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| Evelyn Evelyn | |
|---|---|
| Name | Evelyn Evelyn |
| Background | group_or_band |
| Origin | United States |
| Years active | 2007–2012 |
| Label | 8ft. Records, Concord Records |
| Associated acts | Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley, The Dresden Dolls, Neil Gaiman |
Evelyn Evelyn is a theatrical musical project presented as conjoined twin performers created by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley. The act combined elements of cabaret, vaudeville, and gothic rock with a constructed backstory invoking Victorian-era aesthetics and melodrama, producing an album, touring performances, and multimedia collaborations.
Palmer and Webley conceived the project after collaborations within the Boston music scene and appearances at venues such as Club Passim and festivals like Bumbershoot and South by Southwest. Drawing on influences from Victorian era melodrama, burlesque revival, and circus traditions, the creators developed a fictive biography that referenced locations such as Transylvania tropes and theatrical institutions like the Royal Albert Hall in promotional mythology. The duo announced the project through MySpace, YouTube, and Pitchfork-era music press, later securing a recording deal with 8ft. Records and distribution through Concord Records.
The fictional performers were presented as conjoined twins with a single shared persona and narrative voice, with Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley performing in character as the twins' handlers and collaborators onstage. The performers adopted theatrical costuming inspired by designers associated with Alexander McQueen-style theatrics and stagecraft reminiscent of productions at La Scala and Broadway venues. Public appearances often involved fellow musicians and writers including Neil Gaiman, who participated in publicity and narrative expansion, and collaborators from the Indie rock and folk revival communities.
Evelyn Evelyn released a self-titled album that mixed cabaret, folk, and rock elements, featuring songwriting and arrangements by Palmer and Webley and guest appearances by artists associated with The Dresden Dolls, The Tiger Lillies, and contemporary singer-songwriter circles. Tracks drew on storytelling conventions akin to works performed at Gothenburg Opera and lyrical themes resonant with Victorian literature and German Expressionism aesthetics. The project issued singles and music videos promoted through outlets such as MTV, BBC Radio 6 Music, and online platforms; recordings circulated among collectors alongside Palmer's solo releases and Webley's discography.
Evelyn Evelyn staged theatrical shows on tours that included stops at established performing spaces like Carnegie Hall-adjacent theaters, independent clubs on the European festival circuit, and specialty venues frequently used by artists from the cabaret revival scene. Concert presentations combined musical numbers with spoken interludes, puppet work, and vaudeville routines similar to productions seen at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Joe's Pub. The live incarnation sometimes featured guest appearances from collaborators affiliated with The Dresden Dolls and writers associated with Dark Horse Comics promotional events.
Critical reception was mixed across publications including Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and niche outlets devoted to gothic subculture and cabaret communities, with praise for theatrical ambition and critique regarding ethics of representation. The project provoked discussion in journalism circles and among disability advocates, intersecting with debates in outlets like The New York Times and Slate about artistic persona and authenticity. Evelyn Evelyn influenced subsequent theatrical music collaborations and inspired fan communities across platforms such as Tumblr and LiveJournal, while Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley continued separate careers with projects linked to crowdfunding pioneers and indie touring models.
Category:Musical groups