Todd Evans

Lines on the Wall Todd Evans

Some of my earliest memories are of listening to radio in the early 1970's. My imagination was captured by the storytelling and my ears were drawn in by the melodies. My own songwriting draws from many musical styles and I always strive to tell an interesting story with a catchy melody. I believe these two things are the basis of every good song. I began to study the piano and sing in various choral groups at the age of eight, but I didn't discover my passion for music until I began to play guitar in High School. It seemed that overnight everything changed; all I wanted to do was practice and play songs by my favorite bands. Until that time I hadn't realized that music was more than taking lessons and reading music. I could create my own music and that's what I loved to do. In 1990 I entered Berklee College of Music in Boston and for three years studied Music Production and Engineering, music theory and ear training. The curriculum at Berklee exposed me to jazz for the first time and challenged me to open my ears to scales and harmonies that were far outside those I was accustomed to. As I began to work with these new sounds my songs grew richer and more complex. I graduated Berklee in 1993 with a Bachelor's Degree and formed a progressive rock band, FEED, that performed throughout the Boston area for the next three years. When the band broke up I set my sights on the West Coast. Arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1997, I began establishing myself as an independent engineer and producer. I spent a year working at the Record Plant in Sausalito assisting the likes of Metallica, Dave Matthews Band and Primus. In addition to my work at the Record Plant I was engineering recordings for local acts. Between 1997 and 1999 I recorded and produced tracks for five CD releases. In 1999 I joined Tempest, a progressive folk band signed to Rochester, N.Y.-based Magna Carta Records. For three years I recorded and performed with Tempest throughout the United States and Canada and twice at the Skagen Festival in Denmark. "Tempest - Live at the Philadelphia Folk Festival", released in 1999, features my guitar playing and mix engineering. "Balance" Tempest's latest CD was released in 2001 and contains two of my original instrumental compositions. "Dance of the Sand Witches" and "Battle Mountain Breakdown," written for the CD have received college radio airplay and very positive reviews. The All Music Guide says, "Evans' two instrumental numbers, "Dance of the Sand Witches" and "Battle Mountain Breakdown," are scorching worldbeat rockers that needn't take a back seat to Jimmy Page or any of the '70s guitar gods who dared to venture beyond basic three-chord speed and cock rock. At times he conjures up comparisons to Richie Blackmore; other times the virtuosity and eclecticism of Lanny Cordolla surfaces." In 2002 I completed a CD of my original acoustic rock compositions. Collectively titled "Lines on the Wall" the recordings are self produced and feature my guitar, vocal and engineering skills. These songs represent my work in the pop and MOR genres and combine my wide range of influences into an accessible sound that stays true to my 1970's melodic and lyrical beginnings. In May of 2008 I joined Tempest on stage to help them celebrate the band's 20th Anniversary. It was a most enjoyable evening and has served as inspiration to pursue opportunities to perform again after many years away from the stage.