YLD is an interesting band with an interesting predicament. They can't repeat a fucking chorus to save their lives. In a strong rock & roll trio that lies somewhere between T Rex, AC/DC, and The Kinks (coincidentally, a member of which sired YLD frontman Daniel Davies - or so I was led to believe), the riffs jump out and grab the listener but there's no hook to hold ya there.
The kids have brilliant stage presence. Bassist Richie Mullins has a charming animatronic-esque focus-on-my-crotch rock stance and a creepy "been there, done you" smile that could charm the pants off many a groupie, while Davies hops about like an angsty lovechild of Angus Young and Mick Jagger that grew up headbanging in a harmless "Nirvana is considered a hard rock band" kind of way.
Rumour has it their touring drummer (a skinny, shirtless Jew with his name embroidered on the back of his belt - how L.A.) isn't a regular participant in the outfit, which is a damn shame. Now, having never heard the regular line-up I can't comment on it, but the Half-Naked Heb drove the set from end to end, hammering away on the douchiest set of rock-worn translucent drums I've ever seen.
Their sound is surprisingly full for a three-piece. These guys know how to manage an arrangement. Davies possesses the one of the most important (yet consistently looked over) qualities of a singular guitarist - the ability to solo without sounding like a complete jackass. This is helped in part by Mullins, who I caught strumming a handful of powerchords on his bass. I am curious, however, why anyone relegated to touring in a cargo van would spend upwards of $2k on an SVT when he plays his entire set with the same distortion setting. The tone works for the band, buddy, but jeez, buy something cheaper and maybe you could afford road cases for the kit.
Year Long Disaster is a band with some serious promise and a damn cool sound; if they worked with a decent production/songwriting team, they'd be golden. Oh, and they should probably change that godawful emo name.
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