Breakers Broken

It was a typical cold night in the Windy City. Patches of people wandered the streets hopping from bar to bar desperately seeking warmth and the occasional beverage. My friends and I found ourselves amongst these lemmings as we eagerly searched for something to “break” up the monotony. Then…we got the call. A local three-piece band by the name of “Breakers Broken,” was scheduled to play that night at one of my favorite musical venues in the city, Martyrs.

As the bouncer glanced at my ID, I scanned the venue and saw only fans…and lots of them. I was one of the last people they let in as Martyrs had reached full capacity for the evening. Anxious to see what all the hoopla was about, I ordered a round and inched my way closer to the stage. I remember taking one sip of my drink before an amazing colorful array of lights suddenly illuminated three figures and their instruments. As the opening melody was played, the crowd screamed as if Elvis had just gyrated his hips…you get the idea.

Before I knew it, I was completely immersed in a full-blown rock n’ roll show for the bargain price of ten dollars. Within the first forty-five minutes I witnessed the following: mind-numbing solos reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughan by Tim Yamaya (lead guitarist/keys/vocals), Tim’s younger brother Herf alternating from silky-smooth to the funkiest of funk slap bass lines, drummer Neal Wehman dousing himself and his drum set with water (which with the aid of a light show, created a Blue Man Group-esque feature), