21 May Inside the Music Mind of Alan Evans, Drummer for Soulive
The Music Industry is full of creative people. From the musicians on stage playing music to the artists that make the posters that the promoters use to get people to the music venues. All the different people involved in making the music industry work have skill sets to be celebrated.
For Soulive drummer, Alan Evans, contributing to music involves more than just playing the drums. As an ambassador for multi-instrumentalist, Alan and his brother Neal have long been proponents for learning how to play more than one instrument. As a guitar playing drummer, Alan has been at the center of a project that has done everything from touring with John Mayer to creating a legendary residency in New York City, called Bowlive, which is the Soulive residency at Brooklyn Bowl. The legendary event has featured prolific musicians from Quest Love to George Porter Jr.
We are grateful that Alan took the time to open his mind to us.
MM: SO WHAT WAS IT THAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?
AE: I really don’t have a good answer. I started playing drums when I was 9 months old, started playing guitar when I was 13 years and I started gigging when I was 13 as well. By the time I was set to graduate high school I knew I didn’t want to go to college so I moved to NYC to continue playing with my band Moon Boot Lover which I started with Peter Prince and Josh Levitt when I was a sophomore in high school. I never made the decision to become a musician anymore then I made a decision to breathe or think. I guess what inspired me not to stop was my love of music.
MM: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A GREAT MUSICIAN?
AE: I would say the ability to listen and for their personality or sound come through.
MM: WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS OF ALL TIME AND WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST OF THEIR DISCOGRAPHIES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO THEM?
AE: Funny, that would have been a much easier question to answer when I was younger when I didn’t know as much. At this point in my life I can honestly say that everything I hear inspires me in some way. Every song has something in it that I learn from. It will either inspire me to write something of my own or I will learn something within the song that I won’t want to incorporate into my work. Either way, it’s a win.
MM: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A GREAT SONG?
AE: I feel that a song that makes the listener really feel something is a great song. Something that feels familiar while coming across as being completely new and original is a great element to have in a song.
MM: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A GREAT ALBUM?
AE: I think a great album is something that takes you on a journey from start to end. A great album usually forces me to play it on repeat for days, weeks, months and you discover something new and interesting with each listen.
MM: WHAT WAS THE FIRST ALBUM THAT REALLY GRABBED YOU? WHAT WERE THE SPECIFIC THINGS ABOUT THE ALBUM THAT MADE IT SPECIAL FOR YOU?
AE: Wow, that is a really tough question having grown up in a house full of music and amazing albums. I really can’t tell you the first album that really grabbed me but I remember hearing Jimi Hendrix ‘Axis Bold As Love’ for the first time. I was around 12 or 13. My brother Neal and I flew down to Bayonne, NJ to visit our older brother Rod who was in the Navy at the time. We stayed with him on the base and was certainly the only person there who had audiophile level stereo equipment in the barracks. Rod has an amazing record collection and I remember seeing the album cover leaned up some other records on the floor. I asked him to put it on just because I was intrigued by the cover. Suffice it to say, I had my mind blown!! Having grown up listening to a ton of jazz I knew many of the great jazz guitarists but I never heard anything like that. Not only did that album inspire me to pick up guitar but it also inspired me to become a recording engineer. I definitely came back to Buffalo a different person after listening to that album.
MM: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE PEAK EXPERIENCES OF YOUR CAREER? ANY FUN STORIES YOU CAN SHARE?!
AE: I have to say the peak experiences of my career are what I’m doing right now!! I spent over 30 years playing in clubs, theaters, arenas, stadiums, recording in studios, etc. which was great but now I spend my time recording, mixing, mastering and producing albums for great artists who come to me because of that experience. I’m not one to try to relive my past and I’ve always known that I didn’t want to spend my life on the road. it was great and it has gotten me here but I absolutely love where I am right now.
MM: WHERE DO YOU SEE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN 30 YEARS:
AE: Hahaha, that’s a great question. I honestly have no idea where the music industry will be in 30 years but I have faith that there will still be great music being made by creative people. Those same creative people will be at the forefront of music delivery system.
MM: FOR THE SERIOUS MUSICIANS OF THE WORLD, IS THERE A REAL PRO TIP YOU ARE WILLING TO SHARE, BE IT AN EXERCISE, A LICK, A PRACTICE HABIT, LIFE ADVICE, ETC.?
AE: My advice to the serious musicians of the world would be, share your knowledge and experience with the up and coming musicians of the world. Also, don’t miss out on life. Playing music all the time is cool but full life experiences brings depth and understanding to your music. Also, take time to think about what you would do if you couldn’t play music. I saw many musicians caught off guard by this pandemic. Maybe you don’t have a back up plan, maybe you don’t want a back up plan. That’s fine but if nothing else, this exercise will give you a sense of appreciation for what you do.
MM: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNG MUSICIAN THAT WANTS TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN?
AE: I would advise the young musicians to not get caught up in what other musicians do, or what they have accomplished. Of course it’s good to learn from others but remember the most important voice you should listen to and develop is your own!! No one else can do what you do so be steadfast in forging your own path. This will not only make this journey a more enjoyable one but you will make it more enjoyable for everyone around you.
