You don't get much more of a cliché than a band telling you it's all about the songwriting but from hardworking musicians who have already done the "fame and worldwide audiences" thing you can be sure it's true. This time there's nothing to prove but the quality of their music.
The Yards are a devilishly inventive rock band, with Chris Helme's darkly poetic, distinctive voice colliding with grinding guitars giving a sound quite unlike anything you've had the pleasure to experience.
Live, The Yards bring the full force of their Seahorses, Happy Mondays and St Etienne heritage to bear - building up an avid fanbase quite apart from their previous groups. On stage you can hear The Velvet Underground meeting Buffalo Springfield then having a fight with The Stooges and it's enthralling packed audiences all over the country.
Chris Helme is no stranger to the Blakey Ridge crowd
- since the demise of The Seahorses, he has adopted the remote
location as his home venue, and a contrast from stadium crowds,
worldwide tours and major festivals. Without a hint of ego he
has patiently assembled a stellar line-up of musicians that wouldn't
look out of place on a far larger stage.
Blakey Ridge has been the scene for numerous stages of the post-Seahorses projects, including solo & accompanied acoustic concerts; recording, writing and rehearsal sessions; and more recently showcasing the various levels of The Yards' development. These concerts are always played to a packed house and the music press have been blown-away by the performances.
"The Yards are an inventive, poetic rock band led by Chris Helme's distinctive voice, with crushing guitars. The fusion creates a sound unlike anything else around at the moment. Having built up a dedicated fanbase from their blistering live performances, more audiences await to be enthralled. They won't be disappointed." The Fly
"The Yards now take to the road to turn more heads up and down the country. Drenched in the sleaze of the Velvet Underground, the sheer songwriting magnificence of Buffalo Springfield and the balls out attitude of The Stooges, The Yards are guaranteed to captivate any crowd that dares lie in their path." Carling Live - September 2003
"Beguiling melodies, the ability to "rock out", a charismatic and distinctive star vocalist and five talented musicians who clearly care about their art." "A moving experience. What a great night!" "They can jump from retro rock gravel to Nick Cave-esque balladry at the drop of a drumstick." "His soaring, emotion-laden vocals scaled new peaks for me. We were hanging on every nuance." "refreshingly at odds with the pretentious and coiffured stance of modern rock-pop." "Helme's voice is silkier and meeker than anticipated, a calm patch amidst a storm of jarring guitars, tenacious keys and bruising, filthy bass." "One of the greatest gigs I've ever witnessed - it brings a lump to my throat just thinking about it." "I bet there were a few tears welling in a few eyes. And two of them were mine. Simply awesome." "Years of songwriting isolation and hidden solo outings at North Yorkshire's famous rock recluse Blakey Ridge have done wonders for ex-Seahorse frontman Chris Helme." 
Review: The Yards - The Devil Is Alive And Well And In DC EP (5 out of 5)
Years of songwriting isolation and hidden solo outings at North Yorkshire's famous rock recluse, Blakey Ridge, have done wonders for ex-Seahorse frontman Chris Helme.
Fully shed of all "Britpop" skin and out from under the shadowy wing of legendary axe-welder John Squire, Chris and ex-Seahorses bassist Stuart Fletcher have assembled a fine cast of musicians and given their latest project a name - "The Yards". So is now the time for the spotlight to shift from the "New Rock Revolution" and focus on two of indie's last men standing?
The title track is outstanding, and very unsuspected. A heady hash of impelling punk-esque vocals and thunderous riffs. A brazen and timely two fingered salute towards George Dubya and his merry band of jokers, yet lacking the insincerity and limelight grabbing bollocks that usually occurs when rockstar collides with anti-war protestor. "Just a boy out for some fun, got my Stetson got my gun," wails Chris amidst waves of dirty bass and snarly guitars, a handsome opening.
The next three tracks lie much more with my expectations, however all three have a seedy and impassioned undertone reminiscent of the likes of The Velvet Underground. Helme has penned both complex and thoughtful lyrics, fully aware of his past and his own high expectations. Yet willing to snigger ironically at every given opportunity. On second track "Only myself to blame" Helme spits, "There's a trail of destruction in my wake, is there a limit to the shit that you can take?" The chorus ends aptly "Only myself to blame, won't be a fool again".
"Take what you want" is this listener's standout and is a beautifully crafted piece of work. Elegant keys and blues-esque guitars flow wonderfully alongside Helme's rasping vocals and with the addition of cello and viola parts this really is a musical treat, Paul Banks' feverish guitar thrashing the whole shebang up at the end into a triumphant outro.
