Even in Blackouts, known occasionally by the acronym EiB, are an acoustic

pop-punk Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...

band from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

. The band was formed in 2002 by veteran pop-punk guitarist John 'Jughead' Pierson following the demise of the punk band

Screeching Weasel Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums). Screeching Weasel is originally from the Chicago subur ...

, for which Pierson had performed since 1986. The core of the band is formed by lead vocalist Liz Eldredge and Pierson, although a number of additional musicians have performed with the band. Even in Blackouts have been lauded by critics and fans alike for their musicianship and sense of innovation in bringing pop-punk to a new format. The energy and intimacy of Even in Blackout's live performances have attracted particular acclaim.

History

The story supposedly begins in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, where guitarist and "punk rock renaissance man" John 'Jughead' Pierson had been visiting his friends in the Italian band,

The Manges The Manges are an Italian pop punk band who formed in La Spezia in 1993. The band's first release was a 2000 split with the McRackins titled ''Amp Records Battle Royale!'' In 2001 the Manges recorded their debut album ''The Manges 'R' Good Enoug ...

, following the dissolution of his previous band

. Pierson rented a flat in

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...

with the intention of relaxing, but could not stay away from music. There he wrote the song "Missing Manifesto". He decided to create the world's first acoustic pop-punk band, and called it "Even in Blackouts" in reference to their capability to perform without electricity. Once back in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, Pierson set about recruiting a group of younger musicians to fill out the band, including Eldredge as lead vocalist. Producer

Mass Giorgini Massimiliano Adelmo Giorgini (born 1968) is an American bassist and record producer who rose to fame when several of the bands he produced experienced huge gains in popularity during the pop-punk boom of the mid-'90s. Among these bands was Giorg ...

discovered Eldredge outside Sonic Iguana Recording Studio, where she had been waiting for some friends to finish recording, and Giorgini introduced her to Pierson. Pierson had initially intended for the band only to perform live, a reflex reaction perhaps to the studio-bound fate of Screeching Weasel, which didn't play a live show between 1994 and late 2000. But in late 2002, EiB released its debut record, ''Myths & Imaginary Magicians''. The album was originally released on Pierson's own label, limited to 2,000 copies, and sold exclusively through online independent music store Interpunk. When fans of Screeching Weasel heard of the album, they bought up all of the available copies and Pierson re-released the album with

Lookout! Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operation ...

in March 2003. The album featured covers of Screeching Weasel's "Hey Suburbia," Operation Ivy's "Knowledge" and Yazoo's "Only You". In December 2008, Pierson announced the band will be breaking up, with their last show being March 14, 2009 being held in his basement. At a party in 2017, they talked about getting back together for a new album. They spent the next two years working on "Romantico!", releasing it to the public on May 3rd, 2019.

Members

*Liz Eldredge, lead

vocal The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound production i ...

s (2002–current) * John Jughead,

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

(2002–current) *Scott "Gub" Conway, guitar (2006–current) *

Phillip Hill Phillip Hill is an American rock musician / songwriter. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee to mother Phyllis Hill and father, Ralph Emery, on November 3, 1972. He has been involved in several pop punk bands, including Teen Idols, Screeching Wea ...

, bass (2006–current) *Bice,

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

(2004–current) *Dan Lipman, guitar (2002–2005) *Brad Lipman,

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

(2002–2005) *Dan Lumley, drums (2002–2004) *James Anthony Gilbert "Kelly Summers" uitar, vocals(2002-2003)

Discography

References

External links

Official sitePiersons blog, with band info
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20071025070847/http://www.laurahird.com/newreview/fallofthehouseofeven.html - album reviewbr>- John Pierson literary interview
{{Authority control Musical groups from Chicago Pop punk groups from Illinois