In fashion with the contemporary post-punk scene, Yard Act offer
a uniquely British self-deprecating take on themselves and the society
around them. The band comprises of James Smith (vocals, lyrics), Ryan
Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums).
Where's My Utopia moves slightly away from the dissonance heavy guitars
and into a style that spans many genres often culminating in a Gorillaz-esque
fusion but with more punk. Continuing their heavy lyrical focus allows
for complex storytelling, weaving in easily relatable mundane personal
experiences into a wider disenfranchisement with mainstream institutions
and resistance to growing divisions.
Yard Act's stage presence is fun. Full stop. From the very first chord
the audience were locked into the show. The disarming humility of
James Smith invites us into the songs. Two much-more-than backing
vocalists jump around the stage throughout many of the songs lending
energy to the show and vocal depth to the songs.
Dead Horse is the song that got me interested in Yard
Act. In the studio version, the song has almost a lazy feel with groovy
dissonance in guitar licks and an almost slurring spoken word tempo
from Smith. On the night, the tempo was raised slightly, making the
lyrics hit harder and angrier. A somewhat cynical, but easily relatable,
take on the quagmire of British culture and creativity we find ourselves
in. According to the Music Venture Trust 16% of UK grassroots music
venues have been lost over the last 12 months and 38% of remaining
venues reported a loss last year despite an increased ticket demand.
The rolling groove of "When the Laughter Stops" is catchy,
poppy almost, but speaks to a disconnect between the fun of gigs like
theirs and the unfulfilling working lives of many people. Post-industrial
reflections on the dreams we once had as children firmly root Yard
Act in a brand of Northern Existentialism that exudes and seeks authenticity,
fun, and a stark acknowledgement of one’s own circumstances.
In one of the final songs of the gig (might have been the encore,
I was having too much fun), as acid-inspired punk full of synths builds
up, Smith tells the crowd "If you wanna be as one with the f*cking
universe then let this one wash over yer".
Yard Act leave the stage to throbbing distortion and
the flashing neon lights of ‘Where’s my Utopia’ making
there way into the collective cranium.
We can only ask ourselves, where is our Utopia?
Ewan F
Big thanks to Ava at Chuff Media for sorting this
for us.
