- -
crri1/44''
Eve 6 - guitaris orAiebles,
bassist/vocalist Max Collins
and drummer Tony Fagenson
- perform at Saint Andrew's
Hall on May 22.

Michigan-born Tony Fagenson son of famed music producer Don Was —
has followed his dad into the family business.

Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer

Collins on vocals and bass and Jon Siebles
on guitar.
The California trio, then working for
RCA Records, had hit singles that included
t could be that Tony Fagenson's inter-
"Inside Out" and "Leech," followed later
est in playing drums started in infan-
by "Think Twice" and "At Least We're
cy as introduced by his dad, musician
Don Was, former Oak Parker, famed record Dreaming:'
Recalling appearances on the Tonight
producer and bassist of eclectic pop band
Show with Jay Leno, the Late Show with
Was/Not Was, a name derived from Tony's
David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel
childhood enjoyment of contradicting
Live, the group is back
wordplay.
together from an eight-
Was, so the story goes,
year performance hiatus
gently patted his young
that did not end efforts
son's back to the differ-
to come up with new
ing rhythms of Beatles'
sounds now released by
recordings regularly
Fearless Records.
heard throughout their
"We're keeping the
home.
same core of what we are,
Fagenson — seriously
but we're bringing in an
and jokingly — talks
expanded bag of tricks:'
about the influence of
says Fagenson, whose
his dad in the course of
hiatus had him working
a phone interview also
"I think people learn best by
with the Sugi Tap and
describing an upcom-
Puddle of Mudd, among
ing show in Detroit. The example, and my dad is the
best example of them all,"
others. "We're not afraid
drummer's three-mem-
says Fagenson of his dad, Don
to indulge whatever each
ber group, Eve 6, will
song wants to put into it"
appear Tuesday evening, Was (pictured).
While the songs get started with lyrics
May 22, at Saint Andrews Hall.
developed by Collins, they move into a
"It's going to be a fun rock show
team effort. Fagenson does his early part
with energy and lots of our songs:' says
at guitar and keyboards before pounding
Fagenson, 33, single and using the family
out the finishing touches.
surname his dad changed for the stage.
"We start each song with a blank slate,
"There will be something for fans new
and I try to keep everything flowing:'
and old. We're playing stuff from the first
Fagenson explains. "I'm obsessive about
three albums and a good amount of stuff
how pop songs feel, how one chord moves
from the new album, Speak in Code: _
into another and how the chorus hits:'
"Everyone can find that inner kid at an
"Curtain:' the first track of the new
Eve 6 show, and nobody should be afraid
to jump around and get a little wild. That's recording, speaks to the group's relation-
ship and mentions the Gallagher brothers
how we like it:'
from the band Oasis, other entertainers
Eve 6, reaching platinum pop-punk
that had a parting of ways.
recording status soon after taking to the
The second track, "Victoria;' has been
stage in the late 1990s, includes Max

I

on the radio and appears as a video on
YouTube. It's about the way Collins reacted
to his then-girlfriend-now-wife going on
vacation with gal pals and leaving him
behind.
"It's a fun party song with angst and
worry driving it:' Fagenson explains. "It
has kind of a mid-'80s, dark, synthesizer
pop influence to indulge the subject:'
The seventh track, "Lost and Found','
was written a couple of years ago and
released as an iTunes pre-single in January
to catch the attention of fans.
"The spirit informs what this is all
about for the three of us to come back
together.," the drummer says. "We feel the
surge of emotion when we play this live.
We wouldn't be here without every mem-
ber of this team working the way we do:'
Much of the work preparing this new
release was done at Fagenson's project stu-
dio in his California home.
"I discovered hard rock — Guns N'
Roses, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers
— when I was an adolescent:' Fagenson
recalls. "I knew I had to play something
and picked the loudest, rudest instrument
I could — the drums.
"Luckily, I have supportive parents
and got a drum set. I started playing to
records. I picked up a four-track tape
recorder that my dad had and started
working on demos and songwriting with
different high school bands!'
Fagenson, who spent his very early
years in Michigan, looks forward to his
Detroit show as part of a larger tour that
allows him the opportunity to see family
and friends. His mother, Carol Dwyer, still
lives in Michigan.
His dad's side of the family draws him
to Judaism.
"I think the important thing about
Judaism is a real respect for family:' says

the drummer, who is close with grand-
father William Fagenson. "We certainly
have that, and we always get together on
Passover and Chanukah.
"My two younger half-brothers and I
have been talking about having adult bar
mitzvahs. None of us had one:'
Fagenson enjoys playing tennis, hiking
and just hanging out when he's not work-
ing. Sometimes, he hangs out with his dad,
who has taken him for coney island favor-
ites in Downtown Detroit.
"I think people learn best by example,
and my dad is the best example of them
all:' Fagenson says. "I get to see that first-
hand every day.
"He treats people with respect, but he
also makes the tough decisions. I think he
walks the balance perfectly. It's a mature
way of thinking that helped me through
my career.
"He's a wonderful communicator who
always listens. I think that makes him a
fantastic producer and a fantastic dad.
He has an open mind about everything
and gets excited about the next thing that
might be coming down the pike; it's a gen-
eral perspective that I've appreciated and
picked up:'
As his own career has advanced from
his teen years, Fagenson offers advice for
aspiring music stars:
"Don't get distracted by the Internet,
TV or movies ," he says. "Hammer away
at something until you know how to get
it right, but if you do get distracted, check
out our new album, Speak in Code." ❑

Eve 6 performs Tuesday, May 22, at
Saint Andrews Hall, 431 Congress,
Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. $16. (313)
961-8961; www.saintandrewshall.com .

May 17 2012

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