Brightest Young Things

Mikal Evans grew up in an early 1900's schoolhouse in Moore, South Carolina with her mother, father and two siblings. Upstairs, in a gymnasium turned recording studio, her father—also a musician and recording engineer—was usually recording one band or another into the wee hours of the morning. These early childhood experiences—growing up around musicians and often being in the company of generally creative people—must have influenced her decision to learn the guitar and write music while at boarding school in Greenville, SC. Evans continued to dabble in songwriting while majoring in theater at SMU University. Soon after graduation, she was transplanted from Texas to Washington, DC—in pursuit of acting—where, while playing an open mic at Iota Cafe, she was spotted by the owners of Gypsy Eyes Records and was soon signed to their label. Hers is the classic story of fate versus intention.

Tonight, she officially releses her "A Jailhouse...A Kingdom" record with a show at the Cat and to help celebrate, we asked her to tell us about a few songs on it. So here goes, all smoky vocals and truth:

Dark Hushes Light:

This song actually stemmed from a poem/email I wrote to a friend. I sent it
to him, he didn't quite know what to think. The poem evolved into a song,
more or less about the potential for evil in all of us. And the small things
that it takes to unleash those little animals.

Drunkest Hour:

I wrote this tune in a basement on Capitol Hill. I think I had just painted
a very colorful, and very bad mural on my wall. It actually started off as a
tune about a cowboy love affair, and ended up a tune that speaks musically,
metaphorically, and specifically about the late nights drinking with friends
and all that happens intentionally and unintentionally.

That City:

I wrote this in that same basement. I have always wanted to live in New York
City. All those friends of mine, and aquaintances were on my mind. I had
just heard of some people going there with big hopes and being swallowed
whole by the city. I still want to live there.

ready for more:
myspace:http://www.myspace.com/mikalmevans
record: http://www.gypsyeyesrecords.com/
show: tonight