Tony Fagenson: Management Was Holding Us Back, New Music From Eve 6 WILL Happen

Earlier this week, Tony Fagenson of Eve 6 was kind enough to surprise the most hardcore of Eve 6 fans and post a message on the MediaHQ Message Board. For those of you who read this blog, but not the message boards, here is what Tony had to say:

Eve6ers,

Tony with the band here. I wanted to give everyone an update about the status of Eve 6. We are certainly aware that you, the fine members of the hardcore Eve 6 fan community, have been patiently waiting for new music from this band and are probably getting a bit antsy wondering if we're every gonna come out with anything. Those copies of Horroscope are probably getting pretty worn by now and you could use a new CD from us to toss in the player (or better yet batch of MP3s to load up the iPod with). And as fun as the shows from the last two years have been for us and hopefully all of you as well, we are certainly jonesing to embark on some full fledged tours in support of a new release and get more new songs in the set. Well I can tell you definitively that new music from this band WILL appear!

We feel some explanation is necessary to you guys in return for your patient waiting. The music has always come first with this band, and we’ve wanted to make sure that we’re giving it the best shot we possibly can and properly setting up all the things we need in order to get Eve 6 music released the right way. A couple of things delayed the progress of our new record longer than we would have liked. We spent quite a bit of time on outside writing and production projects in ’08 and ’09, and every hour spent working on other artists’ material is an hour not spent on Eve 6. We were also parked at the wrong management company for quite a while which stalled any large scale movement for the band. We kept wishfully thinking that we could make it work with our managers but eventually realized that it wasn’t the right pairing. The good news is that we are now free of those shackles and are about to hook up with a great management team that will help catapult Eve 6 into this decade the right way. And we are focusing solely on the band in 2010 and pausing the outside projects for the time being. We have more than a full album’s worth of material, some of it fully recorded, and some more recording to go. We’ve been laying down pieces of it here and there, and we’ll be pulling it all together in the coming months.

We could have released something on our own last year, but we feel that the extra time will ultimately lead to a better and more widely accessible record. It’s a new musical landscape out there and there’s lots of choices for a band like us regarding how to release new music; we’re just trying to make the best one. As that is coming together so will other things like the website, new merchandise, more tours, videos, the works. As Willy Wonka says, “So much time, so little to do...no scratch that, reverse it...” We’ve got tons of work to do but are totally psyched about what lies ahead. We know it will all be worth it in the end!

Thanks for waiting and we’ll keep you posted as things come together. And of course we’re keeping a strict 2-3 show-per-month regimen throughout the US to stay limber until the new record comes out. See you out there, and PEACE!!

Sincerely,

Tony
EVE 6

So there you have it. It looks like Eve 6 will continue to plug away until we receive a new album. The management issue is definitely disappointing. Without the shackles of a major label, it was easy to assume that the guys would have gone with a management team that they trusted and that had a clear vision for their future as a band in the web 2.0 world. Unfortunately, that relationship went sour fast and they had to go back to the drawing board.

As always, we here at Eve6MediaHQ are holding out hope that there will, in fact, be another Eve 6 album. How could we think otherwise when Tony tells us what he did above? Until then, we'll see you all on the message boards!

2009 - Another Eve 6-less Year

Sure, they have been touring, and yes - by now everyone has gotten a chance to see the band play live (in case you missed them before their breakup). However, in the land of Eve 6, 2009 will best be remembered as another year without a new album.

Let's put it this way - when the clock strikes midnight on December 31, we will be entering the fourth calendar year since the band "reunited" in 2007 with the addition of Matt Bair on guitar. According to Tony's Twitter and recent interviews, the band plans to make good on promises for a new album in 2010 - their first in almost seven years (!).

The questions is this: how long can Eve 6 continue to play convenient college shows supporting albums from over a decade ago? At what point do fans completely lose interest and the band ends up playing in front of empty or disgruntled crowds? This time will probably never come for the hardcore fans who have frequented Eve 6 Media HQ over the years, but we're definitely not the ones driving Eve 6's revenue at this point.

