Gone But Never Forgotten
“I remember thinking this would never end“
On February 18th of this year, I was driving home from work when “Ambling Alp“ by Yeasayer randomly came up on satellite radio. I love me some Yeasayer, and that was the perfect tune after a long day. Unfortunately, the host came on after the song ended and mentioned how the band had recently broken up. SAY WHAT NOW!? How did I not know this? I immediately texted a few friends who are also fans, and none of them had heard the heartbreaking news either.
I went to the interweb and found that they released the below statement through their Instagram account on December 19, 2019.
We have decided that Yeasayer has reached its end. It is a decision that has not been made lightly or swiftly, but the three of us agree that it is the right one at the right time.
We count ourselves lucky to have shared our 15 years as a band with so many people all over the world. To all that have supported us and engaged in our musical universe over the years, we thank you.
This was a massive bummer because Yeasayer has held a special place in my heart since 2008. They were the first live band I ever saw in Austin. I didn’t move here until 2011, but I had ventured down a few times prior for Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL). The first such instance was in 2008 when my friend and coworker talked me into coming down and hanging out for the fest. I arrived a few hours before her so she asked one of her local friends pick me up from the airport. We went straight to Home Slice for some za, and then we were off to the gloriousness that was ACL.
The band playing at the closest stage drew me in like a magnet with their harmonies and worldly music. It was Yeasayer, playing “2080“ from their debut album All Hour Cymbals. Despite seeing so many amazing bands that weekend, Yeasayer always stuck out and stood above the rest. Maybe it’s because I’d never heard of them before that day, or maybe because it was my first concert in the “Live Music Capitol of the World“ I now call home. Honestly, I don’t care what the reason is, they’ve been one of my favorite bands since that day.
Travis and I caught Yeasayer on the 4th of July last year at Mohawk in support of their stellar album Erotic Reruns from earlier that year. If only we knew this would (likely) be the last time we’d ever see them play.
This wasn’t the first time we saw them either. Back in September of 2012, only a few weeks after they released their groundbreaking album Fragrant World, we had the pleasure of seeing them at Stubbs. We worked our way to the front and were maybe 10 feet from the stage. To this day, that was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. It was a huge dance party as the band was really starting to embrace their electronic/synth vibe, and their light show was incredible. The header images from our Facebook and my Twitter are pictures from that night.
A month prior to that gig at Stubbs, I reviewed Fragrant World on my old blog. Years later, I discovered this was the most viewed post I ever wrote prior to the new iteration of Music for Nomes, and it wasn’t close. For their consistency of perfect albums (in my eyes) from the early days of their self-described “Midde Eastern-psych-snap-gospel“ to the evolved tuneage that intertwined with electronic/synth sounds, I want to thank Yeasayer.
Unfortunately, I may never have the chance to say this in person, but if this ever reaches them… Thank you for the last 12 years of amazing music. You may be gone, but you’ll never be forgotten. You’ll forever stay in my rotation, and I’ll continue sharing your music until I am also no more.
-Josh
“2080“ live from the show at Stubbs we were at. Pretty solid quality from somebody recording it there too!
Another aspect I love about Yeasayer’s music is many of their songs are like a mixture of multiple tunes. Case in point, “Henrietta“
An all-time favorite of mine, “Fingers Never Bleed“
Bonus Track, “Ecstatic Baby“ from 2019’s Erotic Reruns recorded live here in Austin last year at the KUTX studio
