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Live at The Down Home Set One

Blake Christiana

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Live at The Down Home Set One

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DONATE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM, OR NOTHING AT ALL. DONATE $25 OR MORE TO RECEIVE A PHYSICAL COPY OF THIS ALBUM ON CD. WHEN DONATING $25 OR MORE DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS, AND IF YOU'D LIKE IT SIGNED OR TO INCLUDE A PERSONAL NOTE ON THE COVER, PLEASE LET US KNOW THAT AS WELL. CDS WILL BE SHIPPED AT THE END OF

DONATE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM, OR NOTHING AT ALL. DONATE $25 OR MORE TO RECEIVE A PHYSICAL COPY OF THIS ALBUM ON CD. WHEN DONATING $25 OR MORE DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS, AND IF YOU'D LIKE IT SIGNED OR TO INCLUDE A PERSONAL NOTE ON THE COVER, PLEASE LET US KNOW THAT AS WELL. CDS WILL BE SHIPPED AT THE END OF JANUARY 2023.

The proceeds from your donations will directly fund the promotional costs of our next 2 albums coming in 2023.

Thank you for downloading this album. Before I decided to do this show and put the band together, I’d been completely uninspired and felt that musically, things had gotten stale. I needed to shake things up, play with some new folks, write some new songs and do so with only this one night in mind.

So…I booked the show on a wing and a prayer. At this point, I only had a few new songs written so I got to work. I picked up my guitar and wrote a bunch of mediocre songs those first couple of days, just trying to get my mind around what I wanted to say. Once my first "good one" came, they all poured out and started taking shape. I wrote a slew of new songs, a couple of them with my long time writing partner, Shane Spaulding, and a couple with my wife Mandy. For this show, I chose the best of the new ones, and I also decided to include some tunes I've written over the past few years but never recorded. I threw in a few Yarn songs as well. They all felt right.

Then came the time to find the band for this night. At first, I was just going to play the show by myself, raw, intimate, just me and the songs. Then I thought, "I've got to have some low end up there with me." So I called up Brian Dickel, and he was down. Then I thought, "I could use a little lead, not too much, but some would be nice", so I asked Matteo Joseph Recchio, and thankfully he also agreed to do it. Upon further review and at my wife’s insistence, it seemed we might need a little badass harmony up there, something super complimentary to the songs and the mood of the show. Heather Hannah up in Thomas, WV was the perfect choice, and she agreed to join us. After Heather was on board, I felt the band was complete. But then, I found myself at my friend Bill Stevens' recording studio in Winston-Salem, NC just messing around and playing these songs while he played organ, and I had to have him there as well. So there it was—this was the band and these were the songs.

I sent everyone demos and charts of the new material, rented a house in Roanoke, VA for 2 nights, booked a warm up show at The Spot On Kirk and told everyone to meet me at the house on Wednesday, August 10th for our one and only rehearsal. Right when we all walked in the door, I knew it was going to be special.

The rehearsal was pure fun, the songs and arrangements fell together with the greatest of ease. The warm up show on Friday August 11th felt like we'd played this show for an entire tour. So by the time we got to Johnson City, we were firing on all cylinders. The crowds were as amazing and involved as I could have ever hoped for. It was MAGIC.

This is Set One of my show at The Down Home in Johnson City, TN on Friday, August 12th. You’ll hear the cling of beer bottles, cash register dings, quite a few squeaky chairs, all my rambling banter and most importantly, the energy of the room. Just how I pictured it. Close your eyes and you'll think you’re there. I am currently working on a studio recording of these same songs, but I really wanted my dearest and most supportive family of fans to hear it like this first.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to play music for you live and on stage. As long as you want to hear it, I'll keep writing, singing and playing. IT IS MY BIGGEST HONOR.

A huge and extra special thanks to my wife Mandy. She gives me the confidence I don't fully have on my own. She was instrumental in making this album a reality. This would not exist without her.

All songs written by me with the exception of Play Freebird which was written by Mandy Christiana and myself.

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Bill Stevens at Ovation Sound, Winston-Salem, NC

Cover photo taken by Cloud Bobby Back cover and inside photo taken by Peter Montanti

Album art put together by Ahern Printing

Thank you Ed Snodderly for the use of your legendary venue and thank you Townes Van Zandt for the initial inspiration to do it.

