Yeti (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Yeti


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = England
Genre = Indie, Rock, Psychedelic, Rockabilly, Folk
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Label = Moshi Moshi Get Up & Go Records
Associated_acts = The Libertines
URL = [http://www.yetiintelligence.com/ Official Website]
Current_members = John Hassall
Mark Underwood (formerly Harmony Williams)
Andrew Deian
Graham Blacow

Past_members = Brendan Kersey

Yeti are an English rock band founded in 2004 by John Hassall, formerly of The Libertines. Hassall met Brendan Kersey, Andrew Deian and Mark Underwood (formerly Harmony Williams) through mutual friends, and the line-up was completed when drummer Graham Blacow responded to a classified ad. The band is based in North London.

Sound

Yeti began with Hassall as the main songwriter, but soon Underwood started writing and singing a few of his own (including lead-off track on "One Eye On The Banquet", "The Last Time You Go" and fans' favourite "Insect-Eating Man"), while Deian has also penned several tracks, including their latest single "Don't Go Back To The One You Love" and "Jermyn Girls". The band plays acoustic driven beat pop with a psychedelic 60's flavour and strong three-part harmonies. Each band member brings his own influences into the Yeti sound: Hassall is renowned for his love for The Beatles, Underwood is well-versed in musical theater, Deian brings a touch of Western Psychedelia with his electric guitar, and Blacow provides some 70s punch in the Zeppelin mold. Critics have compared the band's sound to "early" Beatles, The La's, The Kinks, The Byrds, The Coral, The Zombies, Love and early "pre-Rough Trade" Libertines.

Releases, press and performances

Their debut single "Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder" was released in March 2005 and reached number 36 in the British charts after reaching number 25 in the midweek charts. It was named "Single Of The Week" by "NME" [cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/2005.htm|title="NME Tracks of the Week 2005"|publisher =Rocklistmusic|accessdate=2008-01-14.] "Keep Pushin' On" was released on August 29 2005 under Moshi Moshi Records and reached #57.

The band has also been featured in magazines such as "Vogue", "Arena", "GQ", "Spin" [cite web |url=http://www.spin.com/features/ithappenedlastnight/2006/08/060830_spinvegas/|title=Article on Spin website|publisher =Spin|accessdate=2008-01-14] , "Dazed & Confused" and "Clash".

In December 2005 Yeti played "Noise and Confusion 05" - their biggest show to date - at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium, opening for Oasis and Foo Fighters. This was followed by a string of supporting shows on Oasis's European Tour in February 2006. Then the band withdrew into semi-mythical obscurity after a lengthy legal battle with crooked management.Fact|date=September 2007

Yeti featured in the 2006 Fall/Winter advertising campaign for Italian fashion label "Energie". [cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3PolF_OV2A|title=Video on YouTube|publisher =YouTube|accessdate=2008-01-14]

Yeti returned to action at the end of October 2006 and released a limited edition EP, "One Eye on the Banquet", playing a series of small gigs within the UK throughout the final months of 2006.

New line-up, Japan and The Legend Of Yeti Gonzales

In early 2007 Kersey left the band and Hassall took over as bassist. At the time fans were given no official explanation about the change, but soon it became apparent that Kersey had joined London band The Early Years.

The band played their first show as a 4 piece at the famous Proud Gallery in London on August 29 2007. The show was the last official concert at the Proud Gallery, which will be knocked down to make way for a shopping center.

Yeti released their a compilation LP "Yume!" in Japan on August 29 2007, cite web |url=http://music.jp.msn.com/news/3416.htm|title=MSN article|publisher =Microsoft|accessdate=2008-01-14] and the band played shows in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Sapporo and Yokohama in September 2007 to promote the record. "Yume!" was a success and peaked at number 3 in the Japanese HMV Foreign chart.

The band have recently completed a 30 date UK tour with tour mates London band The Foxes to promote their new LP "The Legend of Yeti Gonzales". Released on a self-funded label, the album is a low-budget, laid-back, lofi affair that sounds more like an original 60s release than a modern one. The lead-off single off the album is "Don't Go Back To The One You Love", a 5 and a half minute long psychedelic epic that is the subject of a short animated movie (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Huxuktj64T8#&fmt=18). The album is out at the end of June 2008, and despite the low level of press attention, it has received favourable reviews from NME and Daily Mirror [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/entertainment/music/2008/06/27/album-review-yeti-the-legend-of-yeti-gonzales-89520-20622197/ Album Review: Yeti - The Legend Of Yeti Gonzales - mirror.co.uk ] ] .

Official releases

Albums

* "The Legend Of Yeti Gonzales", June 23, 2008(Get Up & Go Records)

Compilation Albums

* "Yume!", August 29, 2007 (JAPAN ONLY), (Vinyl Junkie)

EPs

* "One Eye on the Banquet',' October 30, 2006

ingles

* "Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder", March 28, 2005 (Moshi Moshi)
* "Keep Pushin' On", August 29, 2005 (Moshi Moshi)
* "Don't Go Back To The One You Love", May 26, 2008 (Get Up & Go Records)

References

External links

* [http://www.yetiintelligence.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/yetiintelligence Official Myspace]
* [http://www.themusicmagazine.co.uk/page.php?al=yeti_interview Interview with the band at The Music Magazine]