Story

 Once upon a time, under an ancient Oak tree at Doc's house... 
The Live Oaks band began in the hills of Oakland in 2016. In the backyard of a legendary doctor's home. Our friend "Doc" was a pioneer of free health clinics in San Francisco in the 60's-70's and also happened to be a lover of rock & roll. He even had Jerry Garcia as a friend and patient. He was widowed and chronically ill later in his life and preferred the company of musicians so he took us in.
He provided a roof over our heads. 
He let musicians live at his home for free as long as there was music and some good cookin'. He took care of us, and we took care of him. We danced and dreamed about rock & roll. It gave us hope. We sang for Doc, we wrote for Doc, we brought the best musicians over to the house to jam for Doc. A lot of our songs were written at his house in the hills. That was 8 years ago when we first moved in. He even purchased us an acoustic Martin guitar that we still use on stage to this day. But after years of battling cancer,  he is gone now and has since passed away.  
But since then we have not stopped writing music and refining our live show and recording processes. We have done it all. Toured in shitty vans up and down the west coast over many years (the vans improved eventually), playing for our friends and in small venues. But lately the venue sizes are starting increase as well as our organic fan base. We really believe in word of mouth not social media app bullshit ran by billionaires. We believe in putting on a very good show, writing good songs and the rest will take care of itself. We have played dozens of small festivals, hundreds of shows, and on occasion welcome the corporate music thing  but lately are really focusing on writing, recording and releasing more of our songs. Like Doc always cheered after we played him a song,
"we're gonna be famous!" 
 
Band leader of The Live Oaks, Evan Lanam started his musical days with his elementary school choir at St. Matthews in San Mateo, California. Every year they would sing the National Anthem at San Francisco Giants games and compete in local and state competitions. Over the years Evan has recorded some of the best musicians in the Bay Area and has been called "one of the best singing drummers in the history of rock n roll" (it might have been Doc who said that).. About 20 years later, and a lot of bands--later,  Evan (35 years old) is still in his performing prime but now under the name The Live Oaks, which is a throwback 70's style, Americana Folk & Roll band. We incorporate everything from jazz, funk, folk, blues, country, rock, and more! "Sounds like The Band but with Otis Redding singing."
 
 Surrounded by some of his best friends, as well as some most undoubtedly prolific musicians in the Bay Area, The Live Oaks put together a really fun set, can play for hours and hours  and can take any stage, room, event, you name it, and make it a wonderful evening.  
Some notable acts they have played with are The Baseball Project (members of REM sold out show), Norman Greenbaum, Larkin Poe (sold out show),  Chuck Prophet (sold out), Shinyribs, Rainbow Girls and many many more at venues like The Independent, Rickshaw Stop, Guild Theatre, Felton Music Hall, Cornerstone Music Hall, and Sweetwater Music Hall and many many many more.  
 
Past Notable Festivals 
Sheather Fest (Willy Tea Taylors fest) 2019
Solaura Fest 2019
North Beach Fest 2021
Real Neato 2021
Woollystar (Avery Hellmans fest) 2023
Blackberry Jam 2021-23
Fremont Festival of the Arts 2023
Knights Ferry Music Festival 2024
Burning Man (Reverbia main stage) 2024
Sawtooth Valley Gathering 2024 (featured Cassandra Lewis, and members of California Honeydrops in our set)
Just to name a few! 

"Evan and the Live Oaks is a rowdy folk rock and roll outfit from the San Francisco Bay Area. Hailed by some as the “Anderson Paak of folk music,” Lanam fills his band with friends and plays whenever and wherever he can. The band just wrapped a four-show residency at the Boom Boom Room that spanned over a month and a half, and they aren’t slowing down." -Deli Magazine
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Notable bands Evan has shared a stage with: Norman Greenbaum, Shinyribs, Kelly Stoltz, Willy Tea Taylor, Lindi Ortega,
Rainbow Girls, Larkin Poe,  Cyril Jordan (Flamin' Groovies), and many, many more. 
 
Notable stages: Slims, Independent Sweetwater Music Hall, SXSW Official, Great American Music Hall, The Chapel, SOHO (SB), Brick and Mortar and many, many more. 
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 The band members slightly change, and lately Evan sings 'most' of the songs from the drums. They just released a a new E.P. they did at Hyde Street, called Hyde Street E.P. with Producer Eric Drew Feldman and Pamela Parker. Check out their first album Back Focus, recorded and mixed by Mark Carnahan below or find it for free HERE. 
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"Holy sh%# @evlanam in San Fran last night - filling in for his own drummer, just a hurricane of talent" - Tasha Valdez 
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