The L.A. area-trio may still be young, but the core of the band have been writing and performing together for five years--developing songs that capture angst and frustration with a refreshing honesty and poeticism as well as musical sophistication and raw power.
Nineteen-year-old singer and bass player Max Collins, who also writes the lyrics, and 18 year-old-guitarist Jon Siebels have been collaborating together since 1993, drawn together by a seriousness about playing in a rock band and a love of punk music. They were signed to The RCA Records Label two years ago while still in high school. Now, having teamed up with 19 year-old drummer Tony Fagenson and adopting the Eve 6 moniker, the band has recorded an infectious, self-titled debut album.
The first single, "Inside Out," about "wanting people to understand you," states the album's theme of the distance between outside appearances and internal reality, while the seductive catch-and-hold chorus of "Leech" underlines the tale of an emotional parasite ("Sucking on my brain/You're the teacher/I'm the student/Turning things around/Your story's not congruent").
"The songs come from our own experiences, from relationships, heartbreak and the idea of wanting to break out and be understood," reveals Max. The gradual build of "Jesus Nitelite," the punky glam swagger of "Superhero Girl" and the longing of "Small Town Trap" perfectly captures the feeling of being an outsider and craving acceptance.
"Open Road Song" is just what it says it is, an anthemic ode to "feeling that freedom you get when you drive real fast," says Max, while the twisted beat of "Tongue Tied" echoes the plight of someone assigned to a special education class because of behavioral problems experiencing the pain of being categorized as "slow" ("Take my tongue/It's cocked and loaded/You've been dubbed a special student").
One wouldn't expect such catchy choruses and sophisticated melodic subtleties from a young band's music. "That comes from having a wide range of tastes," explains Max. "We'll listen to classic singer-songwriters like Elvis Costello and Tom Petty on the one hand, and noisy pop like the Pixies, Jawbreaker and the Muffs on the other."
Eve 6 recorded the album in Los Angeles at Sound City and Chomsky Ranch, New York at Electric Lady and predominately in Seattle at Stepping Stone, the home of Don Gilmore--an admired engineer turned producer who had previously worked with the likes of X and John Doe. Wanting to get away from the pressure of recording in their hometown, the band spent several weeks in the Northwest city, where they won over new fans with a number of acclaimed local live club appearances.
"With every show we discover a different type of person that likes our music. It seems to have a very diverse appeal," observes Tony. "Hopefully others will be able to connect with our music and understand what we are about," adds Jon.
"Inspire me," sings Max in "Small Town Trap," the final song on the album and a paean to making something of yourself. " Something's gonna happen soon/ Because it must."
