I decided that starting every Friday, I'll post a band that we either play on 99x or just kicks ass in general. This week's featured artist is a band called Evans Blue.

Evans Blue is back and better than ever with frontman Dan Chandler securely in place. The St. Louis singer was selected after an extensive nationwide search, and he makes his debut on band’s third album evans|blue. According to guitarist Parker Lauzon, “The transition was virtually flawless; Chandler is an easy guy to get along with, and he keeps a very open mind when it comes to songwriting, which is refreshing.” Chandler adds, “I think you just click with some people, and in this case it really feels like there’s a mutual respect between everyone in the group. It feels like I have known these guys longer than I have.”

Like the band’s first two albums, evans|blue was produced by Trevor Kustiak, but there is something noticeably different – aside from the new voice – as if an evolution has taken place within the sound. The new album stays true to Evans Blue’s core fans with signature dark and heavy riffs, but it is simultaneously uplifting. Chandler cites “confusing kindness for weakness,” “love and losing it,” and “finding comfort in difficult times” as some of the recurring themes on the album, but he is quick to note that “the beauty of music is that we all interpret songs or relate to them in our own personal way.”

Meanwhile, Sounds+Sights and F.O.F. Label Group/EMI teamed up in 2010 to launch the "Erase My Scars" single and video (directed by Adrian Picardi of Northern Five Entertainment). The song and video are dedicated to Chandler’s nephew Chase Franklin, who died at the age of 8 from a rare form of brain cancer. The band has founded the Keeping Chase Foundation (www.keepingchase.com) in his honor, and they will raise and donate money to help other people in need who are battling cancer, beginning with a portion of the proceeds from digital sales of “Erase My Scars.”

The Evans Blue horizon for 2011 includes a Spring tour, new charitable donations from Keeping Chase, and a new single and video for "Say It." Airplay for "Say It" has already begun on SiriusXM Octane; please call, text and email your requests to Octane (join the Octane Air Force!) or your favorite local or internet radio station! The new album evans|blue is available in stores throughout North America and throughout the world on iTunes, and Evans Blue is poised and ready to show the world that the third one really is the charm. Peep their video of Erase my scars at this link and tell us if you like it.Evans Blue-Erase my Scars

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