While lots of fans and critics have been looking for the great new voice of the alt-county scene in Chicago, Austin or St. Louis, folks in Seattle, Washington can tell you the group in question is alive and well in their own backyard

Evangeline, a five piece band with heart, soul, great songs, superb vocals, and strong, confident musicianship. Playing country-accented rock with the heart-broken grace of the Flying Burrito Brothers, the passion of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones, and without a shred of smirking irony, Evangeline made waves in the Northwest with their first album, 2001's Felt Like Home, and their second release, Big Choice, is bound to spread their reputation much further.

Evangeline were formed in 1998, after guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Cline had parted ways with Seattle rockers the Cheap Ones. Digging back into his early influences, Cline turned to classic sides by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and the Rolling Stones for inspiration, and soon found himself searching out the classic country artists who had in turn influenced them, such as Hank Williams and George Jones.

Armed with a new batch of original songs, Cline met vocalist Jennifer Potter, and her clear, smooth voice was the perfect counterpoint to his scruffy rockers' pipes. After playing low-key duo gigs together and trying out seemingly every bassist and drummer in town, Cline and Potter unveiled Evangeline, with Kevin Suggs on guitar and pedal steel, Scott Summers on bass, and Kevin Warner behind the drums. (Warner would depart amicably after the recording of Big Choice; new drummer Terri Moeller appears on one track,"2000 and Raining.")

After earning a local reputation through steady live work -- both as headliners and opening for the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Robbie Fulks and the Gourds -- the band released their debut album, Felt Like Home, to enthusiastic reviews, both at home and around the country. Hopefully, Evangeline have saved room in their scrapbook of press clippings for Big Choice. Rocking with authority and strength on "Little World" and "The Ballad of Milo Paul" while laying open their hearts on "Border State" and "Tupelo," Big Choice builds on the strengths of Evangeline's debut, and the result is a set of powerful, heart-rending music. Evangeline are a band that deserve and demand attention, and one listen to Big Choice will tell you why.

-- Mark Deming

Buy Big Choice from:
Miles Of Music | Amazon.com

The band's debut "Felt Like Home" is also available from the above links.