Artist description American Drag is a gang of musicians - a band that became what it really already was after each member of the group dragged himself through the 'American Dream' in pursuit of rock n' roll glory. The band chronicles this peculiar bit of Americana: the 'American Dream' turned 'American Drag', the everyday grind and the search for the thing that keeps us holding onto our dreams. The songs are dynamic scenes from a larger story, moving from simple and solid, no-nonsense roots rock through melodic, harmonically dense, hard driven guitars as vocalist Will Evankovich delivers candid narrations from the everyday existence: the simple hardships of family life to the struggle through the mind-numbing complexities of the information age. The band chronicles this peculiar bit of Americana: the 'American Dream' turned 'American Drag', the everyday grind and the search for the thing that keeps us holding onto our dreams. The songs are dynamic scenes from a larger story, moving from simple and solid, no-nonsense roots rock through melodic, harmonically dense, hard driven guitars as vocalist Will Evankovich delivers candid narrations from the everyday existence: the simple hardships of family life to the struggle through the mind-numbing complexities of the information age. All five members: Will Evankovich (Lead vocalist and guitar), Monroe Grisman (Vocals, guitar), Joe Shaughnessy (Bass), Jason Thwaites (Guitar, Keyboards) and Ethan Turner (Drums) are longtime friends and musical comrades based out of San Francisco's North Bay region, performing together in various combinations for several years (Mason Lane and Stereo Flyers): making records, playing clubs, climbing in and out of vans across the US and in Europe - creating a unique rock n' roll sodality. Following a departure from the gang and a two year stint as lead guitarist in the Seattle based and national touring act "Grace", Will returned to the SF Bay Area and reconnected with Jason. Sorting through the past few years' experiences, they began working up songs for a new band, a rock band with an eye on its roots while projecting its future. Monroe, Ethan and Joe soon rejoined the fold, each in search of a new inspiration. "Each year, we were all pushing harder to get to the next level and getting further apart from one another and further away from what we wanted to be doing. It's a real 'uh-oh' moment to discover you're doing shit that doesn't matter to you just to get by, wondering how your dream turned into such a drag. Some people try and put the lid back on that moment, we came back together to mark that experience and how it came about." Joe recalls, "At one point Will and I were working together 80 hours a week: waiting tables, playing side gigs, working in a band-the grind. Some days were like "what the hell are we doing?" Most everyone can relate to a story like that. American Drag is putting that story to music-reinvigorating hope." The band is currently in the studio recording their debut album set for release in early spring of 2004. In the meantime, they continue to perform high-energy shows locally in the San Francisco Bay Area The band chronicles this peculiar bit of Americana: the 'American Dream' turned 'American Drag', the everyday grind and the search for the thing that keeps us holding onto our dreams. The songs are dynamic scenes from a larger story, moving from simple and solid, no-nonsense roots rock through melodic, harmonically dense, hard driven guitars as vocalist Will Evankovich delivers candid narrations from the everyday existence: the simple hardships of family life to the struggle through the mind-numbing complexities of the information age. All five members: Will Evankovich (Lead vocalist and guitar), Monroe Grisman (Vocals, guitar), Joe Shaughnessy (Bass), Jason Thwaites (Guitar, Keyboards) and Ethan Turner (Drums) are longtime friends and musical comrades based out of San Francisco's North Bay region, performing together in various combinations for several years (Mason Lane and Stereo Flyers): making records, playing clubs, climbing in and out of vans across the US and in Europe - creating a unique rock n' roll sodality. Following a departure from the gang and a two year stint as lead guitarist in the Seattle based and national touring act "Grace", Will returned to the SF Bay Area and reconnected with Jason. Sorting through the past few years' experiences, they began working up songs for a new band, a rock band with an eye on its roots while projecting its future. Monroe, Ethan and Joe soon rejoined the fold, each in search of a new inspiration. "Each year, we were all pushing harder to get to the next level and getting further apart from one another and further away from what we wanted to be doing. It's a real 'uh-oh' moment to discover you're doing shit that doesn't matter to you just to get by, wondering how your dream turned into such a drag. Some people try and put the lid back on that moment, we came back together to mark that experience and how it came about." Joe recalls, "At one point Will and I were working together 80 hours a week: waiting tables, playing side gigs, working in a band-the grind. Some days were like "what the hell are we doing?" Most everyone can relate to a story like that. American Drag is putting that story to music-reinvigorating hope." The band is currently in the studio recording their debut album set for release in early spring of 2004. In the meantime, they continue to perform high-energy shows locally in the San Francisco Bay Area

Music Style rockhop

Musical Influences tom petty, led zepplin, the police, STP, jeff buckley, marvin gaye, stevie wonder, ice t, NWA, curtis mayfeild, bob mould, foo fighters

Similar Artists all of the above

Artist History Former songwriter Will E. for popular Seattle based group "Grace", has joined efforts with Ubiquity Records songwriter Jason Thwaites this year to bring back some of the intensity of the influences they grew up with.

Group Members All five members: Will Evankovich (Lead vocalist and guitar), Monroe Grisman (Vocals, guitar), Joe Shaughnessy (Bass), Jason Thwaites (Guitar, Keyboards) and Ethan Turner (Drums) are longtime friends and musical comrades based out of San Francisco's North Bay region, performing together in various combinations for several years (Mason Lane and Stereo Flyers): making records, playing clubs, climbing in and out of vans across the US and in Europe - creating a unique rock n' roll sodality

Instruments Vox, Guitars, Bass, Drums

Albums American Drag

Location San Fransisco, ca - USA

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