YARN - press

By Chidi Ugwu For the Collegian State College, PA December 3, 2009 Yarn's music -- just like the band's namesake -- aims to be simple, functional and fun. Blake Christiana, guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter for the band, formerly fronted a jam band called Blake & The Family Dog, but decided he didn't like the musical direction the band was heading and formed Yarn, which began as a primarily acoustic outfit. Listening to Yarn's music -- complete with mandolins, fiddles and banjos -- it's almost difficult to believe the band is based in Brooklyn. "It seems strange," said Christiana, "but Brooklyn loves country." Blake and his band are hoping State College will love it too when they perform tonight at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave. While the band is based in Brooklyn, Christiana said New York's music scene isn't where the band's primary musical influence comes from -- his style was more defined by the music he listened to growing up. The band does take some lyrical influence from the ups and downs of living in Brooklyn, even if it doesn't musically sound like it, Christiana said. "This place can drag you through the mud and lift you up, too," he said. "That kind of feeling comes through in our songs." The unpredictable nature of life is shown not only in the band's songs, but also in the way the songs are written. Christiana sits down and "hopes it comes," snatching inspiration whenever it arrives. He also said the band's sound is steadily getting more "plugged in." While its last releases were primarily acoustic, the next will be a much better representation of what the band sounds like live, Christiana said. "We get better at playing together each album," Christiana said. "We're progressively getting tighter as a unit." While the band's sound is changing, it's still maintaining what made it likeable in the first place, event organizer Mark Ross said. "Blake has the kind of voice that's so easy to listen to," Ross said. Christiana said the band's songs are mostly about life -- and not just the happier parts of it. Song titles like "I Feel So Low," "Lies I've Told," and "You Don't Love Me Anymore," show the kind of sentiments common in the band's songs. "Even the up-tempo songs aren't the happiest," he said. "That's just how it comes out." Even so, Christiana said the band isn't trying to bring anyone down -- group members want to enjoy themselves and entertain their listeners. "The best shows are the ones where we're performing and the crowd is, in a way, performing themselves, and we're all feeding off of one another," he said. www.collegian.psu.edu
Empty Pockets - Yarn A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker (progdawg@hotmail.com) Hot diggety, this is one cool, swingin', bluegrassy, country, honky-tonked quintet! Lead singer Blake Christiana is dead-nuts molded in a hoots-n-hollers timbre and when he sharps out while squeezing the lines for that last drop of countrified tang, it sends shivers up the spine. The shuffly smoothness to songs like Empty Pockets recall Gordon Lightfoot in a less wistful mood, though there's melancholy aplenty to go around in…until the solos kick in on More and it's time to boot scoot. Edie Brickell likes these characters and sat in on I'm Down, a cry-in-yer beer croon made all the more bittersweet by her sugar-flower backing refrains, delicate and frail. The contrast and harmony she puts on Christiana's lines has to be heard, literally transforming tone and color as Josh Roy Brown's pedal steel underscores everything. Elsewhere, Tony Trishka decided to lend his masterful banjo and ornaments several cuts as well, always a welcome presence. The rest of the Yarn cast should probably take more solos but work beautifully as a rhythm unit nonetheless, the sod on which Christiana's voice and guitar dance and reflect. Still, when Casey Dreissen joins the boys on fiddle, it becomes noticeable that they have more than a few chops in their back pocket, and a showcasing wouldn't hurt one little bit. www.acousticmusic.com
Jumping off the country bandwagon New albums by Yarn and Swamp Rat re-energize older genres Mountain Times - Boone, NC December 25th, 2008 By Jeff Eason With the recent release by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Cardinology, it is high time to recognize the amazing influence of Adams' Raleigh-based band Whiskeytown. Although Whiskeytown only released three full-length albums, Faithless Street, Pneumonia, and the stellar Stranger's Almanac, those discs and assorted live recordings floating around in cyberspace and in cassette decks have cemented Whiskeytown's place in Americana history. Two new albums hitting the stores this fall have Whiskeytown's fingerprints all over them, and while neither is a flat-out tribute, both continue in Whiskeytown's tradition in the creation of blues-soaked country music with a little punk rock edge. Yarn: Empty Pockets Brooklyn. That's not exactly the first place you'd pick when looking some good country music. It is, however, the hometown of the young quintet Yarn. An offshoot of guitarist and vocalist Blake Christiana's longtime electric jam-band, Blake & the Family Dog, Yarn is has a languid acoustic country sound magnified by the tasty use of mandolin, fiddle, banjo and pedal steel. Christiana's smooth and expressive vocals have earned comparisons to Lyle Lovett, Chris Isaak, Ryan Adams and even Jerry Garcia. Joining Christiana in Yarn is Trevor Macarthur on guitar and vocals, Andrew Hendryx on mandolin and harmonica, Rick Bugel on bass and Jay Frederick on drums. Did I previously mention Yarn's sonic lineage to Whiskeytown? The new disc has a distinctly casual Whiskeytown feel to it and even includes vocals and fiddle contributions from Whiskeytown's Caitlin Cary on the sultry and slow "5 Guitars." Empty Pockets also gets help from guest musicians Edie Brickell, bluegrass and rock fiddle wizard Casey Driessen of the Sparrow Quintet, and veteran banjo player Tony Trischka. Empty Pockets is a fantastic collection of new original songs written by Christiana with some contributions from fellow songwriter Shane Spaulding. The styles vary from the Kristofferson-esque title track to waltz-y blues of "I'm Down" to the brisk ballad "You Don't Love Me Anymore." All of them are anchored by Christiana's pleasing twang and some downright excellent playing. "We're not trying to say anything too deep," said Christiana of the new collection of songs. "Though maybe some are deeper than others. Mainly, these are just some easy-to-swallow songs. We mean to entertain people." Empty Pockets is recommended for fans of Railroad Earth, the Biscuit Burners and Chatham County Line. