By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

On March 20, mere hours after the Chester County Press posted on its Facebook page that the California-based, chart-topping band Eve 6 was named as the headline act at The Connective Festival on August 4 in Oxford, the news reverberated around social media. By March 21, the post had received over 12,000 visits, a number that is still climbing.

Now made up of bassist and lead singer Max Collins, guitarist Jon Siebels and drummer Tony Fagenson, the band formed in 1995 as Yakoo, then Eleventeen. In 1998, the newly-named Eve 6 (www.eve6.com) issued the self-titled Eve 6, attaining platinum success with hit singles “Inside Out” and “Leech,” the former capturing the #1 spot on the Modern Rock charts and crossing over successfully to pop/Top 40 radio. More widespread recognition came with gold-selling sophomore effort Horrorscope in 2000, which spawned radio gems “Promise,” “On the Roof Again” and Top 40 smash “Here's to the Night.”

The band made appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Late Night with Conan O'Brien,” and “TRL with Carson Daly.” The band then released the more experimental It's All in Your Head in 2003.

Eve 6 disbanded in 2004, returned for numerous tours in 2007 with a new lineup, and finally reunited with all three original members in early 2011. They signed to Fearless Records in the spring of that year, and released their long-awaited fourth album Speak in Code, containing the singles "Victoria" and "Curtain," in April 2012.

In 2012, the band toured in support of Speak In Code, including stints with the All American Rejects and Everclear, and a headlining tour throughout the U.S. The song "Lost & Found" was released as an advance single three months prior to the album's release.

Speak In Code is a work with deep personal significance for Collins, who has weathered his share of personal adversity. The album is a testament to coming out okay on the other side, with friendships still intact.

“In some of the songs frustration is a theme. I was sort of looking at difficult personal relationships with a humorous spin in some places, and with more earnestness in others,” Collins said. “The title [Speak In Code] is a lyric from ‘Curtain,’ and there was something kind of evocative about it. In that song, I'm referring to being newly sober and just feeling like an open nerve, feeling freaked out, having people and life being sort of overwhelming. It's almost like people are speaking a language you don't understand.”

After extensive touring to support Speak In Code in 2012 with Everclear, All-American Rejects, and others, the band members have spent the last few years focusing on individual projects, while always making time to hit the road and bring the music to the fans. In 2014, the band was featured on the Summerland tour with Everclear, Soul Asylum, and Spacehog, and then in 2015 on the Under the Sun tour with Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, and Uncle Kracker.

The appearance by Eve 6 will headline a festival that will offer an all-day potpourri of musical variety that will include country music, world music, local musicians and a Battle of the Bands. Headlining the country stage will be recording artist John King (www.johnkingcountry.com), a rising star in the industry, whose debut radio single, “Tonight Tonight,” earned him his first Top 40 hit and was heard by millions of NFL fans and used to highlight CBS network’s Thursday night football throughout the 2014 season. 

In addition to his rising success as an artist, King is also earning national recognition as a songwriter. In early 2016, King experienced his first #1 with a song called “We Went” recorded by artist Randy Houser. King co wrote the song with friends, Matt Rogers and Justin Wilson and received a 2016 ASCAP Songwriter Award for the song's success.

Headlining the local music stage will be Moe Blues (www.moebluesband.com), a Lancaster County-based funk and blues band led by dynamic performer Kevin Gannon, and featuring Albie von Schaaf on guitar and Jeff Shoemaker on drums. Joining Moe Blues will be Philadelphia-based Bethlehem and Sad Patrick (www.besadmusic.com), who combine soaring vocals, sparse, melodic guitar and driving percussion to deliver powerful songs of love, faith and commitment.

The festival's Battle of the Bands will be a performance-based competition held at the 2018 Connective Art and Music Festival, where several bands will compete for the title of “Best Band.” The band chosen for the title will be the opening act for Eve 6 on the festival's main stage.

To learn more about The Connective Festival, visit www.connectivefestival.org.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].