Evil Farmer

The Legend of Evil Farmer Lives
By Tyler Blue, March 29, 2007
Early ’90s Isla Vista Icons Reunite
The year was 1991 and the local music scene was on fire. Emerging from the UCSB jazz ensemble, four intrepid fellows who called themselves Evil Farmer were perhaps the hottest of all. Improvisation was the band’s calling card and the guys captivated large crowds at Isla Vista parties and consistently sold out downtown clubs. But following graduation in 1995, everyone parted ways, leaving just an album and a legend. This Saturday at SOhO, the band will play its first full-length performance since the glory days.
Evil Farmer was birthed during a fertile period in the music world. “It was very much influenced by what was going on at the time,” said drummer Dave Brogan. “The resurgence of the Grateful Dead brought on more jamming. The grunge scene was also happening, so there was a current of rebellion along with the attitude of assaulting people with your music.” Guitarist Dan Zimmerman explained, “We were into improvising from jazz while playing rock and pop at the same time. It was before they had the term ‘jamband.’”
Labeling Evil Farmer’s sound has always been difficult because, as bassist Ari Gorman said, “It was different at every show.” Brogan referred to it as “postmodern, experimental, college rock.” The drummer currently lives in Seattle while traveling the world and playing with other UCSB-mates, ALO. “For me, a lot of it was about seeing what we could get away with,” he said.
Keyboardist Paul Matthew Moore also lives in Seattle. By day he is the music director of the dance program at the University of Washington, and by night he composes movie scores, including two that were screened at the Sundance Film Festival. In addition to an Evil Farmer reunion, Saturday will also reunite Moore with his longtime creative partner Tim Young. Young, a singer, guitarist, and composing genius, moved to L.A. last year from Seattle. He will sit in during the second set as the band takes on the ambitious task of performing songs from The Fool, a rock opera Moore and Young cowrote.
Moore has always been a creative force, contributing to all the band’s material along with Brogan. “They would hand me some classical-style compositions and a lot of the stuff was note-for-note,” recalled Zimmerman. From that basic structure, the songs often evolved into 20-minute epics. “I was always trying to find something Dan couldn’t play. The guy is a wizard,” Brogan added. Anticipating the show Saturday night, Zimmerman is excited to slice through old favorites like “Plague of Darkness” and “On a String.” Both are featured on the band’s 1994 release, Nice.
Moore refers to Gorman as “the number one Evil Farmer fan.” Living in San Francisco after a stint in L.A, Gorman’s now immersed in various musical projects, though his claim to fame is playing cello on the Third Eye Blind mega hit, “How’s It Gonna Be?” Reflecting back to Evil Farmer’s last gig, an opening slot for ALO at SOhO in ’05, he marveled at the fans who traveled from places like Georgia, Wyoming, Michigan, and Massachusetts for a taste of the old magic. This time with two sets to explore, Gorman predicted, “I’m sure we’ll hit a moment where we’re just gonna go with it.”
It’s impossible to talk about the band without focusing just a little on its creepy moniker. Conjured by Moore during a practice session, it lured more people in than it scared away and perfectly described the sound the band strives for, characterized by dramatic mood shifts, tight improvisation, tonal eccentricities, and authoritative vocals. “It embodies the whole contrast between light and dark,” said Gorman.
The members of Evil Farmer don’t necessarily miss the band but they love reflecting on good times. Zimmerman is the sole Santa Barbara holdout, teaching guitar, performing in various lineups, and raising two small children. “I’ve never had that much fun playing in a band,” he declared. “The shows were always more about the overall party.” Moore thought back to guerrilla gigs on Del Playa, where “something would always wrong with the sound or the cops. It was crazy, exciting energy. People used to call out cover songs and we’d try to play them on the spot; usually Black Sabbath. That was fun.”
“The four of us have such rare chemistry,” Brogan acknowledged. When asked about career highlights, he recalled, “Playing in the carport of 6703 with 400 people watching was great, but they were all peak moments. That band felt like it was peaking all the time. Just get onstage and peak!”