The Yawpers
The Yawpers are a three-piece rock and roll band from Denver, Colorado.[1][2] Their name is derived from a Walt Whitman poem, entitled "Song of Myself" from Leaves of Grass: "I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world."[3] The Yawpers play in a unique setting of two acoustic guitar players and drummer, yet their music is played with "raucous glee comparable to seeing a metal band".[4]
The Yawpers | |
|---|---|
Nate Cook of The Yawpers, Rock & Roll Hotel (Washington DC) December 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Denver, Colorado U.S. |
| Genres | Rock and roll Americana Punk rock Blues rock |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Bloodshot Records |
| Members | Nate Cook Jesse Parmet Alex Koshak |
| Past members | James Hale Adam Perry Dave Romano Noah Shomberg |
| Website | TheYawpers.com |
History edit
The Yawpers is composed of Nate Cook on lead vocals and guitar, Jesse Parmet on slide guitar and harmonies, and Alex Koshak on drums.[3][5] Both Cook and Parmet play acoustic guitars, and their music has been described as cow-punk.[6] Cook and Parmet had played together for a few years, playing together in the band Ego vs. Id, before forming The Yawpers.[7] Cook had a solo residency at a bar and Parmet joined him.[8]
After self-releasing their debut album, Capon Crusade,[9] Bloodshot Records saw the band play at the 2015 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas and immediately signed the band to their label.[10][11]
Cook grew up in Texas, which influences his sound. The band is based in Denver, Colorado.[12][13]
In 2013, the Yawpers self-released a bootleg covers record called Good Songs/Shitty Versions, which included covers of songs by Motörhead, Ween, Elvis Presley, The Coasters and Aerosmith. It was recorded at Bill Douglass' Colorado Springs, Colorado, studio, Royal Recording, during the course of a day.[14][15]
On October 30, 2015, The Yawpers released their sophomore album, American Man, on Bloodshot Records.[16] American Man is the band's first album released under Bloodshot Records.[17] The album was co-produced by Cracker's Johnny Hickman[18] and was recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado – the studio that is run by drummer Bill Stevenson of the punk rock band, Descendents. On September 26, 2015, Rolling Stone released an article of their song "Burdens," saying that "the guys bang out a Springsteen-worthy tribute to escaping the city limits of one's hometown."[19]
In October 2017, The Yawpers released their second record for Bloodshot called Boy in a Well. The record was recorded in Chicago and was produced by Tommy Stinson from The Replacements and Alex Hall, known for his work with JD McPherson, Pokey LaFarge. The record is a concept album, and tells the story of a boy who lives in France during World War I, who was abandoned in a well by his mother. Cook wrote some of the lyrics with his father, a poet and psychiatrist, and said that the writing of the dark material reflected processing childhood sexual abuse by an older man when he was young.[20] The themes of abandonment and relationships reflected Cook's marriage and subsequent divorce.[21][22] Graphic artist J.D. Wilkes from band, The Legendary Shack Shakers, created a comic book that accompanied the release of the album. The cover art of the record is also by Wilkes.[23] The record has an overall sound that incorporates rockabilly with rock and roll and punk rock.[24] The record incorporates Cook's divorce.[25]
The song "Doin' It Right" was featured in the Showtime TV series, Ray Donovan. It was the end credits song for the season five, episode 10 called "Bob the Builder."[26]
The Yawpers have played shows with Delta Spirit, Lucero, The Reverend Horton Heat, The Black Angels, Wanda Jackson, Cracker, and Blind Pilot, and they have toured the US with Nashville Pussy, Supersuckers and The Blasters. They tour extensively.[27][28]
Discography edit
Albums edit
- 2012: Capon Crusade (self-released)
- 2013: Good Songs/Shitty Versions (self-released)[15]
- 2015: American Man (Bloodshot Records)
- 2017: Boy in a Well (Bloodshot Records)
- 2019: Human Question (Bloodshot Records)
EPs edit
- 2011: Savage Blue (Adventure Records Ltd.)