At this point, we can only hope that 2010 brings us a new album and puts those worries to bed.

New Eve 6 Song! What Do You ThinK Of Me Now?

An all time great Eve6'er, Tom Besse, passed along the following live recording from Worcester, MA last week. This is definitely the best bootleg of Eve 6's new song "What Do You Think Of Me Now."

Enjoy:



Speaking of new Eve 6, both Max and Tony have said that 2010 is the year for new Eve 6 music. Let's hope, this song is great!

Puddle Of Mudd Lead Singer Wes Scantlin Takes a Veiled Swipe at His Collaboration With Max And Tony of Eve 6

Loyal Eve6'ers might remember back to 2007, when Max and Tony co-wrote Puddle Of Mudd's "We Don't Have To Look Back Now." At the time, we privately thought it was an odd combination (Puddle Of Mudd seem to be a bit "mad at your dad" for Max and Tony to be involved with). We kept out mouths shut, and simply requested that the Eve 6 community supported the single, requested it on whatever form of radio still exists these days and that was that. Until Today.

We were browsing the always-great Alternative Addiction, and came across these quotes from Puddle Of Mudd frontman, Wes Scantlin:

"The last record was a weird record," said Scantlin. "There was a lot of co-writes and stuff, people were brought in that probably shouldn't have been brought in for co-writes, it was kind of a weird situation for me."

::snip

"This album is definitely a lot edgier this time. I try to keep everything as rocking as possible, I'm not looking to get any Top 40 AC play."

If you listen to "We Don't Have To Look Back Now," it isn't too huge of an assumption that these quotes are directed toward the collaboration with the guys of Eve 6. This is especially apparent when you consider that Christian Stone was Eve 6's connection to Puddle Of Mudd (Stone was formerly in the band Campfire Girls, which toured with Eve 6), and has since departed the band. Strangely, Scantlin only had nice things to say about the co-writes, and specifically the co-write with Max and Tony back when "Famous" was released:

We had many different situations with many different producers and a few different writers on this record, which I think pulled a lot of really amazing inspirational types of emotional performances out of myself and Doug. We have Ryan Yerdon and Christian Stone in the band now, and they’re really talented guys and really positive guys.

I had to really open my mind up and just soak it all up and learn from it. I tried to improve upon the situations that were handed to me. So there you go. It got pushed back and pushed back, and it’s very aggravating to me. I think I learned a lot from it and I’m actually happier that I had to go through all of that. Fortunately, I think the record turned out really, really great.

::Snip

There are a lot of positive messages in the songs. “We Don’t Have To Look Back Now” has got a really positive message in there about a relationship. You get through it and it’s really painful because love is heartbreaking. It doesn’t always work out, and it’s a pain in the ass to get through. It’s a break-up situation with a person that you really have feelings for.

It seems petty that Scantlin is ripping "Famous" in preparation for the band's new album. Perhaps their label forced co-writes and guest producers, but if that is the case, it happened because band re-shuffling led to a 4-year gap from the time that "Life On Display" was released until "Famous." Further, the album sold fairly well, with over 400,000 units sold - not bad with the current state of the music industry. All of the singles garnered major radio play, and while "We Don't Have To Look Back Now" was seemingly their least successful single, it was well-received by their fans (as proven by comments on this Myspace blog post from the band back in '08, asking for suggestions on the next single.

So there you have it - according to the lead singer of Puddle Of Mudd, talented musicians such as Max Collins and Tony Fagenson won't be brought in to collaborate with them anymore, because it is "too weird for him." They don't want their music to be on top 40 radio (we assume they'd rather write the same old "Blurry" over and over and over again).

It felt wrong to endorse Puddle Of Mudd back in '07, but we did it to help support Eve 6. We can happily inform the 7 readers of Eve 6 Media HQ that after these comments, we'll never ask you to listen to Puddle Of Mudd again. We can feel the relief from here.

