YAMN is an acronym for Yesterday Almost Means Nothing, and it’s the band performing at Moe’s BBQ in Tahoe City on June 4.
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“Our shows offer an aspect of surprise and improvisation. We like to have a blank canvas and let the music do the painting. – Taylor Frederick
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Taylor Frederick, guitarist and lead vocalist for the band, describes their sound as heady metal. YAMN offers a unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll with electronic influences and deep roots in the jam-band world.
“Atmospheric dance jams are involved. We hit every arena along the genre plane with a clash of rock and electronic,” explains Frederick.
The band, which has been compared to Umphrey’s McGee, incorporates 1990s drum and bass, and leanings in the fusion realm. “Our shows offer an aspect of surprise and improvisation. We like to have a blank canvas and let the music do the painting,” Frederick says.
Guitarist Brian Hamilton and bassist David “Dewey” Duart are original members of the band that formed in Breckenridge, Colo., in 2007. The band is currently based out of Denver, although members hail from all over the country.
Frederick is also a songwriter for the band and draws from all genres of music. He chooses a soulful approach to his lyrics and guitar playing. He loves Frank Zappa and The Grateful Dead and grew up listening to Phish and Moe. He was such a fan of Moe he entered a nationwide contest, offered by Relix Magazine, in which the winner would play on stage with Moe for a night. Frederick submitted a video and won the contest.
“I sat in with the band on the first night of their New Year’s Eve run in 2012. It was after this I made the decision to go for it,” Frederick explains. This led him on the trajectory to play music for a living.
Frederick heard YAMN was searching for a second guitar player and joined the group. “Brian has more notches writing. He has written much of the original older material and wrote most of the ‘Unity of Opposites’ album,” says Frederick.
“The band didn’t have a lot of vocals. I brought that aspect to the band. Music can do a lot of telling an amazing story, lyrics can speak and make the music even more relatable,” he adds. “The band also offers a heavy influence of dueling guitars with transcendental jams with complex improvisation. There’s tension and release throughout our jams with elements of fusion and jazz aspects.”
There’s been a huge shift since Frederick joined the band. Drummer Neal “Fro” Evans and keyboardist James Dunstan brought their passion for music and talents to the group. “Fro loves old-school, 90s drum and bass and has funk, progressive and fusion chops. While James, inspired by Disco Biscuits, is synth-heavy, loves jam and he’s a jazz cat, he loves anything from John Medeski to Page McConnell. Dewey is a big Rage Against The Machine and Phish fan, loves funk and old-school stuff like Tower of Power. Brian is the shredder of the band, loves fusion bands, Frank Zappa, Guthrie Govin and the Aristocrats and Genesis,” Frederick says.
“Tales from the Golden Road” radio-show host and singer songwriter David Ganz opens for YAMN.
“I listen to his show every day,” says Frederick.
YAMN travels the county in a big, green, renovated Bluebird School Bus with bunks and living space for the band. Frederick says this helps make traveling on the road a bit easier.
According to Frederick, the band has enough material for two new albums. Their plan is to get back into the studio and record new material this summer.
YAMN promises to bring the jam with their old stuff, as well as new material with some cover teases and mash-ups.
June 4 | 9 p.m.
$10-$13 | 21+
Moe’s BBQ | Tahoe City
For more information or tickets, visit Moe’s on Facebook.
