Yab Yum's Hot Sound Has Just A Kiss Of Thrash

Who are the members of Yab Yum? Dave Voss, guitar Kelly Blanchard, vocals, acoustic guitar Tom Branigan, bass Andrew Linnemann, drums, percussion Leave your precious red convertible out in the rain, on the yellowing grass next to your '68 Bug and your neighbor's new gunmetal-gray Thing. The garage is exclusively for breeding rockin' bands like Yab Yum. There can be no more important use for the structure.

Together for nearly two years, the band has incredibly experienced only one personnel change - acquiring drummer Andrew Linnemann last March. In that time they've formed their own record label (Rosasharn Records) and released an album on glorious vinyl titled "It's Delicious!"

Going the independent route all the way, their name derives from the Buddhist practice meaning "mother father union" as humorously referred to in Jack Kerouac's novel "Dharma Bums," Yab Yum have nevertheless attracted numerous supporters with their fresh, brash, super-groovy sound.

"Our influences are diverse," explains drummer Linnemann. "We have some punk-ish songs . . . some fairly multi-musically influenced songs."

Guitarist and vocalist Kelly Blanchard says, "I don't think it helps anyone to know who our influences are."

"Dave (Voss, guitarist) seems to be the closet writer," explains Linnemann. "Kelly and Dave do most of the writing. Kelly brings out the basic framework, then we all work on it and round it out. We work well together."

"That's not valid!" protests Voss. "We have a lot of band strife!" But whether they spend their time fighting or writing, Yab Yum are tremendously prolific. Where most bands start out by releasing a single, then graduate to a three or four-song cassette and perhaps never get to an album or CD, Yab Yum's first offering was an album which contained nine songs only after cutting out loads of other material. Band strife indeed.

"We recorded nine songs because we couldn't cut it down any further," says Linnemann.

"We have a lot of material with multiple people writing," says Blanchard. "We do a decent job of maintaining a body of work. And our intention was not to start out with a CD anyway - we felt vinyl encompassed the recording session the best."

It remains a pity that vinyl has fallen out of favor with musicians and the record-buying public in general. Sure, you can get every breathless wheeze and dropped chord through the minute reproduction of a CD recording, but can you get the feedback? That threshing noise? The true wall of sound that happens when a fuzzy guitar and crashing drum and a trainwreck bass line converge and echo off the concrete walls of a garage or recording shack that only a wafer of vinyl and a warped turntable can deliver? Yab Yum delivers that wall of sound, with some sweet psychedelia and a kiss of thrash that wrap up the Brave New Garage sound. How could such a band not stick together?

"I'm not really verbally communicative," says Blanchard. "I can sense things from people. That can make it awkward to talk, but easy when we all come in and put on our instruments and play."

"Really, if you take the music out of my life there'd be something greatly lacking," says Linnemann.

"You have to really be into it like that," adds Blanchard. "If not, you're heading down a path toward not making it as far as getting satisfaction."

Like most young bands, Yab Yum are currently managing their own affairs. But unlike most bands, they seem to prefer it.

"Managing is an awkward position," says Blanchard." It's hard to convince someone to hear you. Most bands don't really have the muscle to promote themselves."

"It's stupid, and not very fun," says Voss.

"The learning curve is harsh," continues Blanchard.

"But there's a back door at every club," interjects Linnemann.

"It's all a matter of timing," concludes Blanchard. "If you have a record it's easier to open that door. We like to have control over where we're going. We feel something's happening that like a spark with us."

"Yes," agrees Voss. "A feeling of freshness that's never before happened in the universe!" Where to catch Yab Yum: Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Off Ramp Cafe & Lounge, 109 Eastlake Ave. E.; 628-0232.

Are you in a local band? If you'd like to be considered for Sound Check, send a cover letter telling us about your band and your upcoming gigs, the name and daytime phone number of your manager or contact person, a tape and a photo to Sound Check, c/o Jan Even, Seattle Times, PO Box 70, Seattle WA 98111.

Hearing test For a sound check of Yab Yum call the Seattle Times InfoLine at 464-2000 from a touch-tone phone and then enter category BAND (2263). This is a free call within the local Seattle calling area.