Happy Autumn peeps,

I’m thinking it would be cool (because I’m narcissistic like that) to throw out an update about what’s going on with the band each month. So here’s what we’ve got going on in October.

General Stuff

We finally got a pretty basic sound recording rig set up in our rehearsal room. This has already helped us by letting us hear stuff that isn’t coming across in reality the way we hear it in our heads. It also means that we’re going to try to release some rough recordings of newer tunes for anyone to check out… our album is three years old after all. It wasn’t even originally intended to be a YLS album. Does anyone out there have a copy under its original release title, A Road From This To You? You’re true fans if so. By the way, don’t forget you can download it for free from our music page. It’s also available in CD form for $10 from the website and at shows — complete with lyrics and professionally-printed artwork for you collector types. Right now we play about half of the album’s songs at shows, and we’ve got plans to work on the other half soon.

Just so y’all know, we don’t mind one bit if you make a copy of the CD for a friend (actually we like it when you do, because it means you must like the music), but just remember that it directly helps us when you buy a CD. So with that in mind, a big thank you goes out to those of you who have bought CDs or donated via our tip jar… We sincerely feel blessed when we can cover our travel expenses just from tips. It’s also a big push toward our goal of getting our own cargo trailer so we can do shows more often and in more places.

We have some ideas for unconventional merchandise… Anyone interested in a YLS growler or beer mug? We’ll have t-shirts soon too, of course. We’d love to see fan-made stuff too (wait, do we actually have any “fans”? As opposed to, you know, the people we hang out with?). Even if you want to make unofficial YLS stuff (knitted scarves? pottery? boxer briefs? bring it all on) and give it away or sell it at shows we’re totally cool with that. If there’s room we’ll even put it on our merch table.

October Shows

First, this coming weekend, we’re doing a party somewhere in the back woods of PA. We’d invite you all to go, but it’s not our party. We’ll probably play for a few hours and bust out some extended trip-hop industrial disco jams. We’re also thinking of making a weekend trip of it by going camping the night/morning before. As per the usual routine, Bryan will probably dress in a full bear skin and go running through the Allegheny Forest… nothing like getting in the right frame of mind before a show.

Then we get to the Big Deal™: The show next Tuesday (Oct 5th) at North Country Brewing Company. If you know us, you know it’s no secret that we love this place, and we’ve all been looking forward to this show ever since we booked it, what, six years ago? Anyway, if you can only catch one of our shows this month, make it this one. There’s no cover charge and the food, drinks, and atmosphere will be great… and it’ll be a good long set that will let us really unwind with the full gamut of material. Hopefully we’ll make a good impression on the folks over there so they’ll invite us back.

Of course that’s not to belittle the other October shows… On the 8th — a Friday — we’ve got our first show at a real rock club, The Crooked I in Erie. We’ll be focusing on our dirtiest, raunchiest (sonically, not lyrically Mom) tunes that night, and sharing the stage with our dear folk friend Matt Texter, as well as Erie alt-country outfits, the Beagle Brothers (hmm, Duck Tales reference?) and The Magdalenes.

The next night, Oct. 9th, we’re breaking into the Pittsburgh scene by playing at Club Cafe in the South Side. Our buddies, the Righteous Fingers of Harmony, have asked us to play this classy joint. Maybe I’ll get to wear my bow tie. The cover is $5 and it’ll be a late night (doors open at 10PM), so make sure you hit a local coffee shop first. Heck, I hope we can stay awake, we’re not the night owls we once were.

Then on Saturday the 16th, we’re doing a cancer benefit for Grove City local, Chris Eisler, at the Masonic Lodge in Grove City. This one’s not about us: Please take some time to come out and show support for Chris and others whose lives have been made difficult or who have been taken by the vile menace known as cancer.

The Bittersweet Ending

We love all you crazy kids, and we hope that you enjoy our shows even a tiny fraction of how much we enjoy playing them. Thanks again for your enthusiasm and support. Oh yeah, I almost forgot… If anyone wants to book us for a show, party, or just to play in your living room, go here (or send the link to someone who books at your favorite club).

Until next time,
Bob, Bob, Bob, and Bob