Band origin?
Out of a necessity to produce dance music for people of all ages and backgrounds of life, Jordan Rain took Yogoman, a comic book character who dances wild and free for his DJ Moniker in 1998. Rain brought the Yogoman into his live group YBB in 2006, as a means of encouraging people to engage in the musical experience through dancing, and not take themselves too seriously.
Who is in the band and what role does each person have?
YBB has incorporated as many as 10 people at one time, but as of 2010, they are down to their roots players: Jordan Rain/Yogoman on Lead Vocals and Drums, Norah McLaughlin on Bass and Vocals, Thomas Deakin on Sax and vocals, and Mars Lindgren on Trombone and Vocals. The four piece line up features a unique sound without the use of guitar, in their unique blend of Jamaican, Soul, Brass Band, and Punk musical styles.
What brought the band together and when?
New Years 2006, Yogoman performed the song Chaka Chaka with Captain Seahorse Revenge Upon Humanity as his backing band. Over the course of the next year, Yogo found his key players from the Bellingham community to solidify the YBB sound.
What genre of music do you classify your band as?
Fun (lol). With so many influences YBB could be described as “a good times dance band.” or a “Reggae-Soul-Brass Band”
What inspires your music?
Everyday life, dreams, challenges, connection with the world at large, and general inspiration.
Who or what influences your band’s sound?
The unique instrumentation (drum/bass/2 horns/vocal harmony) and the players who have a background in doo-wop, soul, ska, hip-hop, punk, noise, hardcore, folk and classical music.
What is your band’s best performance thus far?
Playing to a room full of children and their parents in McKinleyville, CA at the Six Rivers Brewery. We played so dynamically and the interaction with the children was priceless! It was truly magical.
How many albums have you released? What are they?
We have released two albums, the self titled “Red Album”, City Of Subdued Excitement, a 45rpm record single on York Records of Pass The O/Dragon Bus, and currently have a full length album called ‘Beam Me Up!’ in the can and ready for release in 2010.
Where do you see your band going in the future?
I see YBB playing to crowds of all-ages, with supporters across the U.S. and around the world in such places as Vietnam, Africa, England, and Japan to name a few.
What is your favorite part about Bellingham?
The social and musical diversity and the fact that these two intermingle out of necessity is my favorite thing about Bellingham.
What is Bellingham’s music scene missing the most?
I don’t know???
If you could play any venue in the world, what would it be?
Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Colorado) in the U.S. I need to do some research on venues out of the country. I prefer playing outside though, when the weather is good for it.
Shoot outs? Last Words?
Because my tendency is toward the disjointed, I give my #1 shout out to my family for keeping me upstanding and forthright. Shout out to my Bellingham community for keeping YBB in their hearts and dancing souls.