“The Evangenitals brand of sound grew up in a hippie commune that went to hoedowns on the weekends, and it’s got a great sense of humor.”

Who Are The Evangenitals?

The Evangenitals. Photographed by Greg Cohen.

What the hell kind of church service is this?” the LA Weekly once asked of an Evangenitals live performance. 

The Avant-Americana 9 piece sound more like they hail from a rural Appalachian psychedelic dream than Los Angeles, which can be credited in part to Juli Crockett’s vocals and Zappa-esque sensibility. Unburdened by genres, the band was founded in 2003 by playwright/director Crockett and opera, jazz and gospel singer Lisa Dee, originally as a joke, but they were too damn good to not take seriously.

The Alt-Country band have recorded 4 albums, including Moby Dick: or, The Album (Fluff and Gravy Records), which No Depression described as “manic, diverse, unusual and creative songwriting and delivery at its best.”

They’ve played all over the world, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Lightning In A Bottle and The Melissa Etheridge Cruise. 

Joining Crockett on guitar is her husband, Michael Feldman (Cousin Junebug), on keys, Joey Maramba (John Cale) on bass, Andrea Baker (The Moth Mainstage) on fiddle, Cody Farwell (Goodnight Cody) on guitar/lap steel, Danny Graziani (DoSomething) on viola, electric mandolin and harmonica, and Rob Shaffer (Ninja Academy) and Nick Stone (Pixarmonic Orchestra) on drums and percussion.