Blake Christiana, and the other members of YARN may just have been born a bit late. There was a time not too far back when a tastemaker record label like Elektra or SIRE would have looked at a band like YARN, put a bundle of cash and promotion behind them and then spend the next eight years counting the proceeds and saying thank you at awards ceremonies. In baseball terms YARN would be considered a “four tool” superstar; in music terms YARN has it all. They can play, they can write, they can sing, and they have a marketable image that is unsurpassed by any roots/Jam/Americana act since PHISH. Frankly, YARN is as good musically as any act in the Roots/Americana format. Blake Christiana, a classically trained guitarist with a unique vocal range and a sarcastic writing edge fronts the Brooklyn, NY based sextet that is gearing up for the release of their third album due in early 2010. YARN has no weak links. Every one of them is a blow-out master that can flat out play their asses off. Andrew Hendryx might well be the lost cousin of Jimi Hendrix. I can’t imagine anyone  can shred on a mandolin like Andrew Hendryx. Drummer Jay Frederick and upright bassist Rick Bugel form a rhythm section reminiscent of the Wooten brothers, they’re that fast and that much in tune with each others timing.

New edition Rod Hohl plays electric guitar, dobro and adds harmonies and rumor has it he’ll be front and center on the new “more electric” album on the horizon. That leaves the inimitable Trevor MacArthur on guitar and vocals. His harmonies blend with Christiana’s perfectly as the songs roll through an eclectic mix of roots country, southern rock and bluegrass flavorings. Imagine a mix of the Grateful Dead, the early Eagles, Gram Parsons and Ricky Nelson…make it all your own and you have YARN. The Alternate Root hooked up with YARN at the Americana Music Conference in Nashville for an impromptu acoustic set and a sit down with Blake Christiana. It’s exclusive so we hope you dig it.

Reb Landers (R.L.): It’s been a while since we’ve talked to YARN. With now two albums and quite a bit of touring going on how are things going for you guys?

Blake Christiana (B.C.): They’re moving right along, we’re not international superstars just yet, but soon enough.  Things have definitely been moving forward and were having a great time. We’ll be done tracking the new record this week and starting in on the mixing in December. We can’t wait for everyone to hearit.

R.L.: With all the touring you guys are doingWhat do you find to be the most active areas for Roots/Americana music around the country?

B.C.: We’ve had our most luck in the Southeast, but that might just be because that is where we spend our most time, Love the Carolinas.  Although, our biggest shows are in NYC, gotta love the hometown crowd. I believe there is an audience all over the world for the roots music scene, I think people crave real American music.

R.L.: So do you see a future for the Roots/Americana format?

B.C.: I feel like rock and country music have strayed so far from what defined them in the past that the Americana/Roots format is just a place for those who still want to make that kind of music, and I think more and more people are looking to get that back.

R.L.: Are you seeing new fans along with established ones along the way?

B.C.: We definitely get to see our regulars on the road, and were picking up new ones everyday. Just keep ‘em coming!

R.L.: Are you blogging? How do keep in touch with your fans?

B.C.: We do a video blog called Tour Songs, this where we get together in whatever formation of the band we have available and play the cover tunes that get the most airtime on the road.  Most recently we did Velvet Underground’s ‘Pale Blue Eyes’ and Kris Kristofferson’s  ‘Nobody Wins.’  I think the fans dig it, and we definitely have a good time doing it.

R.L.: Do you network with other bands for gigs, trading gigs, blog mentions any of that social networking thing?

B.C.: We do, we’ve been trying to do some shows with Sons of Bill, we run into each other on the road quite a bit and really like what each other are doing, but sometimes it’s hard to get all the scheduling together.  I leave that all up to our agent. When it works, we make it happen.

R.L.: Any plans for a new album in the near future? Any new direction the
band might be taking?

B.C.: The new album is near completion and there will be electric guitar all over this one, we’ve been plugging in live since the very beginning of Yarn, and we felt like it was time to lay that down on a record.  It’s definitely going to be a fun record.

R.L.: What prompted YARN to hook up with Edie Brickell?

B.C.: I grew up listening to Edie, I think Shane and I were hungover one morning and we were supposed to be doing some writing, but instead we laid on the couch and thought of some people we should try to get to sing on the record. Edie came up, so we contacted her, I never actually thought she would get back to us, but she did, and we are very glad.

YARN’s first self-titled released peaked at #18 on the Americana Airplay Chart in 2007. The follow-up, ‘Empty Pockets’ reached #4 on the chart in 2009. With a good string of chart success, touring success and some well timed publicity, YARN won the Independent Music Award for best Alt-Country act and a fan based award from Marlboro that brought the band some much needed revenue. YARN is poised for better things on the horizon.

R.L.: Do organizations like The Americana Music Association have any significant impact on YARN in terms of exposure, gigs, etc?

B.C.: I don’t know.  But I think so.  People see that we got in the top 5 of the AMA, and seem to find us more credible. And we’ll take that. Were shooting for #1 on this next record, nothing less please.

R.L.: What do you feel is missing that would benefit indie artists in the building of a career?

B.C.: In the words of our buddies and old tour mates “The Josh Grider Trio”, we could all use a “Dollar Tree”.

YARN hooked up with us in Nashville during the recent 10th Annual Americana Music Association Music Conference andFestival in September. They were in town for a showcase that had them opening for Americana music legend Chip Taylor. We persueded them to do some new material from their up-coming release due in early 2010. Continued on the next page (page 18) are the Motel Time
Videos recorded during the 5 song set at the Hilton Suites. You can find YARN on their website at yarnmusic.net and you’ll find them on MySpace and Facebook too. The best way to experience YARN is live so when the band is in your area do yourself a favor if you are into good Americana music played right and see YARN!

Check out the new CD  http://www.AirplayDirect.com/YARN