Bio-Americana Music

isn’t just a “singer” — she’s an emotion transducer who converts country, R&B, blues, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll signals into a megawatt zap that galvanizes everyone in its path. And as with fellow femme-furnace frontwomen Bonnie Raitt, Joan Osborne, Maria McKee, Melissa Etheridge, and Lydia Pense, the cauterizing power of Selis’s voice can arc-weld material from almost any genre into a personal manifesto.

I first saw Selis perform several years ago, when she was known mostly to San Diego clubbers. Soon, she was working with highly regarded Nashville songwriter/producer (and long-time Taylor player) Kim Patton-Johnston and Suzy Bogguss's husband, producer Doug Crider. In 2002, Eve released her third acclaimed CD, Do You Know Me, and as the buzz spread, savvy industry-watchers predicted that her next effort would “break” her nationally.

Nothing But the Truth is that “next” CD, and, at the risk of being a jinx, Selis’s dance card should be filled to overflowing from now on. The new album has two rocket boosters that every vocalist requires to achieve escape velocity — great musicians, and a potent potpourri of songs that sound like they burst fully formed from the artist’s bared soul.

It opens with the country-blues-funk of the Patton-Johnson/Anne Reeves-penned “Heart Shaped Tattoo”, then snakes like a wild river through styles and moods — the fibrous hillbilly honk of “The Ballad of Kate Morgan” [with guest vocalist Jim Lauderdale], the Petty/Heartbreakers-esque “Those Words We Said”, the rockin’ bar-lass sass of “Honky Tonk Town” [with guest vocalist Lynn Anderson], the rural-road balladry of “A Beautiful Day”, the 12-string-driven country-pop of “Someday”, and several other cuts worthy of mention.

Any vocalist would covet a launching pad like this band. Marc "Twang" Intravaia (Selis’s songwriting partner) and "Cactus" Jim Soldi (ex-Johnny Cash band) are legitimate first-chair guitarists, each capable of leading a major band. Together, they’re an embarrassment of riches, a stereo six-string storm of intertwining rebel riffs and complementary voicings in the loyal service of energized melodies and steel-beam song constructs.

Add Sharon Whyte's colorative work on keyboards, accordian, and vocals, and the rhythm section of bassist Rick Nash and drummer Larry Grano, and you have the specs-sheet for electrified Americana that’s as good as it gets.

— John D'Agostino
Taylor Guitars On Review (Spring 2005)

Awards

2010- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Artist (winner)
2009- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Album- Angels And Eagles (runner up)
2008- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Artist (winner)
2005- Best Local Band- The Eve Selis Band- San Diego Magazine- Yearly Best of San Diego issue
2005- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Artist (winner)
2005- DIY Music Awards- Album of the Year- Do You Know Me (runner up)
2004- Jim Croce Music Award for Excellence and Dedication (winner)
2004- Just Plain Folks Music Awards- Best Americana Song- "Tear This Old House Down" (winner, 140,000 songs entered)
2004- Just Plain Folks Music Awards- Best Country Song- "Do You Know Me" (winner, 140,000 songs entered)
2004- Just Plain Folks Music Awards- Best Country Album- Do You Know Me (2nd place) (10,000 CDs entered)
2004 Pacific Coast Emmy Awards- Best Short Form Music Video- "Do You Know Me" (winner)
2004- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Album- Nothing But The Truth (runner up)
2003- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Artist (winner)
2003- San Diego Music Awards- Best Americana Album- Do You Know Me (runner up)
2002- San Diego Music Awards- Best Adult Alternative Artist (runner up)
2001- San Diego Music Awards- Best Adult Alternative Artist (winner)
2000- San Diego Music Awards- Best Pop Album- Long Road Home (winner)
2000- San Diego Music Awards- Album of the Year- Long Road Home (runner up)
2000- Pacific Coast Emmy Awards- Best Short Form Music Video- "Show Me What Love Is" (winner)
2000- San Diego Reader Readers' Poll - Best Rock Band (runner up)
1999- San Diego Music Awards- Best Adult Alternative Artist (runner up)
1999- San Diego Music Awards- Best Adult Alternative Album- Out On A Wire (runner up)

Shared Stages

Cool Venues Played

Useful Tidbits

Eve has independently sold over 40,000 CDs
Has been legally downloaded over 2 million times on the Internet
Headlines at least 6 major charity fundraisers a year
Has her music in four independent films
Has performed live on CNBC, ESPN and BBC Radio

The Eve Selis Band

photo by Sarah Nee

Eve Selis vocals, guitar
Heck, you know her! Turn-ons:old movies, pub cider, group hugs with her husband Tom and children Sarah, Megan, Jake and Henry. Turn-offs: sushi, being cold, huge earlobes.

Marc "Twang" Intravaia guitars, vocals
Marc has been playing guitar and wrtiting songs with Eve Selis since 1991 and has performed with Kenny Loggins, Kim Carnes, America, Suzy Bogguss, BJ. Thomas, and many others. Marc attributes his love of medieval tuba music to his lovely wife Paula and his children Sam, Shayla, Sierra and Trevor.

Rick Nash bass
Rick has played with everyone(!) including Robert Vaughn, Comanche Moon, Steely Damned, etc. Rick is currently unmarried but does have a ridiculously vast collection of bass guitars.

Larry Grano drums
Our newest addition, Larry Grano, has been performing both home and abroad for 30 years . He's opened for and backed up Denny Laine, The Everly Brothers.,Tom Scott, Mike Keneally, Sir Harry Bowens ,Gordon Waller(Peter and Gordon),Joey Molland (Badfinger), Jack Bruce, Alan Parsons. A native San Diegan, Larry is an instructor at the San Diego branch of Paul Green's School of Rock, nominated for 12 and winner of 8 San Diego Music Awards. He brings an "anything can happen" flair to the band. And whether behind the drums or behind the beat, it's always "What now!?" with Larry.

"Cactus" Jim Soldi guitars, vocals
The list of artists that Jim Soldi has played with is a Who's Who of country music. It includes Johnny Cash (4 years), Ricky Skaggs (2 years), Johnny Paycheck, Waylon Jennings, Skip Ewing, and Brooke Shields. Jim hopes to one day play with somebody good. A native of San Diego, Jim began his musical career at the age of five. A veteran performer, songwriter, and sought after studio musician, Jim is a past recipient of the CCMA Musician of the Year Award. Jim's touring schedule has taken him to over 40 countries throughout the world and he has performed at the Grand Ol' Opry, the Forum, and Royal Albert Hall. His T.V. appearances include: Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Nashville Now, the Wogan Show on BBC TV, the Pat Sajak Show, and the Joan Rivers Show. He owns Valley Music in El Cajon, CA and digs his wife Sharon and his dogs Alton and Regon, always in that order. Johnny Cash said it best: "Jim Soldi is the best guitar player in the business."

Sharon Whyte keys, accordion, vocals
Sharon was trained as a classical pianist and also loves to play zydeco accordion. She has backed up artists including Kim Carnes, America, Suzy Bogguss, Juice Newton, BJ Thomas, Dan Seals, Tim Flannery and many others. Studio credits include CDs by Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, the Pickin' On bluegrass series, commercials, music libraries and Tom Selleck's last western Monte Walsh. She loves her horses and her husband Jim, not necessarily in that order.