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/brooklynyarn. Swamp Rat Combine the heavy Texas-soaked power trio sound of early Z.Z. Top with the wildness of guit-steel slinger Junior Brown and throw in some swing and world rhythms, and you'll start to understand the musical philosophy of Swamp Rat. While the band's sound is nothing like Whiskeytown, it is as every bit as adventurous and eclectic as Ryan's Raleigh band…and just as country, in a weird sort of way. Three seasoned session musicians from Louisiana formed the rhythm section of the band Howard Shaft then later performed as Tracy Byrd's touring band before forming Swamp Rat. In November the band released its self-titled debut album. Swamp Rat is made up of Dan Cohen on guitar, banjo and vocals, James Cook on bass and backing vocals, and Derek Mixon on drums. For the debut album, the core trio enlists help from musical guests Sam Bush on mandolin, Tracy Byrd on vocals, Johnny Neel on vocals and keyboards, Steve Wariner on vocals and electric guitar, Johnny Lee Carpenter on fiddle and mandolin, Max Abrams on saxophone, Kevin Adams on piano and Paul Deakin on vibes. The 12 original tunes on the new album are mostly timeless instrumental numbers that touch on surf music, Texas swing, Klezmer and other offbeat styles. This is clearly music for musicians who like to have as much fun as their audiences. Cohen loves to show off his chops as a guitarist and some of his licks are jaw-droppingly snappy. One reviewer described Cohen's guitar sound on the track "Back on the Farm" as "something that sounds like Jeff Beck stuck his chocolate in Bob Wills' peanut butter." While the vocal tracks are few, one of the standout tracks on the new album is "Better Let Go" featuring the pipes of Johnny Neel. With a slow-burning blues beat and swirling organs, the cut is the soulful closer to one of the best albums of 2008. Swamp Rat's debut album should appeal to fans of Asleep at the Wheel, Los Straitjackets and the Flecktones early albums. The album is available on the Weston Boys label. For more information, visit www.westonboys.com. Mountain Times
Off the top of your head you wouldn’t think that the best Americana being made would come out of Brooklyn, but hey this is the era of change. This band truly just goes in the studio and makes wonderful unadorned country rock the way it’s supposed to be. That’s with great songs and music that fits the words being sung instead of droning on top of a singular riff. For their second gem here they are joined by Caitlin Cary on a track and fan Edie Brickell on another. Their pockets may be empty, but that’s the only thing. Village Records
Yarn - Empty Pockets Vintage Guitar Magazine January 2009 Yarn hails from Brooklyn, but its countrified roots rock sounds more at home in a grange than a downtown loft. Geography aside, here the band creates exciting and authentic music that'll move you regardless of your spot on a GPS locator. Yarn features guitarist and lead vocalist Blake Christiana along with Trevor MacArthur on guitar and vocals, Andrew Hendryx on mandolin and harmonica, Rick Bugel on bass, and Jay Frederick on drums and percussion. Cameos by Edie Brickell on vocals, Casey Driessen on fiddle, and Tony Trishka on banjo add a dash of virtuosic fire, but Yarn's chops are more than adequate to keep up. Mandolin fans will especially enjoy Hendryx's innovative mix of older tremolo techniques with modern single-string solos. The songs here were written or co-written by Christiana. Many, such as the title number are reminiscent of Gram Parsons' best. His melodies share Parsons' lyrical quality and preoccupation with intoxication and the regrets that go along with an alcoholic lifestyle. "I've Already Won" is as close to a love song as you'll find on this album - it's about divorce. Despite a plethora of dark subject matter, "Empty Pockets" has an almost jaunty overall feel because most of songs have beautiful melodies and upbeat rhythms. If your tastes lean towards classic honky-tonk country tempered with a dash of contemporary urban angst, Yarn should hit the spot. - SS
Yarn/Doc Marshalls Americana Roots 11.12.2008 -- Review by: Don Zelazny Americana music is not the first thing I think of when I think of New York City, yet two of the better Americana bands around hail from the Big Apple. Yarn is a band that blew me away with their debut CD Yarn last year. I had a review for that CD on these cyber pages, and the disc ended up on my favorites of 2007 list. The band will likely end up on this year's list as well with their latest, Empty Pockets. This band is flat out great! The songs are well crafted and often catchy and their playing is outstanding. Recent news about the band includes a nomination for "Artist of the Year" by the Roots Music Association Awards in the Roots/Americana category (along with Emmylou, The Derailers and Reckless Kelly among others). You may have also read on our pages about the bands early Grammy nominations. The title track "Empty Pockets" is one of the catchy numbers and includes some great mandolin by Andrew Hendryx. Once again on this CD the music was written by Blake Christiana, who also provides lead vocals. Fortunately he is surrounded by a band that does the tunes justice! "Music's Only Outlaw" is a beautiful slower tune that will leave you tapping your toe for sure. Edie Brickell pays a visit and adds some beautiful harmony vocals on "I'm Down," another highlight on a disc full of them. 15 tunes stuff this disc with great music. It's a no-brainer, just get it! The other NYC gem is one of the AmericanaRoots "house bands," The Doc Marshalls, and their CD is Honest For Once. Whereas Yarn rely a bit more on acoustic music, The Doc Marshalls tend to plug it in. Right out of the gate the band grabs you with their upbeat pure Americana gem "Ticket Out Of Texas." This disc is really diverse in styles also; you get classic pedal steel soaked lively country on "Lonely At The Top." Deeper into the disc comes a bit of surprise, a big bite of the Big Easy coming out of the Big Apple, the cajun/zydeco beat and accordion of "Deux Bouteilles" and "Port Barre Stomp." Apparently being a top notch Americana band located in NYC does have its drawbacks; it must be hard to find proper Americana ladies as the band laments in the disc's closer "Never Found My Emmylou." Both of these CDs would be great stocking stuffers for the Americana fan who's has been a good boy or girl this year!! Americana Roots
