Evan & Jaron

Evan And Jaron Soldier On With New LP After Producer Stolen By Virgin

21 Feb 2002 04:56:00 EST

Brothers have written at least enough songs for the follow-up to their self-titled album, are continuing to write more.
By Corey Moss

Evan Lowenstein
Photo: Michael Canterbury

HOLLYWOOD — Bands often have to compete with other bands when lining up producers. Evan and Jaron had to compete with an entire record label. Needless to say, they lost.

"We had Matt Serletic [Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul] to produce our record, but he is now the new chairman and CEO of Virgin, so our gig is kind of out," Jaron said last week at the Love Rocks concert to honor U2 singer Bono (see ). "So we're looking for producers now. We may produce it ourselves now. We're not sure. If we can get it out by the end of the year, that would be fantastic."

The Atlanta-born Lowenstein brothers have written at least enough songs for the follow-up to their 2000 self-titled album, and are continuing to write more.

"We're ready to go," Jaron said. "We're trying to start a residency out here in L.A. so we can play some of the new songs and have fun. We can't go too long without playing."

Evan and Jaron featured appearances by Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood and Medeski Martin & Wood keyboardist John Medeski, along with a song co-written by Semisonic's Dan Wilson (see ).

Last week the duo were nominated for a Gibson Guitar Award for Best Acoustic Guitarist, which Jaron said made up for not getting a Grammy nod. "We were a vote or two away ... from the bottom," Evan joked. "We might go as seat fillers."

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Bono Smooched By Clinton, Cruise, Carmen Electra At 'Love Rocks' Love Fest

15 Feb 2002 09:27:00 EST

Awards ceremony, fund-raiser also included performances by No Doubt, R.E.M.
By Corey Moss

Gwen Stefani at Love Rocks
Photo: National Satellite

HOLLYWOOD — For what was supposed to be a valentine to Bono ("Bahn-o"), there sure were a lot of references to Bono ("Bone-o") Thursday night.

First, on the red carpet leading into the new Kodak Theatre, Evan and Jaron joked that they thought the inaugural "Love Rocks" concert was honoring the late Sonny Bono. Then, R.E.M. carried on the joke by bringing out Cher during their four-song set to duet with singer Michael Stipe on "I Got You Babe," after which Cher said, "I've never done that song without my Bono, so that was for you, Bono."(Click here for photos.)

Finally, when accepting his Heart of Entertainment Award from the Entertainment Industry Foundation, U2 singer Bono told a story about his encounter with "a short little silent man," who after getting off an elevator with the Irishman, turned around and said, "It's pronounced 'Bone-o.' "

Still, it was clear who the "Love Rocks" gala, which also served as an awards ceremony and a fund-raiser for cardiovascular research, was all about. During the early part of the two-hour concert, No Doubt contributed a funky performance of "Sweetest Thing" that reminded everyone in attendance why U2 are the biggest rock band in the world — "their perfect three-minute pop songs," as Tom Cruise, who presented Bono his award, later put it.

But Bono's songwriting craft was not why he was being honored. The EIF awarded Bono for his humanitarian work promoting debt relief and AIDS awareness in the Third World, and for his work with Amnesty International, Greenpeace International and other organizations.

The evening's presenters and performers, including Kevin Spacey, Ray Romano and Kevin Nealon, took turns praising Bono's efforts, though none of their kind words matched those by comedian Drew Carey on the red carpet: "I'm so glad that God sent Bono down to save us from our sins," he joked. "Do you want to see my wristband? It says, 'What would Bono do?' He's like Christ, I'm telling you. He's like Christ and Bob Dylan rolled into one."

Former President Bill Clinton and Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger came close to Carey's flattery with their comments in congratulatory videos, the latter noting, "I remember when you started your thing up for the third-world debt, a lot of people said, 'Why don't you just leave this job to the professionals and you get on with your own life?' But I suppose you've got to remember that it was the professionals that built the Titanic and the amateurs that built the ark."

When he finally took the stage to receive the Heart of Entertainment Award, Bono laughed off the praise, saying, "Right down the hall from beatification comes crucifixion, so I'd better enjoy this."

Bono also joked about being a "pain in the arse" to U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and President George W. Bush's administration because of his efforts to convince U.S. lawmakers to drop the debt owed by the world's poorest countries.

The U2 singer used the podium to preach his causes as well, noting that 28 million HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa would leave behind 100 million AIDS orphans by the end of the decade. "This is probably the greatest threat to humanity that the world has seen really since the bubonic plague took out about a third of Europe in the Middle Ages," he said.

The United States, especially the creative minds in Hollywood who have sold the concept of the American Dream to the world, can make a difference Bono said.

"Eight million people die every year for the price of going out with your friends to the movies and buying an ice cream," he said. "Literally for about $30 a head per year, you could save 8 million lives. Isn't that extraordinary? Preventable disease — not calamity, not famine, nothing like that — preventable disease, just for the lack of medicines. That is a bargain."

"Love Rocks" ended with an encore performance of the U2 anthem "One" by R.E.M. with Stipe and Bono sharing vocals. Near the end of the number, which appeared to be unrehearsed, the vocalists turned the microphone toward the capacity crowd to sing the song's chorus: "One life/ But we're not the same/ We get to carry each other/ Carry each other."

No Doubt's three-song set earlier in the evening included their current hit, "Hey Baby," and "Simple Kind of Life." R.E.M. also played their recent "Imitation of Life" and the classic "Losing My Religion," which earned enormous applause, particularly during guitarist Peter Buck's mandolin solos.

Newcomer Reese opened the show, and R&B singer Lauryn Hill also performed, singing and playing acoustic guitar on two new tracks, including one Tracy Chapman-like tune called "Social Drugs." Hill missed a few chords and apologized, but the crowd cheered her honesty.

Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, Evan and Jaron, Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro, Carmen Electra, Quincy Jones, Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Heather Graham and Shannon Elizabeth were among the stars in attendance.

"Love Rocks" also served as the launch of the 60-year-old EIF's National Cardiovascular Research Initiative, which will donate $3 million to battling cardiovascular disease.

Read about all of the shows we've recently covered in Tour Reports.

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Black Crowes, Baha Men, Parliament-Funkadelic To Play SunFest

3 Apr 2001 11:54:00 EDT

Wallflowers, Live, Melissa Etheridge, Evan & Jaron also slated for five-day Florida festival.
By Corey Moss

Evan & Jaron
Photo: Sony

The Black Crowes, the Baha Men, the Wallflowers and George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic are among the performers slated for the five-day SunFest next month in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The 19th annual music, arts and waterfront festival runs May 2-6 and features musicians performing on several stages. Last year's event drew 320,000 people, according to organizers.

Live, Melissa Etheridge, Evan & Jaron, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mya, Nine Days, Chuck Berry and Stabbing Westward are also on the bill.

The Wallflowers, who released their third album, Breach, in October, will headline opening night on the Bank of America Stage, while play on the Real Yellow Pages Stage.

Funk veterans the Ohio Players, whose '70s hits included "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster," are scheduled to play on May 3. Berry, the seminal rock and roller behind such songs as "Johnny B. Goode" and "Sweet Little Sixteen," has a headlining slot on May 5. Etheridge closes out the festival on May 6.

One-day tickets for SunFest are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Five-day tickets are $29 in advance and $35 at the gate.

SunFest lineup, according to organizers:

5/2 - Wallflowers, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Evan & Jaron, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic
5/3 - Black Crowes, Ohio Players, Gabe Dixon Band
5/4 - Rick Braun and Boney James, Eric Johnson, Derek Trucks Band, Mya, Hot Brass Monkey
5/5 - Chuck Berry, Live, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Steve Cole, Stabbing Westward, Luciano with Junior Kelly, Mikey General, Dean Fraser
5/6 - Melissa Etheridge, Tower of Power, Nine Days, Mahotella Queens, Deep Banana Blackout, Baha Men

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Evan And Jaron Hitting The Road

2 Mar 2001 01:50:00 EST

Brother singer/songwriters' six-week outing begins April 17 in Seattle.
By Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen

Jaron
Photo: Michael Canterbury

"Crazy for This Girl" singers Evan and Jaron will kick off a six-week tour on April 17 in Seattle.

The Atlanta-born Lowenstein brothers also will release their second single "From My Head to My Heart" (which first appeared in the soundtrack to the 1999 Julia Roberts flick "Runaway Bride") on March 13.

Their first album, Evan and Jaron, features appearances by drummer Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac and keyboardist John Medeski of jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood. Semisonic's Dan Wilson helped write "Ready or Not" with Evan.

Evan and Jaron tour dates, according to Columbia Records:

4/17 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
4/19 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
4/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ DV8
4/22 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
4/24 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
4/25 - Lubbock, TX @ Cell Block G
4/26 - Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's
4/28 - Dallas, TX @ Red Jacket
4/30 - Tallahassee, FL @ Floyd's Music Store
5/1 - Tampa, FL @ Fun
5/3 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
5/8 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos'
5/9 - North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
5/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
5/3 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
5/14 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
5/17 - New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
5/19 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
5/22 - Cleveland, OH @ The Odeon
5/23 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Metropol
5/24 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
5/29 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
5/30 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
5/31 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

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Evan And Jaron Set Heads, Hearts On Single, Tour

15 Feb 2001 07:56:00 EST

Evan (left) and Jaron
Photo: Sony/Columbia Records

After scoring a top-20 hit with "Crazy for This Girl," singer/songwriters Evan and Jaron Lowenstein have selected "From My Head to My Heart" as its follow-up single, which is due to hit radio on March 13.

Although it appears on their Evan and Jaron album, the duo originally recorded the song for use in the 1999 Julia Roberts film "Runaway Bride." Evan admitted that the track's previous exposure made it "an obvious choice for the next single." The duo said that "From My Head to My Heart" beat out two other songs they had been considering, "Done Hangin' on Maybe" and "Ready or Not." Unlike "Crazy for This Girl," which was written by Jaron, "From My Head to My Heart" was penned by Evan. As the two explained, the similarities in their genetic makeup don't apply to writing songs.

"It's a misnomer [that we're a songwriting duo]," Jaron said. "People think, because we're brothers, that we write together. We are not a brotherly songwriting team. For the most part, I write by myself, or there's a friend [Jeff Cohen] I like to write with, and Evan writes with other people or by himself. We may edit each other's stuff, but we do not write together." "If we do write together, it's awkward," Evan added. "Then we have to take it to an outside editor to [arbitrate] between us." If Evan and Jaron are still in need of arbiters, the former semi-pro baseball players should be able to snag business cards from a few in the business when they perform at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Party on February 20 in New York.

Evan and Jaron are currently sorting out dates for a club tour tentatively set to run from April 16 through June 4. Chanel, the parfumerie and couturier, will sponsor the outing.

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Evan And Jaron Set Heads, Hearts On Single, Tour

23 Jan 2001 07:56:00 EST

Evan (left) and Jaron
Photo: MTV News

Evan and Jaron are currently sorting out dates for a club tour tentatively set to run from April 16 through June 4. Chanel, the parfumerie and couturier, will sponsor the outing.

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Evan And Jaron Go Girl "Crazy" For New Single, Album

18 Aug 2000 06:00:00 EDT

Evan And Jaron

Armed with a new deal with Columbia Records, the Atlanta sibling duo of Evan And Jaron has returned to the airwaves with "Crazy For This Girl," the first single from the upcoming self-titled album.

"Crazy For This Girl" has already entered the Top 40 of the Pop-Contemporary Hit Radio chart, according to "R&R." Twin brothers Evan and Jaron recently talked with MTV News about the track, which deals with the physical maturation of an otherwise platonic relationship.

"[The song] is about that girl that we all grew up with who is your friend," Jaron explained. "[She's] your best friend, and she's been with you through everything."

"It doesn't necessarily have to be someone you grew up with," Evan clarified.

"Well, it's somebody that you've hung out with for a while," Jaron continued, "someone you've known. But for some reason -- there's just something in your head -- you haven't made her your girlfriend or that significant other."

"You keep overlooking her," Evan added.

"Yeah, she's the one that's always overlooked," Jaron said, he concluded, "and that you are, in fact, actually crazy for this girl."

The duo's "Evan And Jaron" LP, which was executive produced by T-Bone Burnett and includes contributions from Mick Fleetwood, John Medeski, and Semisonic's Dan Wilson (see "Semisonic's Dan Wilson Dishes On 'Liberating' New Record") is due in stores on September 12.

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