a band on the verge of national notoriety has been anything but easy. Since their formation in 2003 they have performed tirelessly, earning their reputation as a highly engaging, energetic performers while working their way up the ranks of the Northern California club scene, becoming one of San Francisco’s most talented headlining acts.
Their blend of pounding piano and flashy guitar is territory that’s been covered before, but it’s their lyrical quality and sense of songwriting that sets them apart from the rest.
“Even Elroy is one of the few bands where I know every word to every song... it’s so hard not to sing along.”
In their new album, NO MORE RAINBOWS, the group captures all the energy and passion from their live show while adding the one element not prevalent in their previous recordings: themselves. Lead singer Jeff Michaels openly writes about the very personal stories of his relationships (Closet), the death of his grandfather (All The Stars), losing a close friend in a car crash (This Life), all with the belief that music is meant to help others through difficult times. In fact, most of the songs on the album are an answer to what happens when life gets difficult, when life gets real... when sometimes there are no more rainbows.
The album marks Even Elroy’s third full-length studio release in four years--a substantial accomplishment in today’s musical climate. Their previous releases NOTHING’S REALLY CHANGED (2006) produced by Jerry Becker (Pat Monahan, Train) and RED JACKET (2004) featuring Steve Bowman (Counting Crows), have become underground successes, due in part to their popularity on internet radio stations such as Pandora.com and Last FM.
Their songs have been featured on MTV’s The Real World: Brooklyn (Season Premier), and shows on Oxygen, Lifetime, ETV!, and USA network, with additional airings slated for “The Hills”, “My Super Sweet 16”, “The Bad Girls Club”, and several upcoming independent films. They can also be heard on HD Radio, iCHANNEL, and over 200 college and independent radio stations nationwide. Recent appearances include live on KRON TV Inside San Diego Morning Show, KFOG 104.5FM in San Francisco, and a live DVD recording broadcasted to an estimated 40,000 viewers on Musical Café in Santa Barbara.
All off this while being an entirely independent act.
In fact, Even Elroy represents the epitome of what an independent band can achieve right now in this new music industry--if they are willing to put in the work. Booking their own tours, shooting their own videos, and promoting their music 24/7 is something the guys in EE has come to accept as business as usual... and it’s beginning to pay off. “Right now, we literally have fans from all over the world emailing us daily,” says the band. “When we are coming to Germany? When are we coming to Norway?”
Soon, of course.
But first, the Even Elroy story...
Even Elroy’s journey has been anything but easy. In 2001, lead singer Jeff Michaels had been riding the highs of life on the road and a hit song climbing the national charts as the original keyboardist for the Bay Area band Luce, when he was dealt a severe blow as the group underwent a lineup change, leaving him to start from scratch on his own. In one week’s time he found himself going from opening a show for Nellie Furtado and Sister Hazel in front of 8,000 people back to performing at open mics in Berkeley. A month later he lost his day job and nearly decided to throw in the towel and move back home.
Instead, he began writing non-stop, turning his tiny one-bedroom apartment in Oakland into a makeshift recording studio. Armed with a slew of original songs, Michaels began the arduous process of finding a sound that matched his style of writing. Thus began a year-long collaboration with producer Adam Rossi, which led him face to face with drummer Steve Bowman, the original drummer for one his all-time idols, the Counting Crows. “Here I am in the studio, trying to get up the nerve to tell someone who helped create one of the greatest records in the past twenty years (August and Everything After) how to play a fill on my song, when I realized we both had something in common--we were both kicked out of our bands. Except it cost him a lot more money. We became instant friends.”
When the recording was complete, Michaels began putting his live band together, and in 2004 RED JACKET was released. The record did well on the local scene, but problems began almost immediately as personalities within the band clashed and tensions flared at every rehearsal. Heated debates raged into the wee hours of the morning on everything from what to wear on stage to what to name the band, (with Even Elroy eventually winning over Robots! by a narrow victory.)
“Being in a band is like being married to 3 guys. Except you can’t have sex with each other to make everything better. You have to work it out the hard way... or leave someone behind when the van takes off.”
On top of the constant fighting among his band members, the self-managed group fell victim to numerous club owners and artists stealing their money. Sleeping in the rehearsal studio to save on gas and borrowing money from his parents just to keep the project alive, Michaels knew eventually something had to give.
Enter Jerry Becker, modern day Jesus with a guitar.
“To anyone in the San Francisco music community, the name Jerry Becker is synonymous with gay love,” says Michaels. “But not in that way (not that there’s anything wrong with that). It a simple fact that all male musicians are in love with Jerry.” After years on the road as tour manager for the Grammy Award winning band TRAIN and now a member of Pat Monahan’s band, Jerry has helped countless Bay Area artists with recording, career guidance, and an unwavering dedication to the music community.