"Get of my back" ends proceedings with 2 12 of rock bliss, perhaps Helme's mightiest lunge at his past tormentors and definitely the cement that holds this whole offering together. Fluid and confident, it builds at the end to a striking climax, heavily laden with delightful backing vocals and yet more infectious screaming guitar.
A cracking EP that works only on one level,
it rocks. Maybe Mr Helme's destiny is to reappear every few years
in a different guise, always showing signs of greatness but never
quiet achieving it... but then maybe, just maybe.
Review Written by Danny Martin, Leeds Music Scene, January
2004 (for details about ordering the EP click here)
A review of The Yards live in Leeds, April 2003
Chris Helme's THE YARDS come gently into the faded warmth of Leeds' Joseph's Well with some history hanging round their necks. Their song "The Devil is Alive and Well and Living in DC" rips it off, stamps on it and marches on. Faintly metalist, brutally angry, but very neatly put together it clangs and pounds the demons of frustration we all feel at not being in control of the big things in life. It does focus on George Bush, but poetry can't avoid simultaneous meaning, and Chris Helme does write poetic songs. So all the baggage of earlier experiences with Corporate Rock seems to be hurled off the same cliff in this one explosive performance.
The Yards are the organic natural antithesis to the hair gelled PR product gracing the pop organs these days. They wear ordinary t-shirts and comfortable trousers and their hair is in the shape and length it happens to have arrived at since their last trip to Jed's Barber Shop. Chris Helme does vocal and guitar, John Hargreaves masters on keyboard and second vocal, Paul Banks plays a sweet Gibson guitar, John Miller drums with authority and Stuart Fletcher plays finger-style bass with metronomic precision. The string section are home in York tonight, perhaps wary of the acoustic properties of the Joseph's Well band room.
The audience are pretty laid back with the dust of experience thick on their backs. They're not about to fling themselves into any kind of frenzy, least of all a moshpit. But the response is friendly and appreciative. Nationwide there will be a lot of similar souls, moving on from the permanent immortality of the teenage years, and reemerging (like Helme himself) after the shock of becoming an older generation.
The songs? Without exception, they are craftsman built, fully featured and melodic. The aforementioned "Devil" slots in at number six in the middle of the impressive setlist, and contrasts abruptly with the subtly country-rock feel that pervades tonight's show. Chris Helme is playing a big acoustic Gibson and he sings great rounded tunes reminiscent of Neil Young or Ryan Adams. John Hargreaves' second voice takes the higher harmony and adds that essential big skies and warm air feel that says "this sure ain't Britpop".
There are hints on one or two intro moments that the songs have a wider production ambition than this small venue can cope with on stage. A minimal keyboard doesn't do full justice to what are going to be big piano parts, and one or two instrumental passages leave gaps for the strings. A stand out moment that I cherished was the big song "Pure" that soon gets over its lack of real piano and builds through Chris Helme's long soaring voice to a huge crescendo with massive bass. And on into "Only Myself to Blame". I'm no Helme expert, it's just nice to get the chance to hear an extended set of new songs that have depth and wisdom built into their very bones.
Sam Saunders www.whisperinandhollerin.com
Live at Blakey - Photos 15 June 2000 22 March 2001 5 July 2001 3-4 September 2001 24 October 2002 5 June 2003 4 December 2003 22 July 2004 (Festival) Live at Blakey - Press Reviews 15 June 2000 22 March 2001 5 July 2001 4 September 2001 18 December 2001 4 December 2003 Interviews 2001 interview with Chris Helme by "I Like Music" BBC interview with Chris Helme previewing The Yards' Blakey gig - 23rd October 2002 Whisperin' and Hollerin' interview with Chris Helme - February 2003 More reviews & interviews at www.theyards.org More photos of The Yards by Blakey Music Middlesbrough Empire - 28 September 2002 Joseph's Well, Leeds - 18 October 2002 Joseph's Well, Leeds - 2 March 2003 Recording Studio - 6 March 2003 Scala, London - 31 March 2003 Barbican, York - 20 December 2003 Other Reviews Chris Helme @ Joseph's Well 22 April 2001 Chris Helme, Paul Banks & Stu Fletcher @ Joseph's Well 2002 The Junction, York 17 May 2002 Theatre Royal, York 17 June 2002 Joseph's Well, Leeds 18 October 2002 Wisperin' and Hollerin' live review 4 April 2003 More reviews & interviews at www.theyards.org visit the official website includes MP3s, tour dates, photos, message board, news, reviews www.theyards.org to join The Yards' official mailing list click here and send a blank email titled "The Yards"
