The Houston-based Southern rock band Evangeline is bursting onto the national music scene by landing a top-10 hit on the Media Base and New Music Weekly singles charts, according to the independent record label management firm Indie Extreme.
Rain, the first single from the act’s debut album, We’re Alright Down Here, continues to climb various independent record charts. The album and single were co-produced by contemporary Christian EMI recording artist Robbie Seay. The single is currently airing on mainstream adult contemporary and top-40 radio stations in cities ranging from Peoria, Ill., Appleton, Wis., and Omaha, Neb., to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Louisville, Ky., and Houston.
“Evangeline is very close to charting on Billboard’s Top 40 singles chart,” said Libby Wood, director of label administration and marketing for Indie Extreme in Nashville. “The last time we checked, Rainwas the 133rdmost played single on monitored radio stations. The band also is receiving about 600 spins a week on smaller unmonitored stations.”
Rain received high scores from listeners during recent “new music face-offs” on radio stations in Houston and Louisville. Radio exposure has helped the band land bookings at Walter’s on Washington in Houston on Feb. 8 and Main Street Crossing in Tomball, Texas, on Feb. 15. Evangeline plans to launch a national tour in March.
“In light of the difficulty for independent artists in today’s market, it is especially gratifying to see this act earn their way to commercial viability,” noted Harvey Cooper, the Hollywood-based independent marketing consultant who is overseeing retail promotion for the album and single. “What is so totally unique about Evangeline is how their root, eclectic, deep-seeded lyrical music could be so commercial.”
Described as a “Southern rock band for the 21stCentury”, Evangeline uses soulful pop, rock and folk music and thought-provoking lyrics to communicate the depths of life’s struggles and challenges in relationships, pain, death and faith. Songwriter/bassist Jeffrey Armstreetand singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonathan Barrick founded the band in 2006. Recent additions are guitarist Joe Degelia(formerly with hit CCM recording artist Matt Brouwer) and drummer Beji George(formerly with the band Still Life).
Released in late 2007, We’re Alright Down Herefeatures 10 songs written all or in part by Armstreet and Barrick, with contributions from songwriter Madi Diaz and Seay. Armstreet co-produced the project with Seay.
The act received international exposure by performing in the Independent Artist Showcaseduring GMA Week last April in Nashville. The band has performed at nightclubs such as The Engine Room in Houston; Dosey Doe’s in The Woodlands, Texas; Momo’s in Austin, Texas; and Warehouse LIVE in Houston.
“We are very excited – all of this is pretty surreal,” said Armstreet, who has produced and recorded several CDs for other artists at his Red Tree Recording Studio in Houston. “As a songwriter, it’s wonderful to know we have written songs that are being heard. As musicians, this is a dream come true. We are looking forward to performing at nightclubs and other venues across the country.”
Indie Extreme, a Nashville-based independent record label management firm, provides Evangeline and its record label, Rainwater Records, with label administration services such as marketing support, distribution, administration, e-commerce, bookkeeping and inventory management. The band is managed by Houston-based Extreme Dreams Artist Agency in Houston. The album and single are being distributed by Burnside Music Distribution.
“We are thrilled with the success of Evangeline,” said Kathy Douglas, CEO of Extreme Dreams Artist Management. “Given the positive response the band has already received, it wouldn’t surprise us to see Rain climb to the top of the independent record charts.”
