Yarn's organic blend of alt-country music has the warmth of old vinyl, the soul of Gram Parsons and the lyrcism and profound musicianship that only comes from each members dedicated musical journeys. This newly formed Brooklyn based band has used their songwriting, guitars, mandolins, and shining vocal harmonies to capture a passionate following throughout the East Coast.
"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."
Latest News
No Future Together reached #2 on the Broadjam alt-country top ten chart. It is good, take a listen.
Philip Schwartz wrote an article about Yarn in Albany NY's Daily Gazette. It ran today, you can check it out, I posted it as my first bio.
New Website Posted: www.yarnmusic.net
Listen Up Sweetheart reachs #6 on Broadjams alt-country chart.
Stomp Your Cowboy Boots
"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. "
With his Family Dog on hiatus...
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 mosy excited."
Reach reporter Philip Schwartz at 395-3111 or pschwartz@dailygazette.net