The YARDS

There are 2 bands currently holding the performing name of "The Yards" 1 The Yards (hence forth referred to as "the yards band")are a band from York in England. In 2002, Chris Helme and Stuart Fletcher formed The Yards, along with drummer John Miller and keyboard player Jon Hargreaves. Shortly afterwards guitarist, Chris Farrell joined to complete the line-up. In 2004 they released the The Devil Is Alive And Well And In DC EP on their own Industrial Erotica label.

1 The Yards (hence forth referred to as "the yards band")are a band from York in England. In 2002, Chris Helme and Stuart Fletcher formed The Yards, along with drummer John Miller and keyboard player Jon Hargreaves. Shortly afterwards guitarist, Chris Farrell joined to complete the line-up.

In 2004 they released the The Devil Is Alive And Well And In DC EP on their own Industrial Erotica label. Produced by Head (PJ Harvey, Kathryn Williams), the EP sold out in the UK as well as in Japan where it was released on the Wizzard-In-Vinyl label. Meanwhile their live gigs continued to grow in size and repute, as headline tours, festival appearances and support tours with the legendary Love featuring Arthur Lee, followed. Carling Live magazine described The Yards live show as "drenched in the sleaze of the The Velvet Underground, the sheer songwriting magnificence of Buffalo Springfield and the balls-out attitude of The Stooges"

Finally, in April 2005 the band released their debut album, The Yards, again on their own Industrial Erotica label but this time licensed through Snapper Music. The album was a diverse and dynamic showcase for Chris' way with a melody and the band's love of classic songwriting.

Since the release of the album, The Yards' music has featured on live radio sessions for, amongst others, Janice Long and Mark Riley and on the soundtrack of Channel 4 program Teachers, while the singles Forget Your Regrets, Only Myself to Blame and the download only The Devil Is Alive And Well And In D.C. could be heard on Radio 1 and Radio 2.

see myspace page www.myspace.com/theyardsband


2. The Yards (hence forth referred to as "theyards" - the brainchild of keyboardist Bradford Hoopes and drummer Kelly White. Bradford and Kelly had played for years together in a band called the E-Z Pieces and decided it was time to go into the studio. So they recruited some top-shelf funk rhythm masters for the string section and The Yards was borne November 5, 2000 at z,gwon,th studios in Lawrence, Kansas. Tom Johnson produced, engineered and played bass. His brother Eric Johnson played guitar in the afternoon, and after a dinner break, was replaced by Brian Baggett. There were no rehearsals, just sketches for songs in mind, and a delirious desire to play 12 songs in 12 different keys. Well, after 11 songs in 11 hours in 11 keys, they were tired, and so you will not hear the key of B on the record. Each song was played once or twice, with seldom to nary a third take. The song would be mixed quickly and they'd move on. At the end of a wonderful Sunday, an entire record had been completed and all was well.

Having opened for John Scofield, Karl Denson, Toots & the Maytals, The Slip, and performed with Hammondbeat bands the Link Quartet and the Diplomats of Solid Sound, The Yards in 2004 released their first 7" single, "Munchimoo Boogaloo", the A-side of which was featured on Hammondbeat's "Wilson Chance: The Sound of Danger" CD. Also recorded a track for Scufflin' Records 'Boogaloo Tribute to Jack McDuff'. Look for the new album "Wit" in 2006 on Hammondbeat Records.

See "theyards" page @ http://www.theyards.net/