The Band

Matteo Joseph Recchio - Guitar, Vocals

Brian Dickel - Bass

Heather Hannah - Vocals

William Stevens - Organ

Blake Christiana - Vocals, Guitar

all rights reserved © 2022

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Lucky 13, Vol. 2

Yarn

Relix, July 2019. If you’ve been circling the Americana scene for the past decade or so, then you’ve probably run across Yarn. The quartet has been creating “roots music from the shadows of skyscrapers” for some time and, in their infancy, logged countless hours at Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. These days, the band is

Relix, July 2019. If you’ve been circling the Americana scene for the past decade or so, then you’ve probably run across Yarn. The quartet has been creating “roots music from the shadows of skyscrapers” for some time and, in their infancy, logged countless hours at Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. These days, the band is chronicling their time on the road in a monthly “Lucky 13” single series. “The intention was to share the feeling of what it’s like to spend time traveling from city to city, with all the unlikely experiences that can be encountered along the way,” singer and primary songwriter Blake Christiana has said of the project. Here, Yarn has compiled a selection of those tunes into the concert compilation Lucky 13, Vol. 2 , capturing the perfect combination of exhaustion and excitement on tunes like “Weary” and “Livin’ to Die.” The mid-album highlights are sequenced side by side; “Weary” struts forward with a thumping rhythm (from the bass/percussion combo section of Rick Bugel and Robert Bonhomme) and twangy guitar (courtesy Rod Hohl) as Christiana sings, “I’ve been weary, weary for so long/ Ever since you held my heart/ I’ve been out here so long and it’s never been so hard/ So tell me that you want me back and I’ll be coming home.” Sure, he’s probably singing about a companion left behind on tour, but it could also be read as a love letter to those open highways. Indeed, being a touring musician makes you weary, but when you’ve been grinding on the road so long, even the misery becomes your life and your love. “Livin’ to Die” is the hangover to “Weary,” with Christiana fighting to get to Friday night so he can “feel like gold.” Perhaps the most relatable lyric is the opening cry of “Monday morning is a tough pill to swallow.” You’ve got that right, pal. Just keep on workin’ for the weekend.

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Lucky 13, Vol. 1

Yarn

Lucky 13, Vol. 1, the latest release from North Carolina by way of New York City band Yarn, kicks off with a detailed and descriptive barroom scenario and a love-at-first-sight song, the story speaking up with ‘I saw you at the bar, looking like an angel, in a white tube top, tight jeans down to your ankles’. The tale revisits a setting that has

Lucky 13, Vol. 1, the latest release from North Carolina by way of New York City band Yarn, kicks off with a detailed and descriptive barroom scenario and a love-at-first-sight song, the story speaking up with ‘I saw you at the bar, looking like an angel, in a white tube top, tight jeans down to your ankles’. The tale revisits a setting that has been so done before in books and song, and yet the story works particularly well slight rock and twang with “One’s Man Trash” kicking off a record of Roots Rock and groove that nods to songwriters like Willie Nelson and alt-country rock like Old 97’s, where a strong lead guitar is paired with picturesque lyrics.

Guitar leads bounce all around the reflective musings of “Undone” where the singer is self-deprecating and honest in recognizing the world that is beating him down. “Promised Land” is an optimistic number, a hopeful and catchy road song, quickly followed by the woeful and painful reality of “American Dream Dying” and its words, ‘you and me, we can’t agree, and I’ve wasted too much precious time’. “American Dream Dying” works both as a break-up song and a hard look at the relationship between American citizens that share the need belief yet vote on different sides of the fence. “The Road Less Traveled” is a moving train-song brought to life by a bouncy harmonica. Lucky 13, Vol. 1wraps with the contemplative “Old Fool” as Yarn prove they live comfortably in a world of singer-songwriters and bar-room rock.

by Bryant Liggett Alternate Root

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This Is The Year

Yarn

Despite several previous albums and a sound so agreeable it was seemingly made for the mainstream, Yarn has yet to create the bigger buzz needed to bring them the attention they so rightly deserve. Boldly optimistic This Is the Year(out May 15) is a seamless blend of vibrant, inspired, back porch melodies and narrative. Its descriptive lyrics

Despite several previous albums and a sound so agreeable it was seemingly made for the mainstream, Yarn has yet to create the bigger buzz needed to bring them the attention they so rightly deserve. Boldly optimistic This Is the Year(out May 15) is a seamless blend of vibrant, inspired, back porch melodies and narrative. Its descriptive lyrics detail the challenges faced when one’s life is jolted off its bearings. Indeed, the record documents in detail the band’s determination to move forward despite uncertain circumstances and internal changes. It’s an album about re-evaluating relationships, making tough choices, and sometimes skirting the rules -- a tack that inevitably finds them emerging more optimistic and fulfilled than ever. “This is the year we’re going to find our way,” the lyrics proclaim on the title track, and given the upbeat appeal imbued in these grooves, there’s every reason to believe Yarn is on the right track.

Indeed, given the group's rugged and resilient sound -- along with its affable and assured delivery -- Yarn’s approach reflects both classic and contemporary leanings. “Carolina Heart” is as endearing an album opener as has been heard recently. But every song that follows -- be it the sprightly “Love/Hate,” the forthright shout-out “I’m the Man,” or the tender ballad “Fallin’” -- rises to the same standard.

The easy sway of “Dolly,” an obvious homage to that beautiful country queen, adds another engaging additive, as does the sweetly reassuring “Easy Road” and the aforementioned title track. Comparisons are inevitable -- Pure Prairie League, Dan Fogelberg, hints of Poco and the Flying Burrito Brothers -- but Yarn’s mastery of the country-rock idiom is indisputable.