Eve 6 In Rock Band 2 For XBox 360 and PS3

We're not even sure if people still play this game, but we received word today that Eve 6's Inside Out will soon be available as an add-on to Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Among other songs available in the Rock Band Music Store next week is Blind Melon's breakthrough 1992 single “No Rain,” as well as “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Boston punk favorites Dropkick Murphys, which was featured on the band’s album, The Warrior’s Code, and in the soundtrack to Martin Scorcese’s Academy Award-winning film, The Departed. Songs from British rock groups Blur and Kaiser Chiefs, as well as alternative rock band Eve 6, will also be available.

Tracks available on Xbox 360 (Aug. 18) and PS 3 system (Aug. 20):

* Blind Melon - “No Rain”
* Blur - “There’s No Other Way”
* Dropkick Murphys - “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”
* Eve 6 - “Inside Out”
* Foo Fighters - “All My Life”
* Foo Fighters - “I’ll Stick Around”
* Foo Fighters - “Lonely As You”
* Kaiser Chiefs - “I Predict a Riot"

So, if you're a video game fan, and a Rock Band fan, be sure to download those new tracks. For Eve 6, this is just another way to potentially secure new fans, so we're all for it.

News From USA Today Article: Song Written By Max & Tony To Be Emily Osment's First Single

As we mentioned yesterday, Eve 6 had a prominent Friday mention in the "Life" section of USA Today:

Osment, who is still recording, describes her music as "definitely pop, but with an alternative-rock edge. It's music you'll want to play in the car with the windows rolled down." The budding singer/songwriter collaborated on tunes with Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T's and Eve 6's Max Collins and Tony Fagenson. The latter pair co-wrote a track called All the Way Up, which will premiere on Radio Disney and online in August. An accompanying video has been shot, featuring members of the band Push Play.

Max and Tony aren't just contributing songs to artists across the musical spectrum (from Puddle of Mudd to Emily Osment), they are contributing debut singles! This is definitely big for the guys, as Osment seems to have a good PR push going.

In more good news, we hear from Tony that the song is also going to be featured on the ABC Family television show 10 Things I Hate About You . As of now, Tony isn't sure which episode the song will be featured on.

Before accusing the guys of Eve 6 of "selling out" or "not focusing on the right things," keep in mind that this is a different day and age of music. When musicians have marketable talents, they need to make a living the best way they can. Emily Osment having success will only help to provide Max and Tony with the means to continue producing Eve 6 music, so everyone should get out there and support her new single "All The Way Up."

Max and Tony Mentioned in a USA Today Article On Friday July 10!

Well, this is some awesome news, according to Tony's Twitter:

Max and I are mentioned in tomorrow's (friday's) USA Today in a thing about our pal Emily Osment who we wrote some tunes with. Check itz out

Sure, it isn't about Eve 6 per se, but we're sure there will be a mention of the band, and USA Today is one of the most widely circulated daily newspapers in the United States. It really is refreshing to see the guys making the best of their unique talents in today's music industry.

Eve 6 on ROCKETVID - Hilarity Ensues

Still not sure what the hell ROCKETVID is, but Eve 6 was featured on the most recent episode. Guarantee you will enjoy this one if you are reading this site (also, if you are a fan of Ryan Star):



Kudos to the guys for releasing something this embarrassing for all on the interwebs to experience.

Could Eve 6 Be Following Third Eye Blind's Path To 21st Century Success?

Many Eve 6 fans have responded to Eve 6's recent college touring with a level of frustration. The shows have been awesome, and many have been well-attended, but after almost 6 years the hardcore fans want new music.

Tony has hinted recently that commercial success is not really the goal right now, and it is about touring successfully and eventually getting new music out there - possibly on a digital platform.

Alternative Addiction recently published a fascinating article about Third Eye Blind (a band that Eve 6 toured with back in 1998), and how they aren't worried about singles, or media attention - they just want to keep on playing packed shows, and putting out music that their fans embrace. From that article about 3EB:

It seems as though the band isn't looking for huge commercial success, and just plans to take the grassroutes approach to this release.

"I know it's great to have big media success and all of that stuff, and walking all of the red carpets and all of that crap, but it's really not necessary," Fredianelli explained. "It's all about the music really. And our fans have not left us. They know all of the records, they know the third record just as well as the first record. So touring has actually gotten better as far as our attendance. It's just really bizarre."

