Comets smashing into our planet may have given birth to the dinosaur era; the creation of Evan Bliss and the Welchers was not so dramatic but nonetheless spectacular.
Evan Bliss provided the silky (when he wanted them to be) and tumultous (when he wanted them to be) vocals and guitar for the DC rock and reggae group The Low Life. When his band co-headlined at the 9:30 club with DC rock quartet Kenin, Bliss collided with Kenin’s jammin drummer Devin McGaughey. Supercontinent Pangea didn’t last; neither did the Low Life or Kenin. In late 2005, Bliss and McGaughey started their own project.
McGaughey brought in Jason Mattis on the bass from the Rosemont Family Reunion, a DC folk rock group. (He has the wingspan of a pterodactyl but fortunately not the wings because you can’t rock the bass like he does with wings).
Mattis brought in Eric Abalahin (flute, clarinet, piccolo; pretty much he can master anything that requires wind-power. Being green is so hot right now). He also plays keys and came from DC Irish rock group Potato Famine, now O’Tasty.
While most of their individual bands had come to an end, on the other side of mass-extinction events, new-life forms survive and thrive. And so it was. New creative material started spewing like an active volcano and soon the four made their debut at a showcase for Haystack.com and Look at Life Records at the Knitting Factory in NY…
But the evolution wasn’t done yet. A new species abounding with frenetic energy still had yet to emerge--Mike Newbold (percussion) of DC’s country roots jam band Hunkle Funk. And the band was complete. The five recorded their self-titled debut album with Frank Marchand, former engineer of The All Mighty Senators and Bob Mould (Husker Du). It was released June 30, 2007 at the Recher Theater in Towson, MD under the independent Holster Records label. In September of 2007, McGaughey migrated westward to the wilds of California, and drummer Shareef Taher (from the highly evolved species conservatorius graduaticus) came in to take his place.
Like baby dinosaurs, their songs can make you want to cuddle. But just when you get comfortable, you remember they’re some rockin’ carnivores who are capable of tearing you apart...while still leaving you wanting more.
You can get the Welchers’ new album and Evan’s other albums through Holster Records or on iTunes.
To learn more about Evan Bliss & the Welchers and to join our mailing list, visit www.thewelchers.com.
"If Brandon Boyd of Incubus and Jack Johnson had a love-child, it would be Evan Bliss & The Welchers. The group’s sound blends powerful vocals and skilled instrumental music in what is a very respectable compilation. Mixing reggae, punk, rock and soul, the group has created a unique sound. “Kings” in particular proves Bliss and Co. aren’t another mediocre local band, but rather a fresh sound here to stay. In a nutshell, it is good music. Go check it out. "
-NF - On Tap Magazine, August ’07
o werd you guys rocked sullivan hall in nyc me and my man brandon came and saw you hah we were like the only ones dancing for awhile i was the lil biddy in the white skirt! loved you guys! well worth the bus ride in fung wah bus
You guys rocked the house at IOTA's!!! I will surely miss watching and listening to all of you this weekend. Have fun and I'll be thinking of you!!! HUGS!!!!
maybe...i can talk more about in about a week. i am trying to run the PR biz and my dad's accounting business @ the same time. i will stop working at my dad's after tax season. i will be able to do this job full time.
Hello boys. Good to see you last Friday, as always. I put up pics on myspace but not all are up so I am sending the zip file to Evan. If anyone else wants them, send me your email addy. Hope to see you soon.
Hey guys, I hope the new album is coming along well and I will try to be there at the Birchmere on Saturday to check out the show. Mike, anything new on that Street Team party? Let me know.
I received the CD today and it is incredible!! I love it!! Thank you so very much for sending me it!! I can't wait to have the full thing one day!!!!! You made a fan for life out of me!!!!!
