Taylor Redding : Vocals/Guitar Bryan Ledbetter : Drums Pete Small: Bass
Influences
England, Brit Rock, 60's, 70's, Kent, Failure, Pink Floyd, Air, Pedro the Lion, The Veils, Radiohead, Phantom Planet, Elbow, Eisley, Flick, Spiritualized, Beach Boys, Beatles, LaGuardia, Spain, Rufas Wainright, Johnny Cash, Turin Brakes, Eels, T-Rex, LedZep, Damien Rice, Spoon, Self, Starsailor, Leaves, Snow Patrol, Badly Drawn Boy, Kings of Leon, Supergrass, Elton John, Ours, Rhett Miller, Verve, Doves, Coldplay, Interpol, Strokes, Sunny Day Real Estate, Travis, Jeremy Enigk, Fire Theft, Ambulance LTD, B.R.M.C., Remy Zero, U2, Aimee Mann, Sarah McLachlan, Fiona Apple, Magnolia, Adaptation, Spotless Mind, Garden State, South, Unbelievable Truth, Satchel, Starflyer59, Flatland BMX, Life , Love, Music & Passion.
Sounds Like
This quartet’s shoegazing, Brit rock is lilting and atmospheric. Their recent release, Cries from the Castlegate Empire, is quite breathtaking with guitar work reminiscent of U2’s The Edge. Soaring mood pop, laced with emotive playing and singing, is the order of the day here. And to think they hail from Winston-Salem, N.C., not Manchester, U.K., is further cause for celebration. - CCL
EVOKA is one of the most promising new bands on the scene, and some of the greatest guys you’ll ever meet. A brit-rock mix between Kent, Muse, Radiohead & Coldplay. -Will McGinnes [Audio Adrenaline]
The debut by EVOKA, is as startlingly good a disc of energized modern pop music as can be found anywhere-and that is not a hyperbole - Ed Burngarner, W-S Journal
EVOKA are stars in the making. The Smith’s intonations with atmospheric rock, a la U2, and a colorful frontman make them the frontrunner for radioland. - Charlotte Creative Loafing
Strong songwriting & lots of hooks from these modern rockers will leave you humming their tunes in your sleep - Terry Thompkins, Columbia Records.
The debut album by EVOKA is just aggressively quiet and daunting, and it’s something to be proud of. - Ryan Kelly, Relevant Magazine
Powered by a captivating live show and memorable music, EVOKA is emerging as one of the South's most promising new artists. Formed in the hills of Western North Carolina, EVOKA quickly gained recognition performing dates for the Warped Tour, as a finalist for the AMA Music Awards, as a featured band on XM Satellite Radio's RADAR Report, and through licensing deals with MTV, Subway and ESPN. Propelled by lead singer, Taylor Redding's gifted songwriting, the band is establishing itself as a frontrunner of the region's rock scene.
Growing up in the isolated community Hildebran, NC, Redding, drummer Bryan Ledbetter, bassist Pete Small, and guitarist Price Stevens, had few musical influences to inspire their songwriting. It wasn't until college that they discovered a new underground music scene devoid of Top 40 radio. Suddenly T-Rex, The Verve, Led Zeppelin, and Johnny Cash became newfound influences. Profoundly impacted by new sounds and sharp lyrics, Redding, EVOKA's primary songwriter, incorporated dense sonic textures and brute strength rock arrangements. The pop music of their childhood, however, surfaces through Redding's soaring melodies and memorable choruses. The amalgamation of those influences results in atmospheric and brooding musical arrangements that are as accessible as they are at times chilling.
EVOKA's debut album "Cries from the Castlegate Empire" is the result of three years of hard work for the band. The album was produced by long time friend Oran Thornton [Bleach, Flick, Golden Republic] & engineered/mixed by Dan Leffler [Weezer, Jagger, Cash]. The resulting tracks are an ample cross section of the band, ranging from the melodic "Reborn" & "Silent Actors," the formidable flex of "Almost" to the airy muse of "Take".
"Cries from the Castlegate Empire" is now available. With the release for their debut album, EVOKA will hit the road hard playing shows all over the Southeast sharing their music with friends and fans alike.
We are going to be in your area the weekends of March 28th-29th and April 4th-5th and we were wondering if you guys would be interested in setting up and playing a benefit show for Invisible Children. We are trying to do a lot of Invisible Children events leading up to the big, nationwide event we will be having April 25th (an event we hope will bring the remaing child soldiers in the LRA home).
If this is something you would be interested in we would love to talk more about it!
Thanks for checking us out! We're a brand new company from North Carolina that's rapidly growing thanks to great friends like yourself! Be sure to check out the webstore sometime to see if there's anything your style! Thanks again!
absolutely flawless in hickory tonight, guys. such a good live show. i really loved it and i'll be picking up your CD as soon as i get the cash. thanks for coming by.
May God Bless you in all you do! Great songs! Thanks for the Add! Check out my tunes when you get a chance, and Please let your friends know both my worship rock CD's are for sale now on my site! These were co-produced by Ron Davis the engineer on the Grammy/Dove award winning CD “Shout to the Lord!” I've also got some FREE DOWNLOADS, God Bless!
hey guys... i'm not sure who added who. but it was cool finding your page today. your influences and sounds are very close to my own personal tastes. first time i've seen spiritualized, self, etc. on someone's influences. very cool. anyway, drop me a line on my solo page, and sometime i'll help you guys out if you're looking to get into our neck of the woods! -josh.nice, ns www.myspace.com/joshnice
okay, where is your 'gigs' section... maybe I missed it? Anyway, Saturday night, the Brewery? Mo-town? I think I'll be there. Will you be there? ... haha. (market mo-fo's!)
Think I can borrow one or all of you for an interview, in person, phone, im.. for the new zine I want to start... myspace.com/poesismag? Any time you're free.. I have a long-term launch plan ;)
Take care guys, and can't wait to see you in Winston-Salem again!
