Even

Melbourne's Even is a band unashamedly influenced and emulating the classic pop/rock of the '60s and '70s. The group's leader, singer and guitarist Ashley Naylor lives for playing and creating music, and most of the time will be found playing with more than one act at a time, leading his own group and playing sideman for others. At 17, Naylor fronted the Swarm but soon gave up that group's indie leanings (R.E.M., the Smiths) for the classic pop that inspires him.

Even was formed in March 1994 with fellow ex-Swarm Matthew Cotter and completed by bass player Wally Kenton, moonlighting from his duties with Melbourne-based power pop exponents the Meanies. A year later, Naylor was also balancing his duties between two bands, leading Even and playing guitar in Fragment, a group fronted by Naylor's songwriting friend Danny Vertessy. Fragment recorded two albums as Rail, in the Teenage Fanclub mould. In the meantime, Even had gained a record contract of its own, starting in May 1995 with the CD EP, 'In Stereo' followed by the 'Ten To Forty-Six' EP and the debut album 'Less Is More'. By 1998 both Ash and Wally had made Even their main focus for the recording of the second album, 'Come Again'. You Am I's Tim Rogers, memorably described it as his "favourite Beatles album".

In 1999 Naylor created another sideline called the Grapes , co-starring female singer Sherry Rich, casting its musical net in the Gram Parsons/Emmy Lou Harris country direction without losing sight of the pop that is the hallmark of Ashley Naylor's work. His growing stature in Melbourne rock was confirmed when he contributed guitar to Stephen Cummings' 'Spiritual Burn' album, along with the usual contemporaries forming Cummings' community of musicians. That stature was spilled on to Even and their third album, 'A Different High' with contributions from Renee Geyer, Graham Lee (Triffids) and Bruce Haymes (Paul Kelly Band). The album pushed Even away from the "retro" tag which haunted them. Like their musical inspirations they delivered a collection of stand-alone songs.

Released in May 2004 on the band's own label El Reno 'Free Kicks' was four years in the making. In 2002 Even had managed to go back to London. Early in the band's career Even had been signed by an international record company, which immediately went best. Now a seasoned band, Even returned to play the Fierce Festival in London (with Midnight Oil) and too the opportunity to stay for about three months hustling for gigs like a band at the start of their career. They came back with six finished songs, two recorded with former Small Faces/Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan. The album didn't break new ground in the end but delivered the quota of rockers pop extravaganzas acoustic guitar ballads to keep the fans happy.

Outside of Even commitments both Ash Naylor and Wally Kempton keep themselves occupied, endulging their love for music with other activities, Ash working with other musicians, like his involvement with the short-lived "rock orchestra" Salmon with Kim Salmon and Dave Graney and the hose band on the second Countdown Spectacular, Wally as manager, entrepreneur, tour driver of international acts, and Melbourne music scene pivot.

Another four years later Even released its self-titled fifth studio album.