Evans Blue

Formed in Toronto around 2003, the modern hard rock quintet Evans Blue originated when its members connected unexpectedly through a local musician’s online message board. The lineup consisted of vocalist Matisyn, guitarists Parker Lauzon and Vlad Tanaskovic, bassist Joe Pitter, and drummer Darryl Brown. The group secured a deal with Pocket Recordings in 2005 and promptly began sessions at Pocket Studios alongside Trevor Kustiak, formerly of Cool for August. Their debut album, The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume, appeared in February 2006 through a joint release by Pocket and Hollywood Records. A spring tour in support of Taproot ensued, during which Brown departed without notice and was subsequently succeeded by Davis Howard. The band’s second full-length, The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal of Life Ends, reached stores in July 2007. Its self-titled third album, the first to showcase new singer Dan Chandler, arrived in 2009. The fourth studio effort, Graveyard of Empires, followed in 2012.