'68 Comeback

Distinct from both the Elvis television program and the Brian Setzer trio that share the title, '68 Comeback formed in 1992 out of the remnants left by Ohio psychobilly stalwarts the Gibson Bros. Fronted by Memphis-based singer, songwriter, and musicologist Jeffrey Evans—who maintains a personal shrine to rockabilly pioneer Charlie Feathers in his home—the lean blues-rock outfit launched from a garage setup, specifically Evans' own home studio, issuing a string of favorably received singles through In the Red, Sub Pop, Get Hip, and assorted other independent outlets. Alongside Evans, who performed under the name Monsieur Evans while handling vocals, guitar, and blues harp, the original roster featured Peggy O'Neill of the Gories on drums, Darin Lin Wood of the Red Devils on guitar, Dan Brown of Gloryhole on bass, and Jack Taylor of Monster Truck Five on guitar, resulting in a three-guitar configuration. Evans has stated that the group's central aim was to perform live and to reproduce that onstage sound on recordings with maximum fidelity. Bolstered by their initial pair of singles, Chantilly Rock (And a Pony's Tail) on Sugar Ditch and Three Time Loser on Sympathy for the Record Industry, the band embarked on a 60-day trek across 42 U.S. cities; when O'Neill could not participate, Greg Cartwright of the Oblivians filled the drum chair for the journey.

Directly after the tour concluded, the musicians entered the studio to record their debut EP, Paper Boy Blues, issued in 1993. Their first full-length album, Mr. Downchild, appeared the following year. Also in 1994, Sympathy assembled the 45s along with the EP—augmented by alternate versions and previously unreleased material—into the Golden Rogues Collection, and the label went on to issue every subsequent full-length project. In the ensuing period the group put out additional 7-inch releases, among them the double-single Someday My Prince Will Come in 1996, while supplying tracks to the soundtrack anthologies The Sore Losers in 1997 and Shine On, Sweet Starlet in 1998. Their most expansive effort, the 21-track double-LP Bridge Too Fuckin' Far, arrived in 1998 and was dedicated to guitarist Jack Taylor, born in 1965, who had succumbed to a drug overdose the year before; his image appears on the cover. Love Always Wins followed in 1999, consisting mainly of cover material and regarded as the band's most approachable recording.

During the 2000s Evans issued the solo album I've Lived a Rich Life and served as producer for several acts, among them Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Mr. Airplane Man, and the American Death Ray, working at Tillman Audio Research, which occupies the same space as his living room. Recognized for his animated vocal and instrumental delivery as well as for his humorous, self-deprecating stories and distinctive wardrobe choices such as bowler hats and three-piece suits, Evans remains a magnetic stage presence. Although '68 Comeback's membership has shifted repeatedly across the years, with Evans as the sole constant member, he has also performed in other ensembles including Jeffrey Evans' C.C. Riders, the Porch Ghouls, and South Filthy. In one configuration or another—whether alone, with '68 Comeback, or alongside similarly inclined musicians—Evans appears destined to continue delivering rock and roll well into his later years, much like his idol Charlie Feathers.