Sarah Kollett - Vocals, Guitar
Scott Kenyon - Drums. Percussion
Jeremy Carnrike - Guitar, Vocals
Shane Hall-Bass
Stefano-Keys
Influences
Artists we like-Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Neil Young, Butch Walker, the Marvelous 3, Remy Zero, Our Lady Peace, Muse, the Cult, Foo Fighters, the BloodHound Gang, Dandy Warhols, Tsar, Beastie Boys, Soul Asylum, Beck, Cake, Nine Inch Nails..........
Up and Comers Graduate: Grand Evolution
By Alison Zawadski
Grand Evolution seems to come screaming out of the 90s drenched in the memory of teen angst, but all grown up.
Hailing from Uxbridge, this quartet’s fourth effort, All We Have Is Now, is filled with catchy pop tunes and laced with lyrics oozing heartbreak and anger.
Reminiscent of the female-fronted bands of decades past, Grand Evolution puts a unique spin on an old classic ~ classic, that is, for those of us who grew into our musical selves in the 90s. At a time when pure rock music has faded into the background and been replaced with genres like pop-punk and screamo, Grand Evolution delivers a refreshing look back to a time when music was stripped, simple and wonderful.
The simplicity of the band’s structure (its four members all perform multiple roles) and the way that minimalism is mimicked in the music is one of its biggest strengths. There is nothing more captivating than brutally honest lyrics paired with a beat you can bob your head to and guitar that you play along with in the privacy of your car while driving down the highway.
Whether you’re 18 or 38, Sarah Kollett’s lyrics on All We Have Is Now are relatable and embody the kind of bravery we all wish we had at the time of a breakup. On the CD’s opening track, “Make My Day,” she sings, “I’m better than what you take me for,” and makes us cheer for her.
But Grand Evolution doesn’t make the kind of whiny grunge we remember, but rather a new brand of kick-ass, stand-up-for-yourself power ballads that more mature audiences can relate to and embrace. The guitar on “Mayday” will make any rocker proud and “The Mission” is the ultimate ode to growing up and looking back on how you got to where you are.
Kollett’s fighting words are, in part, coming from the despair the band felt after its guitar space burned to the ground in the summer of 2007, taking with it all of the instruments and equipment inside. All We Have Is Now is the band’s first effort after recovering from this disastrous situation.
From beginning to end, All We Have Is Now offers something different and intriguing on each track and adds up to a solid hour of really good music.
To judge for yourself, visit grandevolution.com or check out myspace.com/grandevolution
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