A conversation with the eclectic Tempe nine-piece Dry River Yacht Club
By Troy Farah
Published on 12/15/2011 in Flag Live
Recently reunited in August, Dry River Yacht Club’s nine members embody the indie creed that “more is more” and band mates are there for more than just back-up vocals. Keeping in spirit with Gogol Bordello or DeVotchKa, the band plays their unique blend of gypsy tunes, a self-described mix of “acoustic symphony indie-rock on a dancin’ pirate’s rusty yacht”—and the nonet dress the part. Now the Tempe-based band are taking their gig more places than ever. Flag Livesat down to speak to Henri Bernard (percussionist,) Kristilyn Woods (bassoon) and Megyn Neff (violinist) about their new EP and the musical atmosphere in Arizona.
See the band at the Green Room, 15 N. Agassiz, Fri, Dec. 16. Opening the show will be King Snake, featuring members of Flagstaff’s Devil Dog Road. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and is free. Dress like a drunk pirate and keep up that rowdy reputation, Flagstaff! For more info, seewww.dryriveryachtclub.wordpress.com or call 226-8669.
Troy Farah: What does the name of your latest EP Family Portraits/Calm Mutiny mean?
Henri Bernard: We had this hit we played in the car on the way home from a show in L.A. We thought of putting everyone’s baby pictures in there; we’ll call the album “Family Portraits.” Our cello player liked “calm mutiny,” maybe because it sounds like community. Family Portraits fits us. We’re a bigger band, but we’re all very tight. And Calm Mutiny comes out in our music, in reference to a mutiny on a pirate ship. And the sense of calm is there.
It seems to me with a name like Dry River Yacht Club, and the fact that you guys are definitely focused on being a very local band, that Arizona is very important to you and I want to know what it means to you.
Henri Bernard: We take a lot of pride from being in this music scene. I think that all of us see the potential in the Phoenix music scene and we take a lot of pride in being one of the main bands that can draw attention here and represent it elsewhere.
You give the city of Phoenix a few labels and few booking agents and I think the city has a lot of powerhouse bands that can go on the road. They don’t have the people to help them as much—that’s the thing that Phoenix lacks. These bands are drawing sometimes three, 400 people here. That’s a big testament to what’s going on musically. What I love is that you’ve gotta play great all the time because there’s so many bands that are so hungry to be so good around here that you’ve got to keep it moving. “What am I doing to keep a following going, what am I doing to keep it stronger, bigger instead of just getting comfortable?”
How do you feel about bands from Phoenix that got big, left and kind of forgot about Phoenix?
Henri Bernard: Like Miniature Tigers or Gin Blossoms? I don’t think they ever abandoned Phoenix. I know Scotty Johnson of the Blossoms still does some open mics, so I don’t think those guys ever really abandoned Phoenix. Their view changed, Mill Avenue changed—where they came up.
I can only imagine when Mill was only music venues, all about music, all about a culture versus Abercrombie and Fitch. I guess that’s culture, but I don’t think it’s conducive to building a thriving arts and music community.
Exactly. It’s very heavily mass produced and it’s not local.
Henri Bernard: But for a band like Miniature Tigers, I remember Charlie Brand when he wasn’t huge. I understand as a musician why you might need to take your band somewhere where you can get the necessary exposure to get functioning professionally.
I think a lot has to do with how you sell your band when you do that. If you still say you’re based out of Arizona or somehow rep that you got started in Phoenix, I think that does a lot of good for the city.
Those are big labels and big opportunity and it’s awesome that bands from our little nest have gotten into those places. I don’t think any of those guys lost their roots, they just had to take a job when they got to go: “This is the offer, this is what we’ve been looking for for 10 years.”
How familiar are you with Flagstaff’s music scene?
Kristilyn Woods: I think Flagstaff’s cool because of the scenery and just the nature of the town brings together a lot of artistic people that stay there for reasons other than a thriving music scene. It’s a cool little bubble of really creative minds.
Henri Bernard: And the shows in Flag are always awesome. The kids come right to the stage, they’re ready for it and they’re always open minded for new bands. Tempe’s awesome and I don’t mean anything negative, but sometimes I think if I had seen that band in Flagstaff, I would have seen more dancing and less stiffness. They just get crazy, rowdy. If you’re trying to have an awesome show I think you want those rowdy folks, clapping and stomping and screaming. It’s amazing energy and makes it so much fun.
