You might expect a band that calls itself YARN to, naturally, tend to spin a yarn or two. “That’s what we do, we tell stories, live and in the studio, truth and fiction,” singer/songwriter Blake Christiana insists. “We don’t always opt for consistency. There’s a different vibe onstage from what comes through in our recordings. There’s a difference in every show as well, you never know what you’re going to get.”
On their latest single “Cocaine Bear,” Christiana delivers a 70s country ballad about the unbelievable yet, true story of a bear that was found dead near a cargo of cocaine that went down along the Tennessee / Georgia border. Nicknamed Pablo Escobear, the story of the bear was first recounted by The New York Times in a 1985 article. Over the years, the story has also inspired much folklore as well as this song (written in 2019) and a film by the same name out this year.
“…the time was also ripe to cut this song in the studio for the first time – allowing it the opportunity to transition from a live fan favorite to a fleshed-out studio recording.” – Americana UK
“… a pleasant country shuffle, very much embedded in the 70s country ballad tradition. The subdued guitars and the light drumbeat allow the listener to concentrate on the bear’s story, which is told accurately, sympathetically and with passion.” – At The Barrier
“Cocaine Bear,” available February 24th, is the standalone single from YARN who will follow with two full length albums of new material in 2023/2024.
TOUR DATES
MAR 21 / ROCHESTER, NY @ Abilene Bar and Lounge
MAR 22 / BUFFALO, NY @ Sportsmens Tavern
MAR 23 / MARLBORO, NY @ The Falcon
MAR 24 / BLAIRSTOWN, NJ @ Roy's Hall
MAR 25 / HOOSICK FALLS, NY @ Unihog
MAR 26 / SYRACUSE, NY @ The 443 Social Club & Lounge
ABOUT YARN
Yarn’s ability to persevere ought to come as no great surprise, especially for a band that spent two years honing their chops during a Monday night residency at the famed Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. In effect, it allowed them to rehearse onstage, mostly in front of audiences that often ranged in size from five to a hundred people on any given night. 10 studio albums followed -- Yarn (2007), Empty Pockets (2008), Leftovers Part One (2009), Come On In (2010), Leftovers Part 2 (2011), Almost Home (2012), Shine the Light On (2013), This Is The Year (2016), and Lucky 13 parts 1 & 2 (2019). The band then took to the road, playing upwards of 170 shows a year and sharing stages with such superstars as Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, Railroad Earth, Marty Stuart, Allison Krauss, Leon Russell, Jim Lauderdale, Leftover Salmon, Amos Lee, The Lumineers and many more. They performed at any number of prestigious venues -- Mountain Stage, Daytrotter, the Orange Peel in Asheville, the Fox Theater in Boulder, the 9:30 Club in D.C, South by Southwest, the Strawberry Festival, Rhythm and Roots, Meadowgrass, Floydfest and so much more, eventually surpassing 1,000 shows, half a million miles and performances in nearly every state. Yarn will release two new albums in 2023/2024.
