YUKON BLONDE play Lee’s Palace Friday (October 14). See listing. Rating: NNN
The boys in BC’s Yukon Blonde have a knack for getting a great groove going between the bass and drums and then settling into it for the length of a three-minute rock song. Add in their sunny multi-part harmonies, hooky guitar leads (with fantastic tone) and dynamic arrangements and, well, you get a spectacularly locked-in live band always bound to get a crowd moving.
Their recorded work, however, brings to the foreground slightly dorkier qualities. Like their acclaimed self-titled 2009 debut album, this four-song EP – a precursor to their 2012 sophomore album – lacks their live show power and scruffy charisma. The songs take on smoother, poppier lines, with constant ooh-wah backup vocals and the occasional cheesy harmonica solo. Sometimes their influences are overly evident. Water’s folky harmonies are seriously Fleet Foxes and the intro to final tune Choices seriously Brian Wilson.
Mind you, these promising road warriors have the chops to execute all of this.
Top track: School Kids