Yarn Empty Pockets (Ardsley) Pop Matters by Julie Thanki For a bunch of Brooklynites, Yarn sure knows its country music. Empty Pockets, the band's second release, sees them borrowing from country, folk, and classic rock & roll to knit together a sound that is Americana at its genrebending best. Bluegrass serves as the undercurrent to most of the album's songs, thanks to mandolinist Andrew Hendryx and guest fiddle player Casey Dreissen (currently a member of Abigail Washburn's Sparrow Quartet), while living legend Tony Trischka adds some wicked banjo to the background, content to let the vocals take center stage. The band's frontman and primary songwriter Blake Christiana has a voice reminiscent of Ryan Adams at his drugged out, Pneumonia-era best; thus it's fitting that several tracks sound like they could be lost Whiskeytown songs, from the steel guitar crying in the background to the heartbreaking lyrics. "5 Guitars" even features bourbon-smooth vocals from ex-Whiskeytowner Caitlin Cary. Even old New Bohemian Edie Brickell joins the band to lend some harmony to the torchy and twangy "I'm Down". Yarn may be one of the better unknown alt-country bands out there, but if satellite radio gets ahold of Empty Pockets, they won't be unknown much longer. Pop Matters
Yarn Empty Pockets Jim Abbott \| Sentinel Pop Music Critic October 3, 2008 Yarn is from Brooklyn, but the songs on Empty Pockets sound like the work of an outfit from Texas or Kentucky. This Americana band -- singer-guitarists Blake Christiana and Trevor MacArthur, mandolinist Andrew Hendryx, bassist Rick Bugel and drummer Jay Frederick -- has already made some friends. Empty Pockets features guests including Edie Brickell and banjo wizard Tony Trischka, but the band does fine on its own. The quintet shifts easily from fleet-fingered bluegrass picking on the opening "Can't Slow Down" to the twangy old-school country of "I Feel So Low" to rollicking ballads such as "More." The latter sounds like the Old 97's might if they were picking unplugged on the back porch. On Empty Pockets, Yarn combines that casual flair with some masterful musicianship. Do they have back porches in Brooklyn? Orlando Sentinel
Artist: Yarn Title: Empty Pockets Website: http://www.yarnmusic.net Style: Americana / Country/ Root Rock/ Bluegrass Label: Ardsley Music Rating: 8.8 out of 10 By C.W. Ross Yarn's lineup is: Blake Christiana (lead vocals, guitar), Trevor MacArthur (guitar, vocals), Andrew Hendryx (fiddle, mandolin), Rick Bugel (bass), and Jay Frederick (drums), Several other artists have also joined the band on Empty Pockets, including fiddler and vocalist Caitlin Cary (of Tres Chicas; Whiskeytown), New Bohemian- Edie Brickell (harmony vocalist on the lazy ballad "I'm Down"), bluegrass and rock fiddler Casey Driessen (of the Sparrow Quartet) and veteran newgrass banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka. Along with Kenji Bunch (fiddle on tracks 9 & 14), and Josh Roy Brown (pedal & lap steel, dobro). Empty Pockets is the second release from the group Yarn. Their first was a self-titled album in 2007 that reached 14 on the Americana Music Association's Top 40 chart. This Brooklyn-based band's music starts with a base of Americana and country music and then mixes it with bluegrass, roots rock, and alt. country to achieve their distinctive sound. Some of that uniqueness might come from the band member's eclectic list of musical influences that include, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Garcia, Gram Parsons, The 4 Flushers, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Patsy Cline, Chris Isaak The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Band, Neil Young, Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Thelonious Monk, Beethoven, Jackie Mclean, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Nat Reeves, Ron Carter, James Brown, Miles Davis, Roy Haynes, Philly Joe Jones, Charlie Watts, Jim Keltner, Levon Helm, and Ornette Coleman. Empty Pockets is packed with 15 songs and a running time of just a little under one hour. It all gets started with the song, "Can't Slow Down," filled with bluegrass strings. My favorite tracks are, track-5, "More," an upbeat very country flavored song filled with lively fiddling, and twang-edged vocals. The song talks about never being satisfied, always wanting more then you have at that time. Another favorite of mine is, "Roadhouse," a honky-tonk drinking song for when you're in one of those moods, looking for trouble. It also has a jam element to it that lets the instruments get up and run with the song. All of the songs found on this release feature strong vocals, and nice harmonies, and deal with their subjects in a straightforward way. Lead singer Blake Christana's vocals have been compared to those of, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, Ryan Adams, and Rick Nelson. It's hard to believe that Christiana is only in his early 30's. His vocals have the passion and wisdom like those of a chiseled-face longtime survivor of the touring road! When asked about the songs band lead singer and songwriter Blake Christana had this to say, "We're not trying to say anything too deep," Blake continues saying, "though maybe some are deeper than others! Mainly, these are just some easy-to-swallow songs. We mean to entertain people." If you're looking to be entertained by some good music for an hour then Yarn's Empty Pockets will meet your needs with its very well done music. CW's Place
Rockin' the roots Hot acts to rock during Valentine's Root-A-Rama Weekend Time's Union Thursday, October 2, 2008 by Greg Haymes Valentine's kicks off October with a double-barrelled blast of roots-rockin', as the Albany nightspot hosts the second annual Root-A-Rama Weekend. Brooklyn alt-country rockers Yarn kick off the festivities on Friday night, as they celebrate the release of their new sophomore CD, "Empty Pockets" on the Ardsley Music indie label. Several members of the Americana quintet hail from the Capital Region, including bandleader-singer-songwriter Blake Christiana and guitarist-singer Trevor MacArthur, who are both Schenectady natives. A big city band with a country heart, Yarn weaves richly textured vocal harmonies over sparkling bluegrass-flavored instrumentation. And although "Empty Pockets" features a very impressive collection of special guests (including Edie Brickell, Caitlin Cary, Casey Driessen and banjo master Tony Trischka), the focus never strays from the core band. This crack quintet isn't merely a bunch of rockers who added twang to their mix. No, Yarn's music is cut whole cloth from the country music tradition, updated only slightly for the 21st century. Sharing Valentine's stage on Friday are Coma and A Troop of Echoes.
