Yard Act are a minimalist rock group based in Leeds, UK. The band currently consists of James Smith (vocals), Sam Shjipstone (guitar), Ryan Needham (bass), and Jay Russell (drums).
Formed in 2019, Yard Act began life when friends Ryan Needham and James Smith started creating minimalist rock tracks using a primitive drum machine and borrowed bass guitar. Later drafting in George Townend on drums, and Sammy Robinson on guitars whom they met at their spiritual home, The Brudenell Social Club, they played a handful of shows to a rapt reception before you-know-what intervened. No matter: ingenuity and artistry enabled them to great their debut release. Overflowing with satirical one-liners, A side ‘Fixer Upper’ follows a cocksure fictional character, ‘Graeme’, planning some home renovations.
Yard Act co-instigator Smith explains: “Graeme was inspired by an amalgamation of people who lived on my street growing up. I think everyone knows a Graeme, maybe a neighbour or an uncle… sorry if he’s your dad. Not a bad man at heart, he just sincerely believes he’s from a country and generation that achieved the apex of everything so therefore can’t ever be wrong about anything.” Drafting in Ross Orton (who’s credits include Arctic Monkeys, Working Men's Club’s, MIA, Amyl & the Sniffers) on mixing duties, it is equal parts fearsome and funny and never less than breath-taking.
On the flip side, ‘The Trapper’s Pelts’ is a satirical take on neoliberalism. James Smith explains, “It skewers elements of the American frontier into a Scarface-type narrative set against the backdrop of a mundane West Yorkshire suburb.” Produced by Bill Ryder Jones (The Coral) prior to lockdown the recording process of the track “felt like a Happy Mondays thing, keeping the drums tight and high up in the mix like a dance mix.” Housed in a screen printed wraparound sleeve (individually printed by Ryan from the band), it’s a debut single to be treasured.
Stuck is an unconventional post punk band who write dissonant, metronomic tunes with serendipitous textures. They incorporate catchy melodies with atonal sounds to form rad ass tunes. On their debut album, Change Is Bad, the Chicago quartet strive for musical dissonance and lyrical vulnerability, a combination that’s deeply cathartic for the band and for listeners alike.
The Present Age is an art-punk band from Oshkosh, WI. Finalizing their lineup in 2019, the group’s sound is marked by contrasting ambient and stiff guitars, dynamic control, and lyrical themes of consumerism, anti-capitalism, and absurdism.
We welcome all styles of music, comedy, spoken word, poetry, and more to take the stage every Wednesday.
We welcome all styles of music, comedy, spoken word, poetry, and more to take the stage every Wednesday.
We welcome all styles of music, comedy, spoken word, poetry, and more to take the stage every Wednesday.
This is a past event and has been archived for reference.