PRESS RELEASE - June 13

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOLD OUT. RAVE REVIEWS. NOW EVIL JAKE IS RUNNING IT BACK.

NYC Rock Band Returns to Headline Arlene’s Grocery After Packing Out Their Last Show

New York, NY — Great nights rarely get a second chance.

Packed room. Rave reviews. A post-show that stretched far beyond last call. When Evil Jake returned to the stage after nearly a decade away earlier this year, the expectation was curiosity. What happened instead was something closer to ignition.

Arlene’s Grocery sold out.

Now, by popular demand and with momentum building, Evil Jake returns to the Lower East Side on Saturday, June 13, this time headlining and bringing the chaos back for one more night before summer.

Normally, nights like this don’t repeat.

This one does.

For those who missed the first show, Evil Jake occupies a lane that feels increasingly rare: hook-heavy guitar rock built for actual rooms full of actual people. Loud guitars. Big choruses. Real musicians. The kind of band that remembers songs should hit hard live.

The band's original run earned national press, radio support, television placements, and a devoted following built one sweaty room at a time. Their music appeared on MTV, NBC, Bravo, Fuel TV, and in shows including The Real World, Road Rules, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Jack Black’s School of Rock, along with a national Mountain Dew commercial featuring Macy Gray.

The band toured throughout the United States and Europe, completed a celebrated USO celebrity tour overseas, and built a catalog that quietly outlasted trends.

Their breakout release, Be My Ex-Girlfriend, featured guest appearances from Sam Endicott of The Bravery and Patti Rothberg, earned national radio support, and charted on CMJ.

The current lineup features Mike Jacobs on guitar and vocals, David Leatherwood on bass, and Grammy-winning drummer Rich Kulsar, bringing heavyweight musicianship to a band that has always favored precision over excess.

And while reunion tours often lean on nostalgia, Evil Jake seems uninterested in looking backward.

No farewell tour.

No “one last ride.”

No nostalgia package.

Just a band that never forgot how to play.

For newer fans, recent reviews have been equally direct:

"Enough hooks to land a whale." — AllMusic

"A stone’s throw from The Strokes, but with better vocals." — Starpolish

"That great bar band everybody rooted for in college." — AllMusic Guide

Or as John Popper of Blues Traveler once put it:

"Evil Jake is on MTV? Good, their checks don’t bounce."

The first show sold out.

The second one may not wait around either.

EVENT DETAILS

Evil Jake
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Arlene’s Grocery
95 Stanton Street
New York, NY

Doors: 6:30pm
21+

Tickets:
www.eviljake.com/shows

Press kit:
www.eviljake.com/press

Contact:
Peter Berberian | HudsonWide
www.eviljake.com/contact

"This isn't a reunion band. Just unfinished business." 🎸

PRESS RELEASE - May 28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRANK ALBUM RELEASE & EVIL JAKE RETURN AFTER NEARLY A DECADE
EMERGENCY TIARA HEADLINES A STACKED NIGHT OF NYC ROCK AT ARLENE’S GROCERY

New York, NY — On Saturday, March 28, Lower East Side institution Arlene’s Grocery hosts a rare convergence of NYC rock history and present-tense relevance: the album release show for FRANK’s new record Student of Time, alongside the long-awaited full-band return of Evil Jake, appearing together for the first time in nearly a decade.

Student of Time marks FRANK’s eighth studio album since forming in 2001. Recorded and co-produced with longtime collaborator Jack Moulton, the record is defined by patience, restraint, and confidence — songs that unfold rather than announce themselves. Based in Gowanus, Brooklyn, FRANK has spent more than two decades quietly building one of the city’s most consistent and respected catalogs, playing regularly across NYC while avoiding trends in favor of longevity.

That same night, the album comes to life on stage, paired with something far less expected.

Evil Jake, NYC rock fixtures in the mid-2000s, return for a rare full-band performance after nearly a decade away. Built around hook-driven indie rock and modern guitar rock for people who miss bands, Evil Jake earned a reputation for sharp songwriting, disciplined musicianship, and a live show that consistently punched above its weight.

With David Leatherwood on bass and Mike Jacobs on guitars and vocals — long tagged a “guitar virtuoso” by the press — Evil Jake functions as a classic power trio obsessed with efficiency and force. Tight songs, big hooks, nothing extraneous. The addition of Grammy-winning drummer Rich Kulsar brings added weight and control to a band that has always prioritized musicianship over spectacle.

During their original run, Evil Jake earned national press, radio airplay, and extensive television placement, stepping away at a moment when most bands push harder. Their catalog includes music featured on MTV, NBC, Bravo, and Fuel TV, with placements in The Real World, Road Rules, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Jack Black’s School of Rock, and a national Macy Gray Mountain Dew commercial. The band toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe and completed a celebrated USO celebrity tour overseas.

Their breakout album, Be My Ex-Girlfriend, remains a touchstone from that era, notable for guest vocals from Sam Endicott (The Bravery) and Patti Rothberg, along with national radio support and sustained CMJ charting.

The return is intentionally understated: no reunion tour, no nostalgia circuit, no “one last time” framing. Just a loud room, a real stage, and a band that never forgot how to play.

Headlining the night are Emergency Tiara, whose explosive live set has made them one of the most talked-about bands in the current NYC scene. Known for volatile dynamics and a show that routinely outgrows the room, Emergency Tiara brings headline-level intensity to an already stacked bill.

Newcomers This Is A Low open the night at 7:00pm, setting the tone early.