Marquee Magazine Yarn - Empty Pockets Ardsley Music 4.5 out of 5 stars Attention folks: there is a band on the Americana music scene that deserves to be given a good listen and that band is the Brooklyn-based group, Yarn. They just released their second studio album, Empty Pockets, last month and it is a mighty fine piece of work. Recorded at Excello Studios in Brooklyn, N.Y., the album doesn't sound like something a bunch of city-folk would have recorded, rather, a backwoods jamboree of country songs with intricate bluegrass instrumentation. Empty Pockets is one of my favorite releases of the year thus far. Yarn's debut self-titled album, released in 2007, hit 14 on the Americana Music Association's Top 40 chart. Since then, the band, which features lead singer and songwriter Blake Christiana, guitarist/vocalist Trevor MacArthur, mandolin player Andrew Hendryx, bassist Rick Bugel and drummer Jay Frederick, have been touring heavily on the East Coast, with occasional trips to Nashville. Along the way, they met various musicians who have contributed to the recording of the new album, including fiddler/vocalist Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown, Tres Chicas), banjoist Tony Trischka and New Bohemian Edie Brickell. The results are a very listenable Americana album with country-influenced songwriting and bluegrass-influenced instrumentation. Songwriter Christiana is an edgy, straightforward writer with songs dealing with life's personal losses, outrages and embarrassments. His lyrical style is a pleasure to listen to and is delivered in a laid back storyteller kind of way — much like Gram Parsons, Lyle Lovett or Ryan Adams. Standouts include the upbeat "You Don't Love Me Anymore," the beautiful ballad "Music's Only Outlaw," the album's title track "Empty Pockets," and the darker "Ain't That a Sin." — Jonathan Keller Marquee Magazine
Creative Loafing Charlotte, NC September 4, 2008 Yarn The Brooklyn-based band Yarn's new CD, Empty Pockets, boasts more guest stars than your average (and they're all average, when you get down to it) Nelly record. What's more, none of them – Caitlin Cary (Tres Chicas, Whiskeytown), Edie Brickell, Tony Trischka (Bela Fleck) and Casey Driessen (Sparrow Quartet) – overwhelm singer Blake Christiana's forlorn ruminatin'. The music, as with all good honk, sounds worlds sunnier than the subject matter – heartbreak and heartache, predominately – proving yet again that a little bit of sugar makes even the harshest medicine go down easier. With David Stein and the Ravens, Kennebee. Tremont Music Hall (Davis)
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 VISITING ACT \| Yarn Brooklyn Twang: Blake Christiana and Yarn ease into alt-country territory BY T. BALLARD LESEMANN "Everybody in New York thinks this music doesn't happen up here, but it does," says Blake Christiana. The deep-voiced songwriter and native New York upstater sounds more like a seasoned Memphis session man than a Yankee songsmith. "It'd be nice if we weren't based in New York; it'd be a lot easier financially [laughs]. It's tough, man. It's tricky, but we're fighting it." Their funds may be tight, but musically, Christiana and his Brooklyn-based band Yarn have little to worry about. The band headlines Wednesday night at the Pour House in support of a forthcoming album titled Empty Pockets — an unusually smooth, low-key collection of heartfelt, bluegrass-tinged alt-country songs. Christiana, 32, previously played for years in the N.Y. jam band Blake & The Family Dog. He admits he grew tired of the routine with the group and decided to switch gears completely toward a less chaotic musical situation. "It was more about improvising and jamming than it was about the songs themselves," he remembers. "I got so sick of that really. I was ready to make a record of songs. To me, the record is about the song, first and foremost." Yarn currently features Christiana on acoustic guitar and lead vocals alongside singer/guitarist Trevor MacArthur, filddler/mandolinist Andrew Hendryx, bassist Rick Bugel, and drummer Jay Frederick. "I got lucky with the guys in this band," Christiana says. "They're all very tasteful musicians. The rhythm section actually features a couple of jazz guys. We're all in our 30s, except for the bass player, who is a young 25-year-old. He keeps us partying, you know. The band on the album is the band on the road. There aren't any special guests planned for the Pour House show ... although if anyone wants to come up and play, we might be glad to have them." When the songwriter was growing up in Schenectady, N.Y., his guitar-playing dad bought him a guitar and arranged for lessons, hoping to nurture a natural talent. His guidance took a while to pay off. "Like any kid, I kind of rebelled against it a bit," Christiana remembers. "My dad was a diehard Ricky Nelson fan — that and Elvis Presley. As a kid, that's all I'd hear — in the living room and around the campfire. It was hammered into my brain. I started back up with music in high school again, and started playing rhythm guitar in garage bands. I didn't start writing my own music until I was in my mid-20s. Plus, I wasn't a singer, either." The slightly drowsy, flat-toned croon of Ricky Nelson must have made its way into Christiana's vocal chords, too, as his singing style on most of Empty Pockets maintains a similarly nonchalant style. There's a bit of Randy Travis-by-way-of-Don Nelson in the tone as well — deep, rich, raspy, and understated, with the occasional yodel and trill. "That's just developed over the years," he says of his singing. "I think Ryan Adams has a beautiful voice. I've always liked his vocals. I don't necessarily emulate him at all, but he does have a nice falsetto. I thought it was important to try to take that and take a note from my regular voice and make it that high trill, as you call it. I don't even know how to describe it. I guess I developed that unconsciously." Christiana didn't even try his hand singing lead until just seven years ago, when he started collaborating