The Evens @ Mother India in Sacramento

So, saw the Evens tonight at Mother India in Sacramento. Having only heard two songs in advance of the show (their release is not out yet), I was pleasantly surprised. Ian's joining with Amy has taken him in a different direction. The combination of his voice with hers works really well and the stripped down sound allows their vocals to sit up front a bit more than normal. Imagine, if you will, the more experimental side of Fugazi combined with their mellower moments and you're somewhere close to their sound. Amy uses a good amount of effects on her drums and it adds a nice layer as well. Of course, a lot of the music was pretty political and Ian was his usual self, saying "bless you" to a random sneaze in the audience and inviting some people in from the outside through a side door towards the end of the show. He also managed to get the whole crowd whistling on one song and singing on another. In many respects, it's a great treat to see him in this band because it's a lot more intimate than his other projects have been and, because of this, he spends more time talking to the audience. Amy was pretty quiet, but she has a wonderful voice and is a fine drummer. Overall, a great experience. Especially when you consider the $5 cover charge, what more could you ask for? I mightl be seeing them again on Friday in San Francisco at the Swedish American Hall (Cafe Du Nord).