Years active 2001–present Associated acts Fugazi, The Warmers Record label Dischord Records Genres Indie rock, Punk rock | Labels Dischord Website The Evens Members Ian MacKaye, Amy Farina | |
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Origin Washington, D.C., United States (2001) Albums Get Evens, The Odds, The Evens, S/T Similar Fugazi, The Warmers, The Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Embrace | ||
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The Evens are a Washington, D.C. indie-rock duo, formed in the fall of 2001, comprising partners Ian MacKaye (guitars, vocals) (of Fugazi, formerly of Minor Threat) and Amy Farina (drums, vocals) (formerly of The Warmers). After Ian MacKaye's band Fugazi entered a hiatus, The Evens began practicing extensively, and eventually played a few shows and recorded a self-titled album, released in March 2005 on MacKaye's label, Dischord Records. The Evens are known for their unusual choices in venues for performances and the stylistic change from what many have dubbed the "D.C." or "Dischord" sound. The Washington Post has described the sound as "what happens when post-hardcore becomes post-post-hardcore."
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The Evens first gained notice in late 2003 when they created a video for their original children's song "Vowel Movement", which was made for Pancake Mountain, a Washington, D.C. internet-based children's program. The clip fueled furthered rumors of Fugazi's breakup amid their hiatus, while adding speculation as to MacKaye's new musical direction. The song featured sing-along lines and upbeat music in the vein of Sesame Street and other children's educational programs, while the video showed dancing children and colorful vowels. After the initial reaction to "Vowel Movement", most have taken The Evens' first "project" positively, and in fact the song has become something of a fan favorite. Some have even asked them to play "Vowel Movement" during shows, something The Evens have expressed no desire to do.
The Evens are significant for fans of MacKaye because it is his first project aside from Fugazi since Pailhead (1988), his first non-Fugazi related LP since Embrace, released in 1987, and his first and probably only music video with "Vowel Movement".
In June and July 2006, MacKaye and Farina recorded new music that they wrote earlier in that year. On November 6, 2006, they released their second album entitled Get Evens, which featured this new music.
On Saturday, May 24, 2008, Amy Farina and Ian MacKaye welcomed their first child, a son named Carmine Francis Farina MacKaye.
The Dischord site announced that The Evens are working on a new album on June 22, 2012. In September 2012, the website announced that the new album called The Odds would be released on November 20, 2012.
The album The Odds was listed 45th on Stereogum's list of top 50 albums of 2012.
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Discography
Songs
Shelter TwoThe Evens · 2005
All These GovernorsThe Evens · 2005
Warble FactorThe Odds · 2012