more and more with his buddy Shane Spaulding, eventually adding lyrics and arrangement ideas to their original song sketches. Spaulding shares songwriting credit on several tunes on the new album. "This has been brewing since I was a kid," says Christiana of his latest work. "I loved the Grateful Dead when I was younger and I was really into the Garcia and Grisman stuff — Old and In the Way and all of it. Then I started listening to Whiskeytown and Wilco and groups like that. I got into Gram Parsons and the Burrito Brothers and stuff. It became kind of a hipper thing to do — get the country stuff out. It inspired me for the first record, and it worked so well, I continued with this second record." Empty Pockets features guest appearances by vocalist Edie Brickell, five-string banjo legend Tony Trischka, Nashville fiddler Casey Driessen, and Caitlin Cary of Whiskeytown. The major slow waltz on the new album, "I'm Down," features high-pitched harmonies from Brickell. "Can't Slow Down" and "More" are snappy quick-tempo shuffles in 2/4 time, replete with rich vocal harmonies between Christiana and his high-tone, strumming sideman MacArthur. Hendryx's tasteful mandolin lines and chords slip out of their rhythm section roles into the front as part of a subtle call-and-response counter to Christiana's lead singing. "Ain't That a Sin" and "Christopher Street" work as elegant, strummy ballads propelled by brushwork across the snare drums and pedal steel and dobro in the background. Sad and swingin' tunes like "I Feel So Low" and "5 Guitars" (featuring Carey on vocals and fiddle) could easily have been on a George 'n' Tammy or Conway 'n' Loretta album from four decades ago. "When I made the first record, I wasn't thinking of a specific album to model it after — but I did have the Dead's American Beauty in mind, with its country/folky thing," says the songwriter. "It's pretty personal. It's heartbreak, debauchery — all typical subject matter for country music. We're trying to keep things not too depressing, although even some of the most upbeat songs don't have the happiest themes to them. There's an intertwined message throughout the record ... although I'm not so sure what it is. Maybe it's just life, you know?" Charleston City Paper
Sing Out! Magazine Vol. 52 2 Summer 2008 YARN - Yarn (Ardsley Music) Sometimes you know from the first note you are listening to a winner. Yarn feels that way. These Brooklyn cowboys sound like they really believe in their songs and their picking is assured and bracing, especially Andrew Hendryx on mandolin. Blake Christiana, the singer and songwriter, is a winning presence. His reading lend real credibility to his songs. I really like "Bad Bad Man," the tale of a man who constantly wrestles with his demons, not so much as to beat them as to keep both him and them in fit shape. He relishes being bad. That one's flip side is "25 Years," a jaunty song about how a mistake in anger with his girl and the guy she was cheating with landed him a quarter century in the stir. Can't recall hearing that dire a situation served up sounded so celebratory. Blake's craft as songmaker shines all the way through. Yarn sports some really nifty picking. Hendryx on mandolin is superb. Kenji Bunch is terrific on fiddle and viola, but he doesn't seem to be a fully engaged member of the band. Yarn is a band that makes you feel good listening to them. Playing their album somehow made my worldly cares vanish for the duration as the band's buoyant spirits washed over me. Yarn is a find. Glad the assignment to cover their album came my way. - MT
Saturday, June 07, 2008 Taproot Radio Yarn Yarn's debut self-titled CD as reminds me of the early days of Paul Simon and Gram Parsons. Upbeat, feel good music with lyrics and musicianship that cut to the nub of American music. Fiddles, mandolin, upright bass, and harmnicas add that Americana twang to the guitar and drums to make a great CD of easy going music. Highlights include, "Listen Up Sweetheart," "No Future Together," "The Contender," "Woman On The Interstate," and "Cat And Mouse." Posted by Calvin Powers Taproot Radio
Yarn March 10, 2008 A country-tinged bluegrass/folk album that could easily be in country mainstream. A nice little band that you could easily picture in your local dive bar. Simple guitar and drum, mixed well with instruments that make this classic bluegrass band. Check out tracks 1 "Listen Up Sweeetheart", track 4 "Don't Break My Heart Again", track 6 "The Contender", track 10 "Madeline", and track 14 "Cat & Mouse". – Lane Zoerhof
Portland Herald Press By AIMSEL L. PONTI April 17, 2008 When Sara Cox wrote me a few weeks ago to sing the praises of the band Yarn, I had a hunch I would not be disappointed. Heck, she even mailed me a copy of their self-titled CD from last year. Yarn is a terrific roots-rock/alt-country band from Brooklyn, N.Y. Between the comfortable vocals of Blake Christiana and the mandolin from Andrew Hendryx, just about every track on the album shines. From the zippy little opener, "Listen Up Sweetheart," all the way through the album-ending sleepy love song "I Love the Way," listening to these 15 songs was a sojourn into an intelligent, lyrically rich and musically satiating landscape. The four primary musicians that are Yarn have only been playing together a short time, which is hard to believe given the caliber of this album. Just wait until you hear "Angel of Woodstock" or "The Contender"; you'll be over the moon like I am over this band. So even if this show was JUST the band Yarn, you'd be golden.... But oh no, they're the opening act for the Coming Grass, which has resurfaced in the live scene after a three-year absence. The new formation is Nate Schrock (vocals, guitar,) Steve Jones (vocals, guitar), Eric Glockler on bass (yep, he's the guy from Strangefolk), and snazzy drummer Chicky Stoltz from Dulce de Leche and Munjoy Hill Society's glory days." The Coming Grass with Yarn. 9 p.m. Saturday. Empire Dine & Dance, 525 Congress St. Call for cover. 879-8988. 21 and older show.
