Talented and creative people attract those of the same order, especially in music.
Sam Evian has released a compelling album every two or three years since he first started recording in 2016, and in that time, he’s also established himself as a respected producer, as numerous skyrocketing indie rock acts — including Big Thief — have turned to him and his Catskills-based Flying Cloud recording studio to assist on major releases that have gone on to garner critical acclaim.
Sam’s growing resume speaks volumes to his abilities and reputation, but with his own latest release, Plunge, he reminds that he himself is indeed a marvelous songwriter with remarkable intuition and the ambition to carefully realize one of this year’s dreamiest and most remedial albums. The strength of that album helped sell out Sam’s recent performance at The Atlantis in DC.
Listen to Sam Evian’s fourth and newest album, Plunge, via Spotify:
Plunge advances the sounds he established on his previous records, and the nine winsome, adventurous tracks have sent Sam and his tight-knit crew out on a spring North American tour to promote them.
The Atlantis was one of the first dates on the schedule, and the night of April 27 saw Evian and his band fill the two-story venue and delight a sold-out audience with songs from the new record and others choice selections from his catalogue.
Backed by a group well-known to and itself familiar with the nation’s capital, Evian was supported by a seasoned and fruitful pack of musicians, including numerous who are forging their own recording careers.
While Sam handled guitar, keys, played the saxophone and led on vocals, he was assisted by guitarist/singer-songwriter Liam Kazar, bassist Brian Betancourt and drummer Sean Mullins, who records as Moon Mullins. After opening the night with Sam and the whole crew supporting her, Hannah Cohen added vocals through the main set along with a couple of the band’s good friends Keenan O’Meara and Megan Lui, who joined for this tour as well.
Listen to Hannah Cohen’s 2019 studio album, Welcome Home, via Spotify:
Sam claimed he didn’t feel like he was at his best — “I think my brain might be broken tonight, I really do” — but he certainly could have fooled any ticketholder as he and his mates offered up in a sparkling set of tunes this past Saturday night.
“I’m so grateful that I get to play music with these friends of mine,” Evian said.
Below are home-rolled/developed/scanned images of Sam Evian and his band, which — including Sam — also served as the backing band for the night’s opener, Hannah Cohen. All photos copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.
