GAVIN EVICK – “WINDOWS-DOWN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL”
By Nina McCarthy
If you attended the February 7, 2026, Bret Michaels show at Mohegan Sun Arena, you would have witnessed Gavin Evick join in singing “Look What The Cat Dragged In” by Poison. Gavin appeared very comfortable and worked the stage like a pro, performing to the packed venue alongside Bret. You may be thinking, “Okay, I saw him, but who the hell is he?”
Gavin is the 24-year-old son of the multi-talented musician/producer Pete Evick, who plays guitar in the Bret Michaels band as well as the band’s co-songwriter, producer, mixer, and musical director. Pete also has his own band, EVICK, amongst other pursuits. To say the least, Gavin grew up in a musical environment, watching his dad (and Bret Michaels) on stage.
Gavin laughs about growing up with “uncles” such as Bret Michaels, Eric Brittingham, and Tom Keifer, and not even knowing their music until later. During his senior year of high school, Gavin was called onstage by his dad during an EVICK show and joined in singing Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild” to about 600 people.
As the unity of the music hit him, Gavin got a feeling he had never had before, and he knew he wanted to pursue singing. The fire was lit. This rising rocker never had “formal” voice lessons, but he learned from the likes of Tony Harnell, Tom Keifer, Robert Mason and Steve Augeri, as well as others, while on tour with his dad or by phone conversations.
Gavin Evick released his first single, “Favorite Songs”, in 2022, followed by the formation of The Gavin Evick Band. Two more singles ensued, “Young, Wild & Free” (2024) and “Redline” (2025) featuring Eric Brittingham of Cinderella. The Gavin Evick Band is recognized for its youthful and fun modern rock, featuring a catchy style inspired by 80s arena rock.
While interviewing Gavin, he referred it as “windows-down rock n roll with American summertime vibes”. We all know that feeling of cruising down the road on a beautiful summer day, windows down, radio cranked, as we sing along to that favorite song. That’s the feeling you’ll get when you crank up The Gavin Evick Band.
The aspect I enjoy about these singles is their uniqueness, while remaining cohesive in nature. Evick stated that the biggest lesson he learned from Bret Michaels was about marketing and how to be versatile in music, allowing for crossovers into multiple genres. With that being said, if you only like country music, you should listen to the released singles; the same goes for you, rockers.
The upcoming album from The Gavin Evick Band will have something for everyone, ranging from southern rock to country to metal. Although the release date has not been officially announced, it is expected to be released this summer. Being the perfectionist that he is, Gavin relayed to me that until he was satisfied that every song had a radio hook, he wouldn’t release it. “There will be no B sides”, he added.
If you were at the Mohegan Sun show I mentioned at the beginning, then you might have noticed a young guest guitarist up there with Bret Michaels as well. That’s New England based musician Ben Cote, who will be assuming the guitarist duties for The Gavin Evick Band, following the recent departure of the former guitarist. Cote will be joining Logan Blake on rhythm guitar, Max Myer on bass, and drummer Steven Hudgins.
While the lineup has largely remained stable, Gavin has established a strong reputation and the funds necessary to hire a professional touring musician should the need arise, such as in cases of illness, scheduling conflicts, or sudden departures. Are you wondering where you can catch the band live? Keep your eyes open for dates. They have already supported an impressive list of national acts, including Sebastian Bach. Gearing toward bigger shows, they will be strategically scheduled for maximum impact.
Gavin also has another project in the works that I can’t tell you about just yet. Once details are confirmed, I’ll be talking to him further. If you’re a Bret Michaels or Poison fan, you won’t want to miss it. In the meantime, head on over to The Gavin Evick Band’s socials, give a like/follow, and stream those singles. Support the next generation of rock stars!
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