One of the advantages of keeping an eye on gig listings is that every now and again you stumble across a band you never expected to see anywhere near Scotland. That was exactly the case with Yin Yin. I hadn’t realised they were touring in this part of the world until I spotted the dates, and before long I had persuaded Emma and my son that a trip to Newcastle was an excellent idea.
The journey wasn’t solely about Yin Yin. I was also keen to see the support act, Paddy Steer. I’d watched a few clips of him online beforehand and suspected he might be every bit as entertaining in person as he appeared on YouTube. As it turned out, I barely made it through the door before bumping into him. We quickly found ourselves in conversation and, as sometimes happens when I get talking to people, the discussion wandered into subjects that were perhaps a little more controversial than either of us had anticipated. The exchange became slightly tense at times, but remained good-natured overall, and thankfully neither of us ended up throwing synthesizers at the other.
In fact, things went well enough that I managed to grab Paddy for an interview after the show, which you can find elsewhere on the site. One of the pleasures of covering gigs is getting the opportunity to speak to artists away from the stage and find out a little more about what makes them tick.
As for Yin Yin, they were every bit as impressive as I had hoped. The Dutch outfit have developed a wonderfully distinctive sound, blending psychedelic rock, funk, world music influences and infectious grooves into something that feels both familiar and completely unique. Their music seems almost purpose-built for live performance, and the Newcastle crowd responded accordingly.
I had originally arranged to interview the band after the concert, but a conversation with their bass player revealed that they were heading to Edinburgh the following evening. Rather than trying to squeeze everything into one night, we agreed it would make more sense to catch up there instead. Sometimes a little patience pays off.
The following night brought us to Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh, where local support came from Redolent. They delivered a strong set and made a very favourable impression despite the venue becoming so crowded that filming from the front proved almost impossible. It was one of those frustrating situations where a great atmosphere and good footage become mutually exclusive.
The packed room did, however, create exactly the sort of energy that Yin Yin thrive on. Despite a few technical issues during the set, the band produced another excellent performance and confirmed that my decision to travel to two consecutive shows had been fully justified. The audience loved it and, perhaps most significantly of all, Emma declared it one of her favourite gigs from all the concerts I had taken her to over the previous few years.
That is not praise she hands out lightly.
One of the things I learned while speaking to the band was just how complicated touring had become in recent years. Like many artists, they had faced difficult decisions and disruptions while trying to keep performing and creating music. Regardless of the challenges, what came across most clearly was their commitment to the music itself. Their latest album was excellent, and hearing those songs performed live only reinforced that opinion.
Looking back, this felt like one of those concert adventures that perfectly captures why I continue to do this. A road trip with Emma and my son, an unexpected interview, two nights of great live music and the discovery of another band worthy of a much wider audience.
The photographs, videos and interviews below tell part of the story. The rest can only really be understood by turning the volume up and experiencing Yin Yin for yourself.
The Photos
The rest of the band decided to comply with the Performers Unions demands of no vax, no tour which is a bit of a shame to have to do that to achieve your dreams.
Hope you enjoyed the footage and go check them out on the net to get further acquainted.
Cheers!
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