This Week In Reviews - YARN, SARA COX The Morning Call - Bethlehem, PA by Len Righi When the five musicians of Brooklyn-based Yarn were good last weekend at Godfrey Daniels, they were diverting. But when they were bad, they were better. For openers at the Bethlehem listening club, the bluegrass-tinted alt-country band chugged along agreeably on ''Can't Slow Down'' and spun tales of woe on ''Tennessee'' and ''Five Guitars.'' But vocalist-guitarists Blake Christiana and Trevor MacArthur, mandolinist Andrew Hendryx, upright bassist Rick Bugel and drummer Jay Frederick achieved critical mass only when they summoned a rockabilly fervor for ''Bad Bad Man,'' a track from their upcoming second CD. It was the high point of an entertaining if not very remarkable 11-song set, although ''25 Years'' and ''Wishing Well'' also left an impression.< Click here to read the article
Yarn - Yarn by Jon Gorey \| Boston, MA Dissolver Magazine Volume 18 After hearing the first song off Yarn — the beeeeaaauuuutiful, mellow, Americana love song "Listen Up Sweetheart" — I was already sold. Blake Christiana and his bandmates didn't have to prove anything else to me. And yet, for fifty-one straight minutes, they did. Christiana's voice has the rich warmth of Lyle Lovett's, and the band's easy backing is both understated and artful. The combination, added to strong songwriting, makes for some of the best old-time country available. Complementing the best chorus on the CD — which is saying something, because Christiana has a knack for the chorus — the stripped down drum kit, violin, mandolin, and harmonies of "Don't Break My Heart Again" make me swoon. (In the interest of full disclosure, let it be known that I eat this shit up. I wish my own music sounded like this.) Even songs that fall short of excellence, like "The Contender," are still immensely charming. I missed Yarn when they came to Boston last fall; that won't happen again. If you're within reach of the blown-up Brooklyn music scene, make sure to catch them live. Click Here To View Site
Talkin' New York, Vol. 10 - Yarn Pop Headwound January 6th, 2008 by James Burns Talkin' New York is a semi-regular feature I like to include on Pop Headwound that focuses on the wealth of emerging local talent in the Brooklyn and Manhattan area. Some are touring bands getting buzz, others are folks I saw play at an open-mic who blew me away. All are artists who have struck me as incredibly talented musicians and songwriters who deserve to have their music heard on a wider scale. ********************************************************* About a year ago Blake Christiana was growing tired of playing folk rock in Blake & The Family Dog and decided his musical career needed rethinking. So, he and bandmate Trevor MacArthur made a change - they started writing acoustic based songs, formed Yarn, and recorded their self-titled debut record. The band has been gaining acclaim in the months since its release. They've been consistently moving their way up the AMA Chart, won the IMA award for best alt. country song of the year ("No Future Together"), and placed in the Freeform American Roots reporters Top 20 albums of the year. Not a bad year for a new band. Yarn is New York in locale, but their sound and spirit ain't from these parts. Led by the smooth vocals and guitar playing of Christiana, Yarn plays a form of alt. country music that seems born on the outskirts of Nashville, decidedly heavier on the "country" than the "alt". The 15 songs that comprise the record are just pristine. I haven't heard production this crisp on a country record in a long time - it reminds me of what M. Ward has achieved on his last few albums. I'm not comparing the 2 artists stylistically, but the crystal clear production here (warm, spacious, inviting) rivals that of Ward for some of the best I've heard. The album itself is marked by fine playing and smart songs. The familiar country music themes and images referenced seem more alive than ever, and Christiana's sturdy croon is as real as a warm breeze, as knowing as the weathervane. "No Future Together" is a heartbreaking confession of failure, "Madeline" a dusty ballad that sounds like it's leftover from Stranger's Almanac, and "Cat and Mouse" a shuffling sing-along worthy of a Hank comparison. The songs cuddle together with the others, seemless in their delivery, and by the rustic sway of "I Love The Way" you'll be waiting for the CD to end so you can start it over. This is highly recommended music for fans of real country music with an outsider's edge, and while that's not always my thing, this is too good to ignore. click here to view article
Root Music Report - November 2007 4 stars (out of 5) Each independent member of Yarn really brings their own flavor to the group, melding it into a treat for everyone's ears. The newly formed band's first release really stunned us at how well they all worked together to create such a great CD. When we first listened, we began reminiscing of times long since past, and musicians that are in everyone's hearts and minds. Each song on this album is catchy and addictive, and they etched themselves into our memory and took up a place in our hearts. Quentin Foster - RMR Staff Click here to go to their website: Root Music Report CD Reviews
Village Records 11.26.07 Like a lot of the best alt-country bands this group had its roots in rock music. The roots were there, but their heart wasn't and they decided to follow that voice down the lost highway and pursue their muse. That siren voice took them down a country road and after a couple of miles they knew they were headed home. This debut album is full of seasoned music from a group that is truly enjoying themselves and will never have to look back. Here's a chance to hop on board and be among the first to discover this band. Village Records Yarn Americana Roots Tuesday, 13 November 2007 Written by Don Zelazny Yarn is a relatively new band out of the New York City area fronted by Blake Christiana, a classically trained guitarist who also handles vocals and songwriting duties on their debut release Yarn. He had previously run a rock band called Blake & the Family Dog in NYC. Apparently he wanted to head into a more country type sound when he met up with mandolin player Andrew Hendryx and started writing acoustic based songs. They would try out the songs during a steady Monday night gig at a place called Kenny's in New York. The tunes eventually became Yarn tunes and after playing with a number of musicians, they settled on Jay Frederick on drums, Rick Bugel on bass and Trevor MacArthur