Singles edit
- 2015: Deacon Brodie (Bloodshot Records)
- 2015: 3 Days Sober / If I Should Fall from Grace with God by Deer Tick (Bloodshot Records) – from Bloodshot Six Pack to Go: Working Songs For the Drinking Class box set
- 2017: Mon Dieu / Ace of Spades (Bloodshot Records)
References edit
- ^ Kaye, Ben (18 August 2015). "The Yawpers sign to Bloodshot Records for new LP, share lead single "Deacon Brodie" — listen". Consequence of Sound.
- ^ Bridges, Dale (1 December 2011). "Those barbaric Yawpers". Boulder Weekly.
- ^ a b Solomon, Jon (11 October 2012). "The Yawpers' Deep Thoughts Come Through on Capon Crusade". Westword.
- ^ Johnson, Josh (21 October 2013). "Steal This Track from The Yawpers". Hey Reverb.
- ^ Eyl, Eryc (28 November 2011). "Steal This Track: The Yawpers". The Know, The Denver Post.
- ^ Keltz, Dryw (12 October 2016). "That ain't the Yawpers: Denver-based cowpunk trio keeps country gritty". San Diego Reader.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Pehling, Dave (9 October 2016). "CBS SF Talks To Yawpers Guitarist Nate Cook". CBS SF Bay.
- ^ Gibney, Cara (20 December 2015). "The Yawpers: "You Need A Hammer AND An Egg To Make A Mess."". No Depression.
- ^ Solomon, Jon (11 October 2012). "The Yawpers' deep thoughts come through on Capon Crusade". Westword.
- ^ Miller, Matt (19 May 2015). "The Yawpers sign with Bloodshot Records to release "American Man" in October". The Know, The Denver Post.
- ^ Ezell, Brice (19 May 2015). "The Yawpers Sign to Bloodshot Records, New Album Out in the Fall". PopMatters.
- ^ Horowitz, Hal (18 August 2017). "The Yawpers: Boy In A Well". American Songwriter.
- ^ Owens, Dylan (27 October 2015). "With "American Man," The Yawpers aspire to barroom greatness". The Know, The Denver Post.
- ^ Dean, Ashley (12 September 2013). "Next up from the Yawpers: 'Stupid versions of good songs'". Colorado Daily.
- ^ a b Dean, Ashley (23 October 2013). "The Yawpers release "Good Songs/Shitty Versions"". Colorado Daily.
- ^ Farkas, Steven (19 August 2015). "The Yawpers Announce New LP, Premiere Deacon Brody". The Punk Site.
- ^ Lee, Raymond E. (24 October 2015). "The Yawpers: Defining Who We Are, and Who We Want to Be". No Depression.
- ^ Bonfiglio, Jeremy D. (30 July 2014). "Five questions with Cracker guitarist, co-founder Johnny Hickman". The News-Dispatch.
- ^ Leahey, Andrew (16 September 2015). "Hear the Yawpers Mix Punk Poetry, Roots-Rock Romance on 'Burdens'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Harris, Kyle (6 September 2017). "The Yawpers Wrote a Post-World War I Oedipal Concept Album. Here's Why". Westword.
- ^ Trunkprc (24 July 2017). "The Yawpers". TrunkSpace.
- ^ Chrystal, Matt (3 October 2017). "Interview / Review: Matt Chrystal Gives His Take on The Yawpers' Latest and Chats with Nate Cook". CoolDad Music.
- ^ Kaye, Ben (14 August 2017). "The Yawpers give a track-by-track breakdown of their new concept album, Boy in a Well: Stream". Consequence of Sound.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (12 August 2017). "The Yawpers: Boy in a Well Album Review". Pitchfork.
- ^ Cook, Nate (19 November 2015). "Nomadic Depressive: Road notes from the Yawpers' Nate Cook". The Know, The Denver Post.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (15 October 2017). "Ray Donovan Recap: The Brothers Donovan". Vulture.
- ^ Accomazzo, David (2 May 2013). "The Yawpers: Going through changes – Boulder Weekly". Boulder Weekly.
- ^ Watt, Mike; Cook, Nate (3 February 2016). . The Watt from Pedro Show. Archived from the original (Podcast interview) on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
External links edit
- TheYawpers.com
- The Yawpers on Twitter
- The Yawpers at Bloodshot Records