Yard Act

British rock band

  • Post-punk
  • indie rock
Years active2019–presentLabelsIsland, Zen F.C.Members
  • James Smith
  • Ryan Needham
  • Sam Shipstone
  • Jay Russell
Past members
  • Sammy Robinson
  • George Townend
Websitewww.yardactors.com

Yard Act is a British rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, composed of James Smith (vocals, lyrics), Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums).[1] Their debut album, The Overload, was released on 21 January 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.[2] They released their second album, Where's My Utopia?, on 1 March 2024.

History

Prior to forming the band, vocalist James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham had both been members of other Leeds-based bands. Smith was a member of Post War Glamour Girls and Needham played in Menace Beach, two bands that released a split EP together in 2016.[3] After the release of the EP, the pair began discussing forming a band together, a plan that eventually came to fruition in September 2019, when the pair moved into a house together in Meanwood. They soon recruited guitarist Sammy Robinson and drummer George Townend who played together in Treeboy & Arc.[4] During this period, Robinson departed from the group, leading to the recruitment of Sam Shipstone.[4] Prior to the announcement of their debut album, the band had only released a total of four singles independently. These singles were then compiled onto an EP, titled Dark Days, released in 2021.[5]

Their debut album The Overload was released on 21 January 2022.[6][7] The group was "one to watch" in the BBC's Sound of 2022 shortlist.[8] The group was also named one of Paste's "Best New Artists of 2021".[9] On 1 July 2022, a re-recorded version of "100% Endurance" was released featuring a collaboration with Elton John.[10]

Their second album, Where's My Utopia?, was released on 1 March 2024.

Musical style

Critics have categorised the band's music as post-punk[11] and indie rock,[12] often making use of elements of 1970s Italo disco, '90s hip-hop and early 2000s indie rock.[4]

Their lyrics are often political, discussing opposition to topics including capitalism, gentrification and social class, told using "dark humour and cynical storytelling".[12] Their lyrics also take a surrealist style, such as on the song "Payday" from their first album.

Members

Current

  • James Smith – vocals (2019–present)
  • Ryan Needham – bass (2019–present)
  • Sam Shipstone – guitar (2020–present)
  • Jay Russell – drums (2020–present)

Former

  • Sammy Robinson – guitar (2019–2020)
  • George Townend – drums (2019–2020)
  • James Smith
    James Smith
  • Ryan Needham
    Ryan Needham
  • Sam Shipstone
    Sam Shipstone
  • Jay Russell
    Jay Russell

Discography

Yard Act discography
Studio albums2
EPs2
Singles14

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[3] 		AUS
[13] 		BEL
(FL)
[14] 		SCO
[3]
The Overload 2 89 148 1
Where's My Utopia?
  • Released: 1 March 2024
  • Label: Island, Zen F.C.
  • Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
 4 — 156 5

Extended plays

Title Details
Dark Days
  • Released: 19 January 2021
  • Label: Zen F.C.
  • Formats: 12-inch vinyl, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
100% Endurance (Elton John Version)
  • Released: 1 July 2022
  • Label: Universal Music Operations Limited
  • Formats: 7-inch vinyl, digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Album
"The Trapper's Pelts"[15] 2020 Dark Days EP
"Fixer Upper"[16]
"Peanuts"[17]
"Dark Days"[18] 2021
"The Overload"[19] The Overload
"Land of the Blind"[20]
"Payday"[21]
"Rich"[22] 2022
"Pour Another"[23]
"100% Endurance"[24]
"The Trench Coat Museum"[25] 2023 Non-album single
"Dream Job"[26] Where's My Utopia?
"Petroleum"[27]
"We Make Hits"[28] 2024
"When The Laughter Stops"[29]
(featuring Katy J Pearson)

Accolades

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2021 Anchor Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award Yard Act Won[30]
2022 NME Awards Best New Act in the World Nominated[31]
Best New Act from the UK
2022 SXSW Grulke Prize 'Developing Non-U.S. Act' Won[32]
2022 Mercury Prize Album of the Year The Overload Shortlisted[33]

References

  1. ^ "Yard Act's carefully woven reality deftly picks apart our own in the search for something bigger". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. ^ Savage, Mark (28 January 2022). "Meat Loaf albums return to the UK charts after his death". BBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Yard Act | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Williams, Jenessa. "Yard Act: Creating punk beyond what we already know – that the Tories are bad". Loudandquiet.com. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  5. ^ Skinner, Tom (19 January 2021). "Listen to Yard Act's post-apocalyptic new single 'Dark Days'". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  6. ^ Krol, Charlotte (7 September 2021). "Yard Act announce debut album 'The Overload' and share title track". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  7. ^ DeVille, Chris (8 September 2021). "Yard Act – "The Overload"". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  8. ^ Maclure, Abbey. "Yard Act interview: Meet the Leeds rock band tipped as one to watch in the BBC Sounds of 2022 longlist". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  9. ^ "The 40 Best New Artists of 2021". Paste. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  10. ^ Krol, Charlotte (July 2022). "Elton John collaborates with Yard Act for new version of their song '100% Endurance'". NME. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ^ Empire, Kitty (2 October 2021). "Yard Act review – spiky chroniclers of sour times". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  12. ^ a b Fleischer, Norman. "Yard Act Are The Hottest New Indie Rock Band In Town And "Rich" Proves It". Nothing but Hope and Passion. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1702. Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 October 2022. p. 6.
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Yard Act – The Overload" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  15. ^ "The Trapper's Pelts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Fixer Upper / The Trapper's Pelts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Peanuts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Dark Days / Peanuts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  19. ^ Krol, Charlotte (7 September 2021). "Yard Act announce debut album 'The Overload' and share title track". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  20. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (28 October 2021). "Yard Act – "Land Of The Blind"". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  21. ^ Skinner, Tom (23 November 2021). "Listen to Yard Act's new "anti-capitalist anthem" 'Payday'". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  22. ^ Doria, Matt (7 January 2022). "Listen to Yard Act's tongue-in-cheek new single 'Rich'". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Yard Act share new single 'Pour Another'". DIY. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  24. ^ Reilly, Nick (18 May 2022). "Yard Act enlist David Thewlis for '100% Endurance' music video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  25. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (13 July 2023). "Listen to Yard Act's self-referential new single 'The Trench Coat Museum'". NME. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  26. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (25 October 2023). "Yard Act Announce New Album 'Where's My Utopia?' and Share 'Dream Job'". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  27. ^ Carter, Daisy (1 December 2023). "Yard Act share new album preview 'Petroleum'". DIY. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  28. ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler (15 January 2024). "Yard Act return with the self-fulfilling prophecy, "We Make Hits"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  29. ^ Skinner, Tom (9 February 2024). "Watch Yard Act play the clowns in new video for 'When The Laughter Stops' featuring Katy J Pearson". NME. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  30. ^ "Yard Act wins Anchor 2021 | ANCHOR - Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award". Anchor-award.com. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  31. ^ Trendell, Andrew (27 January 2022). "BandLab NME Awards 2022: Full list of nominations revealed". NME. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Yard Act Take Home SXSW Prize For 'Developing Non-U.S. Act' | ANCHOR - Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award". 21 March 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  33. ^ "Shortlist". Mercuryprize.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
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