MM: WHAT GEAR ARE YOU USING THESE DAYS? FEEL FREE TO SHOUT OUT SPONSORS, DISCUSS NEW ADDITIONS OR FAVORITE OLD GEAR. CAN BE YOUR MAIN INSTRUMENT, ACCESSORIES ETC.
AE: As I’m in my recording studio full time now, I’m obviously using a lot of studio gear. At the top of the list would be my Handsome Audio Zulu’s which are the world’s first passive analog tape simulators of which I have 8 channels. I also love my early 90’s Japanese Fender 1954 Stratocaster reissue which I purchased back in 1996. I have about six drum kits in my studio which are all amazing.
MM: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE VENUES TO PLAY IN THE WORLD? FEEL FREE TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE THAT MADE IT SPECIAL
AE: One of my favorite venues to play was always the Fillmore in San Francisco. I can’t remember playing a bad show there. I always say that a good venue or studio soaks up the energy that is put into it from the artists while instantaneously feeding the energy of previous artists it has captured back to what is happening in the moment. The Fillmore clearly has given me and everyone who has stepped through those doors some great energy over the years.
MM: IN ALL YOUR TRAVELS, WHAT IS THE BEST MEAL YOU EVER HAD?
AE: I would have to say I’ve had too many to list but one that stands out is while in Osaka with Soulive, Ryan Zoidis and our FOH engineer at the time Wally Wenzel went out for a walk in an area of town that didn’t cater to English speaking people. We walked into on restaurant and it was if the music stopped. There were no English menus, no pictures of food and no one spoke a word of English. We sat down at the bar and the proprietor with a look of what I took as disappointment as he thought his day possibly got a little longer. Once he realized we were there to stay, he offered us some menus and we pointed at a few things and ordered some beers. The food was amazing and the vibe was amazing. As he saw how much we enjoyed the food, he began preparing dishes for us and they just kept coming. a lot of times we had no clue what we were eating but it was all amazing. We ended up being there for a few hours, all of us smiling and laughing even though we couldn’t communicate with words, our appreciation for his craft was all we needed to have a great time.
MM: HAVE YOU DISCOVERED AN AWESOME RESTAURANTS WHILE ON TOUR THAT YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT! WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL?
AE: Wow….. there are so many!! I remember the last time I was out with my Ae3 (Alan Evans Trio) we discovered this amazing vegan Jamaican spot in Hartford, CT called Fire & Spice. Absolutely incredible!!!
MM: HAVE YOU DISCOVERED AN AWESOME HOTELS WHILE ON TOUR THAT YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT! WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL?
AE: I really dig the Verb in Boston. Super cool Rock & Roll vibe to it. They have a great collection of records in the lobby you can sift through and take back to your room for a listen!!
MM: COFFEE, TEA OR JUICE?
AE: Tea for sure. Turmeric Ginger is a staple here. I’m actually going to make some right now!!
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ABOUT ALAN EVANS:
At his core, Alan Evans is an artist, doubling his talents as multi instrumentalist, vocalist, musician with his ear for quality and precision as a producer, recording, mixing and mastering engineer. Sporting an impressive body of work, (with credits in front of and behind the mic) a slice of Alan’s discography includes: Soulive, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Toots and the Maytalls, Alan Evans Trio and Moon Boot Lover. Mention the name Alan Evans to a room full of music lovers, and you will get a consensus nod at one of the most celebrated and tenacious drummers in the jazz, funk, and soul scene.
A producer, recording engineer, guitarist, percussionist, vocalist and writer, Alan’s repertoire of skills have been perfected with two decades of dedication. Alan has had his hand on the mixing boards for many years. Co-founder, writer and drummer of Soulive for 20 years, Alan Evans co-wrote, co-produced, recorded, and mixed the majority of their work. Alan still tours the world with Soulive, and has shared the stage with legends including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews, John Scofield, and the list goes on!
When off the road, Alan is the chief engineer and producer at Iron Wax Studios staying busy recording / mixing and producing a wide array of projects. The studio is also production headquarters for Vintage League Music.
Alan grew up in Buffalo, NY in the 1980’s. There were strong musical influences in Alan’s life from the very beginning. To say that the Evans family is musical is to say that the Kennedy family has a proclivity for politics. The record player spun in the Evans household the way the TV blared in many other homes. Alan’s father, Willie, and his older brother Rod played DJ and the assembly of vinyl they accrued was broad and vast. Miles Davis, Jimmy Smith, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Kool & the Gang, Jimi Hendrix, the Headhunters – these were just some of the sounds emanating out of the Evans living room.
“First and foremost, I am a music lover. There is nothing better than discovering and falling in love with a new song or album. Something that you put on repeat and listen to for hours, days, weeks. Music that transports you to another world, a place meant just for you. This is what drives me to make music and help others bring their music to fruition.”
A few of my businesses & projects:
Iron Wax Studios – https://www.ironwax.com
Vintage League Music – https://www.vintageleaguemusic.com
Crushed Velvet and the Veleveteers – https://www.vintageleaguemusic.com/love-and-truth
Alan Evans Trio – https://www.vintageleaguemusic.com/elephant-head-1
Header photo by Megan LaBonte
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