In the Red with Yuni in Taxco
A low-key Thursday at Capitol Hill’s choice Cha Cha lounge proved to be the ideal spot to sit down with local up-and-comers Yuni in Taxco. Amidst the heavily saturated Lucha Libre motif, piñatas and Mexican beer bottle cap décor, the band merely a year old shed some light on their “Yuni”que name and not so signature sound.
After years of admiring each others’ work in various projects, the five consisting of brothers Ross (vocals, guitar) and Bryce (drums), Sean (vocals, guitar), Jim ”the Guru” (bass, slide guitar) and Isaiah (backing vocals, electronics, percussion) found themselves in a collaboration that had Ross proclaiming, “every time we play together it feels refreshing.”
The band name, inspired by a short story penned by Ross about a family friend from his childhood, named Yuni, whom the Beamish brothers described fondly as an “eccentric, free thinking Thai hippie.” The tale follows Yuni on what he “imagined” her adventures to be like coasting along the Acapulco highway spreading her warmth across small Mexican cities such as Taxco. Following Yuni’s lead they sought after a taste of the “exotic” landing in Mexico and becoming “addicted” and enamored by the sounds and culture. This trip became the vehicle that drove them into the studio for their ambitious self titled EP.
Their sound is reminiscent of a time when songs about surfing, cars and girls were filling the airwaves. Beach locations, intricate harmonies and low-fi equipment came together to create an infusion of early Americana and world sounds. Prominent songwriters Sean and Ross contribute different styles ranging from pop catchy hooks to soulful singer/songwriter melodies thoughtfully “glued” together by a diverse rhythm section. Like Yuni on the Acapulco highway, the same sense of spirited abandonment can be found cleverly weaved into their eclectic live show.
Luckily we had the chance to experience this first hand as we headed across the street to enjoy their set at The Comet Tavern. A modest crowd to begin with, swelled and grew more enthusiastic the longer Yuni in Taxco played. Their songs drifted through the space with solid vocals, reverb soaked riffs and nuances of African rhythms. As their set progressed we came to discover that one of the true treasures of this band is Isaiah’s impeccable harmonies, offering a depth of richness not often found in today’s music. This leaves us to believe Yuni in Taxco may be a contender for the perfect soundtrack for summer.
No official date has been set for their full length release; as the boys admit, “we wanted to take our time recording…wait ‘til it’s good, hopefully that’s the idea.” In the meantime, you can graciously download their free EP or catch them live, August 24th at The Tractor Tavern.
Written & Photos by: Josh and Jen Ludolf
~for more info or to donate a much needed touring van~
Tags: Cha Cha Lounge, The Comet Tavern, The Tractor Tavern, Yuni in Taxco
i was at this show and thought it was fantastic! glad these guys are getting some coverage. i see a bright future…
[...] “A low-key Thursday at Capitol Hill’s choice Cha Cha lounge proved to be the ideal spot to sit down with local up-and-comers Yuni in Taxco. Amidst the heavily saturated Lucha Libre motif, piñatas and Mexican beer bottle cap décor, the band merely a year old shed some light on their “Yuni”que name and not so signature sound. After years of admiring each others’ work in various projects, the five consisting of brothers Ross (vocals, guitar) and Bryce (drums), Sean (vocals, guitar), Jim ”the Guru” (bass, slide guitar) and Isaiah (backing vocals, electronics, percussion) found themselves in a collaboration that had Ross proclaiming, “every time we play together it feels refreshing.” The band name, inspired by a short story penned by Ross about a family friend from his childhood, named Yuni, whom the Beamish brothers described fondly as an “eccentric, free thinking Thai hippie.” The tale follows Yuni on what he “imagined” her adventures to be like coasting along the Acapulco highway spreading her warmth across small Mexican cities such as Taxco. Following Yuni’s lead they sought after a taste of the “exotic” landing in Mexico and becoming “addicted” and enamored by the sounds and culture. This trip became the vehicle that drove them into the studio for their ambitious self titled EP. Their sound is reminiscent of a time when songs about surfing, cars and girls were filling the airwaves. Beach locations, intricate harmonies and low-fi equipment came together to create an infusion of early Americana and world sounds. Prominent songwriters Sean and Ross contribute different styles ranging from pop catchy hooks to soulful singer/songwriter melodies thoughtfully “glued” together by a diverse rhythm section. Like Yuni on the Acapulco highway, the same sense of spirited abandonment can be found cleverly weaved into their eclectic live show. Luckily we had the chance to experience this first hand as we headed across the street to enjoy their set at The Comet Tavern. A modest crowd to begin with, swelled and grew more enthusiastic the longer Yuni in Taxco played. Their songs drifted through the space with solid vocals, reverb soaked riffs and nuances of African rhythms. As their set progressed we came to discover that one of the true treasures of this band is Isaiah’s impeccable harmonies, offering a depth of richness not often found in today’s music. This leaves us to believe Yuni in Taxco may be a contender for the perfect soundtrack for summer” (seattlescenester.com) [...]
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