To call This Is The Year an album for the ages may seem a stretch for those who are unaware, but given these immediately engaging melodies and the sheer skill and savvy invested in each note and every verse, you will likely become a true believer after only a single listen.

No Depression

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Shine The Light On

Yarn

Within this 12-track acoustic collection, all written by lead singer Blake Christiana, listeners witness the poignant emotion and emotive story-telling that has come to define the sextet s sound, which straddles the genres of Americana and alt-country, with a dash of jam-band injected on select tracks. "I really wanted to make another acoustic

Within this 12-track acoustic collection, all written by lead singer Blake Christiana, listeners witness the poignant emotion and emotive story-telling that has come to define the sextet s sound, which straddles the genres of Americana and alt-country, with a dash of jam-band injected on select tracks. "I really wanted to make another acoustic record, focus on the songs, and revisit the early days of Yarn, says Christiana. Some of the best songs we've written live on this record. It's a pretty dark collection, but we are confident you can find the light shining through." John Oates of Hall and Oates appears on two tracks that he co-wrote with Christiana. Oates says, From the first time I heard Yarn perform at Music City Roots in Nashville I became a fan. They have one foot in the traditional sound of bluegrass and the other foot stepping into the future. It was an honor for me to co-write and collaborate with them on their new record. Great playing, great singing and great songwriting, what more is there?

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Leftovers Vol. 2

Yarn

Americana group, Yarn, has opened up their musical fridge of vintage tracks to give fans a second helping of Leftovers, on sale today, December 4. The compilation record is filled with tracks from studio sessions recorded in 2008 and 2009 atExcello Studios in their hometown of Brooklyn, New York as well as Mix-O -Lydian studios in Layfayette, NJ.

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Almost Home

Yarn

Early into 2012, strong storytelling and accomplished musicianship help to propel Yarn’s Almost Home into the category of the year’s must-hear albums. Sounding like something bred in America’s southern states, these Brooklyn natives have an authentic technique that echoes of America’s country roots with an infusion of rock and promises that those

Early into 2012, strong storytelling and accomplished musicianship help to propel Yarn’s Almost Home into the category of the year’s must-hear albums. Sounding like something bred in America’s southern states, these Brooklyn natives have an authentic technique that echoes of America’s country roots with an infusion of rock and promises that those old-style rhythms will continue to evolve, regardless of where they are reborn. A triple threat in the music world, not only is the storytelling and musicianship tighter than the bark on a hickory tree, but the vocal and harmonizing skills of the band’s three singers are equally undeniable.

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Leftovers Vol. 1

Yarn

On the latest release from the band Yarn, you ll hear vintage tracks recorded during the band s first studio sessions back in 2006 and 2007. These are songs that we ve played in concert for years, but the studio recordings have never been available to fans, lead singer Blake Christiana explained during a recent interview during a mid-Atlantic

On the latest release from the band Yarn, you ll hear vintage tracks recorded during the band s first studio sessions back in 2006 and 2007. These are songs that we ve played in concert for years, but the studio recordings have never been available to fans, lead singer Blake Christiana explained during a recent interview during a mid-Atlantic tour, where the band tours heavily and is developing a strong following. Within this retro-collection, titled Leftovers, Volume 1, listeners witness the poignant emotion and emotive story-telling that has come to define the sextet s sound, which straddles the genres of Americana and alt-country, with a dash of jam-band injected on select tracks. Recorded at Excello Studios in the band s hometown of Brooklyn, New York, Yarn recorded more than 40 songs during its first two years as a band, released 15 of them on its self-titled debut, then put the remainder on the shelf - until now.

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Come On In

Yarn

Come On In finds this Brooklyn-based sextet digging ever deeper into the sounds of classic honky-tonk and bluegrass, with a touch of Gram Parsons-style visionary poetics evident as well. The band’s mixture of down-home acoustic charm and urban-folkie intelligence gives Come On In a unique flavor that grows more appealing with repeated listening.

Come On In finds this Brooklyn-based sextet digging ever deeper into the sounds of classic honky-tonk and bluegrass, with a touch of Gram Parsons-style visionary poetics evident as well. The band’s mixture of down-home acoustic charm and urban-folkie intelligence gives Come On In a unique flavor that grows more appealing with repeated listening. Blake Christiana’s soft drawl captures a weary survivor’s spirit, especially on dusty laments like “Abilene,” “Alone On The Weekend” and “These Bars Don’t Look Too Friendly.” In tandem with his bandmates, he escalates easily from easy-going tempos into hellacious solo flights, especially on the galloping “New York City Found.” Yarn leans towards the lonesome side of town — but even melancholy numbers like “Schenectady” are saved from self-pity by elegant melodies and sharp wordplay. “Down On Your Luck” shakes off the blues for some high-energy fun, while “I Wanted To Get High” is a woozy, bluesy number lit up by Andrew Hendryx’s sparkling mandolin.

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