It sounds like in some ways the band come full circle from their early days, to their huge commercial success, and now back to where they started.

"What it showed us is all of the work we've been doing over the last five years, touring colleges and becoming one of the most requested bands at colleges on the East Coast, has kind of brought us back our initial alternative fan base, because Elektra Records had kind of squandered that by going for all of the big money," Fredianelli says. "It was the bread versus cred thing, but it's kind of an amazing resurgence we're seeing. It's really kind of inspiring."

Sound familiar? Fast forward a year or so, and hopefully Tony of Eve 6 will be able to make those exact comments. This is a new day and age in the music industry (and in the working world in general) - if people want to make money and to be successful, more work is necessary. What this means for the music industry is less reliance on radio to sell records and more focus on touring, grassroots fan support, new media interaction and, for mega-talented artists such as the Butch Walke's and Max Collins' of the world, more writing/producing for up and coming bands/musicians.

In the past year, Eve 6 has played two shows in a day on two separate occasions, and they are relaunching their website with a marketing firm that has experience with interactive new media. In addition, Max/Tony have written a hit single for Puddle Of Mudd and are currently in the studio writing/producing an album for Emily Osment of Disney's Hannah Montana. It seems as though they are well suited for success in the 21st century music industry.

In addition, we are bound to see more and more bands become strategic with tour booking. When the right shows aren't there, bands will have to use the downtime to work on their own albums as well as side-projects that will make extra money. Being a rockstar now means hard work and strategy, and not wild boozing and promiscuity.

This definitely represents a major shift in the industry. It used to be that bands would spend months in the studio and then depending on "radio single support" for a couple of national tours before starting the process all over again.

Perhaps Eve 6's lack of a new "album" is strategic, and new songs will be released in bits and pieces for the foreseeable future. Of course, the question remains - if the band is playing college shows, festivals, and state fairs in front of thousands of fans on a regular basis, while only releasing a few new songs at a time, will they lose some steam? Will the nostalgia aspect of the late 90's/early 00's Eve 6 hits lose their luster, without the new songs catching on?

That all remains to be seen. The good news for Eve 6 fans is that after returning from the dead, the band has adapted to the new landscape of the industry and is looking forward - not back.

Some New, Must Read Interviews With Tony Of Eve 6

Unfortunately, time doesn't permit a long-winded analysis, but here are a couple of new interviews with Tony of Eve 6. It is great to see Tony embracing the digital world, and looking forward to NEW Eve 6 music.

First, from a well-written article by Alternative Addition:

As much as the guys love to work with other musicians, Fagenson says that they’re now committing their time to new EVE 6 material.

“In the last few months we’ve been purposely turning down other stuff because we are trying to focus on our band now. It’s very easy to say yes to these things and then another year has gone by.”

Once the new material is done, the band hasn’t decided how they plan to release it. With the changing climate of the music industry, and one stint signed to a label behind them, Fagenson says the band still may opt to release the album through a major label if the right opportunity is available.

And next, a wide-ranging Q&A by Mammoth Press:

Q: Speaking of a fourth album which you kind of touched on a little bit give me what fans want to hear about that.

A: I think everything that fans like about the band is still gonna be there, we’re still all about the song and we try to write good songs that mean something to us and then therefore hopefully to other people. You know Max our singer and lyricist is still doing his thing and he has a special way with words and that’s still very strong and will be very represented on the record. But we are adding some different sounds into the mix; Sugi Tap was sort of a chance for us to experiment a little bit so we’re going to bring some of that in and I won’t say it’s going to sound like our first record but it’s always going to have the energy of that - the passion put into it. I think that people hopefully will be pleasantly surprised by it. We don’t really know when it’s gonna be yet because we haven’t officially started recording it.

That article is accompanied by a great photo gallery that all Eve 6 fans should check out. Seems like things are really starting to get exciting again.

For all of the loyal Eve 6 fans out there, it looks like the long wait for new music will finally be over at some point in 2009.