The warring group put aside their differences for their mutual love of Jerry, and throughout the rainy winter of 2006 Becker and the boys recorded NOTHING’S REALLY CHANGED in a San Francisco teen center turned recording studio. The month it was finished, Michaels’ drummer moved away to attend grad school, his bass player quit the band to work in China, and his guitar player fled to Seattle in search of love and free Microsoft products. Once again, Michaels was left waging the inner battle of wondering if a career in music was truly worth it.
Thankfully, Jerry came to the rescue, sitting in on guitar for Even Elroy’s sold out CD Release show, and providing the motivation needed to keep the project alive. Soon after, drummer Ryan Machamer and bass player Adam Smash were added to the lineup, who both immediately brought the band to a new level of musicianship. Jerry then introduced Michaels to guitarist Scott Barkan at a weekend camping trip, who had heard of the band through his job analyzing music for Pandora.com. He admitted to stealing their CD when it came through the door and burning a copy for himself because he dug the sound. A week later the band invited Scott to rehearsal, where he showed up knowing every single song off the record.
The newly reenergized Even Elroy began playing out live once again, and the difference was overnight. “People who had been coming to our shows for years were suddenly blown away. The moment the four of us got together, we knew we had something special. We began hearing those five magic words: ‘When are you playing next?’”
NO MORE RAINBOWS marks the first collaboration of the redefined group. Teaming up with producer Adam Rossi once again, the album was completed start to finish in an astoundingly fast four months time, due to Rossi’s unwavering dedication and belief in the project. His trademark production style and subtle use of samples was the exact element needed to bring the group in line with a major label release, while remaining an independent act. Before the record has even officially been released, the lead-off single has already been added to HD Radio in 20 major US markets, is part of a national independent radio campaign, and is finding a home with various film and industry placements.
The rest as they say, is history.
So what makes this band tick, and keep surging ahead in a world where major labels are crumbling and the idea of paying for music is archaic as paying for long distance phone calls? It’s simple. It’s their determination and desire to create great music in an atmosphere where people can come together and celebrate life.
“The world is right when we get together and play,” says Michaels. “No matter what turmoil may be going on at the time, the moment we step into the rehearsal studio or onto a stage and begin playing, everything changes. To me, that is one of the greatest powers of music. We’re lucky enough to have that gift... nothing’s going to stop us from sharing it with as many people as humanly possible. And we’ve been extremely fortunate to have a lot of people who truly believe in us... so hopefully we’re doing something right.”
And as the number of 5-star reviews and loyal fans continue to stack up, one might argue Even Elroy is doing a lot right, except for explaining one small thing. Who is Elroy... and why is he even?
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, as we get ready for our monthlong tour of the Great Northwest! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Look for us in Washington, Oregon and California between October 15 and November 15, when our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
Hi even elroy! SoundSafe loves you! Please make a local music profile page for yourself on soundsafe. org SoundSafe is a 501c3 non-profit working to preserve, strengthen, promote, and unite the Bay Area music community. Upload songs to our radio station, promote your shows, network, and take advantage of our educational resources for the music business. http://soundsafe. org/profiles/new See you there and Long Live Bay Area Music!
I like how the Elroy song was featured underneath the introduction of the trans-gender character. Clearly they didn't get the subtext of the new album, "No More Rainbows".
Thanks for befriending my music page! Enjoy the tunes and check back for updated blogs, tour info, etc. And feel free to comment or msg me whenever. I love getting feedback from new friends and fans! Also, my debut album is coming out at the beginning of Oct! xoxo alyssa suede =)
Hallo, my friend! Just wanted to let you know that you can now purchase my new E.P., Cowley Road, on itunes! "The fifth song [on the Cowley Road E.P.], "Crazy," could well be Skidmore's ticket to the big time. Great hook, old-timey charm, spare arrangement. Hypnotic is what it is....With "Crazy," Gayle Skidmore is one bit of good luck away from hitting the big time." - Jim Trageser, North County Times You can now download “Crazy” for free on my myspace page!
THANK YOU FOR ADDING ME TO YOUR TOP!!!! This "Katie" is very appreciative:) Keep the great music comin' guys. Love ya all. Shoot me a comment sometime and let me know how the Orinda party went!!!! Again...thanks for the add to your top!TTYL:) Love, ***KATIE*** xoxo
Hey Guys! Whatcha think? I've had "Wanna Meet Katie" up on my profile since the VERY first day you posted the "Katie Kampagne" I LOVE this song!!What Katie especially wouldn't?Anyway, dontcha think I should be on the top friends list of "Katie's?" LOL~ You've always been on mine:) Anyway...thanks for such GREAT music. You guys Rock!!! Take care and hope to see me up there with all the lovely Katie's of the World that love your music and you as amazing artists!!! Love...., KATIE! xoxoxo ***KATIE,KATIE,KATIE***
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