on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. The band also includes Shane Spaulding who does not play, but co-wrote many of the songs with Christiana. The result of all this is a very enjoyable album from start to finish. The songs are bluegrass influenced acoustic gems. Christiana's love of the country-side of the Grateful Dead is quite evident on this record, with several songs reminiscent of the Jerry Garcia-David Grissman collaborations. Andrew Hendryx's mandolin playing truly anchors the band's sound, along with the smooth vocals/lyrics of Blake, who claims to use Gram Parsons as his songwriting measuring stick. One of the CDs highlights is the second cut, "Bad, Bad Man," alternating between mandolin, fiddle and banjo runs with the singers admission that "I'm a bad, bad, man, candy in my pocket, broken woman on my hand…" "25 Years" is highlighted by some great harmony vocals and is one of the tunes with a definite Grateful Dead feel to it. Other gems are the up-tempo "Don't Break My Heart Again," and the beautiful "Angel in Woodstock," which Christiana says he wrote one night after listening to two Gram Parsons albums. The band has toured heavily in the east in preparation for the release of this CD. If they come to a town near you I highly recommend you check them out. Their website is http://www.yarnmusic.net/, where they have a few live sets you can download. Check it out here: Americana Roots Miles of Music It's A Cracker 11/9/07 In a year that is already jammed with exceptional releases, Yarn makes the case for an entry into annual Top 10 lists. This Brooklyn-based band scores the rare triple-header of excellent country-bluegrass musicianship, memorable melodies and honeyed vocals. A little over a year ago Blake Christiana was considering quitting life as a musician but decided to take one last shot. Hopefully, the results have inspired him to stick around for awhile. Inspired by bluegrass workouts of David Grisman and Jerry Garcia and the songwriting of Gram Parsons, Yarn's 15 tracks feature stories of bad men doing unsavory things. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released) Miles of Music Stomp your old cowboy boots inside the Kings County Opry Brooklyn Courier By Joe Fassler 01/09/2007 When Park Slope musician Dock Oscar founded the Kings County Opry three years ago, he was determined to establish a new place for old-time music. At the time, Brooklyn offered no haven for country musicians, and the established country music showcases were located on the other side of the East River. But when Manhattan’s renowned Alphabet City Opry closed, Oscar put his cowboy-booted foot down. “I’m not going to wait for someone to do this anymore,” he recalls thinking. “I’m just going to do it myself.” These days, the Kings County Opry—which showcases country, bluegrass, and folk artists from Brooklyn and beyond—is a thriving event with an ardent following. Oscar has proven himself an ideal master of ceremonies, a role he often shares with fellow Park Sloper Alex Battles. Together, the musicians select acts with impeccable taste, work the crowd easily between sets, and even perform with their own bands from time to time. The Opry’s location is a key part of its success. Freddy’s Bar and Back Room occupies an unassuming corner on Dean Street in Prospect Heights, but it hosts some of Brooklyn’s most unique events. On Diva Night, professional opera singers perform jaw-dropping arias in a casual setting. Cringe Night, where mortified readers share their teenage poems and diary entries, was called “funniest night out in New York” by Spin Magazine. Yet even among these dynamic counterparts, The Kings County Opry stands out. Anyone stepping into Freddy’s on the third Thursday of the month has found a lively bluegrass band, and, most likely, an enthusiastic audience singing, dancing, and shouting for favorite tunes. It’s easy to see how Opry-goers get so excited. There is no proper stage, so performers and audience members nearly intermingle. The Back Room has been lauded by performers and fans alike as one of the city’s best-sounding spaces for acoustic music. And the bands, often with as many as eight or nine musicians playing and singing at once, create an atmosphere of unbridled enthusiasm. Over time, Dock Oscar likes to say, the event has evolved into “a good-natured riot.” The show begins with the Song Circle, a round robin of short sets featuring a variety of songwriters and performers. Then, at 9:30, KCO favorite Yarn takes the stage. The band’s textured, bluegrass-tinged country is at once accessible and affecting. Carroll Gardens frontman Blake Christiana’s singing voice is the aural equivalent of a broken-in pair of jeans—rugged, homey, and dependable. Among this bevy of top-notch bluegrass musicians, mandolinist Andrew Hendryx’s thoughtful, articulate playing emerges as a crucial part of the band’s sound. Though Yarn’s jam band roots are manifest at times, the instrumentation never preens or overpowers; Christiana’s masterful songwriting shines through in each song. Alex Friedman closes at 10:30, with his backup band The Other Failures. The Prospect Heights songwriter’s work shifts effortlessly between wry country ballads, raucous talking blues, and tender, introspective vignettes. Friedman is also a painter and artist who has contributed to magazines like the New Yorker; it is no surprise, then, that his songs have painting-like qualities. His songs are prolonged meditations that delve into their subject matter in way an artist might labor to render the details of a landscape or the features of a human face. The music simmers, sometimes boils over, with expressive gusto as lyrical flourishes pile up like brush strokes. Friedman is candid about his desire to write striking, powerful songs: “The things I’m singing about are totally mine and totally true,” he says. “And I’m convinced that when someone is totally true to themselves, that truthfulness becomes their instrument.” Though several of his songs explore themes of artistic honesty, he warns against “paintings that are just about the paint.” At The Kings County Opry, nothing is less likely. Freddy’s Bar and Backroom is located at 685 Dean Street, at the corner of 6th Avenue; you can learn more about the venue by visiting www.freddysbackroom.com or calling directly at 718-622-7035. Additionally, the Kings County Opry website, www.kingscountyopry.com, provides detailed information about the series’ schedule and performers. This month’s event takes place Jan. 18 and is free and open to anyone over 21 with ID.
Gazette Article 1/3/07 With his Family Dog on hiatus, Christiana having ball with Yarn by Philip Schwartz (Gazette Reporter) It has taken 30-year-old Blake Christiana years to get here, yet this is precisely where he wanted to be all along. After building an audience with the New York City-based Blake & The Family Dog, the Schenectady native has put together Yarn, a quintet that takes more of a turn toward rootsy territories with a bluegrass-influenced, harmony-laden sound. "I had wanted to start some kind of acoustic project for like 10 years - some sort of glorified string band" Christiana, a vocalist, songwriter and classically trained guitarist, said late last month when visiting family for the holidays. "When I started the Family Dog, I didn't know what I was getting into. That started as an acoustic project as well. Then we added member after member after member, and we wound up with like eight people in the band, and it wound up being much more of a jam band than what I was going after...I was trying to focus on the song, opposed to the band." ALBUM ON THE WAY With Family Dog on hiatus, Yarn, which plays Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, is set to self-release its debut album, possibly as early as next month. While Family Dog was Wilco-esque alt-country or even mellow roots rock, strengthened by Christiana's sweet, laid-back vocals, Yarn makes a noticable nod toward early country and Americana. But Christiana's laid-back delivery remains. And so does the sweet, catchy songwriting. Christiana, who moved to New York City at the begining of the decade, began writing for Yarn a year ago - a process he described as a whirlwind as songs came to him quickly. There are about 40 original songs in the bands repertoire now, 31 of which Yarn tracked for the forthcoming album. Christiana said they'll select about 15 for the final product. "I know people don't listen to music this way, which I understand," he said, "but when I release this record, I want it to be one of those records where you put it on and don't skip around, I want people to be able to listen to it from the first track to the last. Those are my favorite kinds of records." Meanwhile, he said some of his favorite Yarn tracks were co-written with Shane Spaulding, a member of Family Dog who grew up in the same Schenectady neighborhood as Christiana. The hometown connection continues with Trevor MacArthur, a guitarist and vocalist, and a member of both Family Dog and Yarn. He, too, grew up in that neighborhood. EXCITING TIME All these old bonds, Christiana said, strengthen the connection between players. And that this project is the one Christiana has been pining for - every since childhood when he first heard David Grisman and Jerry Garcia play together - makes this especially exciting. Plus he agreed that this is a brand of music that has a universal appeal, as if it's so rooted in the American culture that it's hard not to be drawn to it. Here he recalls a Brooklyn friend who has delved deeply into indie rock, as she's always onto the city's next big thing. "And she'll come to see Yarn for the first time," he said, "and this isn't something she'd ever play in her CD player. But all of a sudden, she loves it and is trying to help us out... That's been the coolest part - people who you thought would never be into this music are totally into it. That's what gets me the most excited." Reach reporter Philip Schwartz at 395-3111 or pschwartz@dailygazette.net Yarn WHEN: 8pm Saturday WHERE: Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs. HOW MUCH: $10; $8 (members) MORE INFO: 583-0022, www.caffelena.com
Jonesing for tight-knit alt-country? by Sheryl Hunter The Recorder, Greenfield, Mass Thursday, May 17th, 2007 Yarn's set at The Route 63 Roadhouse marks first area visit for Big Apple hit. New York is not a place that is frequently equated with country music, but Yarn, a hot up-and-coming band in the alternative-country genre, actually got its start playing weekly gigs in the heart of the Big Apple. Fronted by vocalist, songwriter and classically trained guitarist Blake Christiana, Yarn formed about a year ago. It has consistantly winning over audiences on the East Coast and will now head to Millers Falls on Friday, May 18th, at 9:30pm for its first ever western Massachusetts show. Christiana has always loved country music and dreamed of forming an acoustic string band, but he somehow got sidetracked and ended up fronting a rock band called Blake & The Family Dog. The Family Dog established a solid following, but Christiana was not happy with the jam band direction the group seemed to be taking. He soon met up with a mandolin player named Andrew Hendryx and began heading down a new, but familiar, musical path. "I wanted to do an acoustic string-band project for years, so once I met Andrew, I started writing songs that would eventually become Yarn tunes," Christiana recalled. "We would try them out on monday nights at Kenny's and it wasn't long until we had 40 original Yarn songs written. This increasingly became more of what we did on Monday nights, and eventually the monday nights became all Yarn songs." After playing out with a variety of other musicians, the band eventually settled in with a lineup of Jay Frederick on drums, Rick Bugel on bass. Trevor MacArthur, an alumnus of The Family Dog, took on the roll of rhythm guitarist and vocal harmonies. One other key member of Yarn is Shane Spaulding, a non-performer who co-writes material with Christiana. Yarn's bluegrass-influenced, harmony-rich music is rooted in Christiana's love of country music, a love that started when he was a kid growing up in Schenectady, NY, listening to his father strum and sing old songs. "He would always play old country hits and whole lot of Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley," Christiana said. "He would also play a ton of old folk standards like 'Froggie Went A-Courtin' ' and 'Midnight Special.' This definitely seeped into my subconscious and now comes out everytime I sit down to write." Christiana was also a big fan of The Grateful Dead, especially the writing and playing of Jerry Garcia and the recordings he made with mandolin player, David Grisman. "David Grisman and Old & In The Way really had a profound effect on me. I just thought it was unbelievable," Christiana continued. "And that was when I got the itch to start something like Yarn. It took me a while, but I'm here now." But more than all those other influences, what really inspired Yarn is the work of Flying Burrito Brothers and Gram Parsons. After listening to both Parsons' records one evening in his car, Christiana was so awed by the power of Parsons' writing that he was inspired to rush home and pick up his pen. He wrote six Yarn songs that night. "The one I know I wrote that night that made the record was 'Angel In Woodstock," said Christiana. "I wrote that song because I was headed down to Woodstock the day after Christmas to look at a music venue in downtown to consider buying it and being a club owner and putting my writing on the back burner. But after hearing Parsons the songs pretty much wrote themselves. I decided not to buy the club in Woodstock and give it one last go with making records." It has turned out to be the right decision, as Yarn's timeless music, with it's early country and americana influences, has been a realization of a long-time goal for Christiana, and so far the listening public, has been receptive. Yarn released it's debut CD in March and the band is talking to a few independent labels with the goal of national distribution of the disc. The band will start work on its next album in June. Since its inception, Yarn has performed at least 150 shows and completed a brief tour of the south. "We have never played Western Massachusetts - the will be our first trip," Christiana said. "We hit Boston on occasion, and Boston seems to like us. We are looking foward to getting out to Western Mass. as much as possible. I think it will be a good fit for us." Right now, Christiana is happy with the strides Yarn is making on the road and in the studio. "The response from the fans has been really great," he said. "People with all sorts of musical tastes seem to really dig what we are doing, and that makes me smile."
YARN AT SADLACK'S INDY - Raleigh, North Carolina September 13th, 2007 by Kathy Justice Roots music from the shadows of skyscrapers, Brooklyn six-piece Yarn may call the Big Apple home but they nestle their sound in Nashville sunsets. Moving between scruffy alt.country and a twitter of bluegrass, lead singer Blake Christiana mines his heavy Americana sound from lyrics shaped by the genteel sincerity of Gram Parsons. His band follows suite, pairing Christiana's lo-fi hooks with articulate string accents. Catch them at Sad's tonight for free at 6 p.m. or preview them at Slim's on the 15th at 10 p.m. with The Vints.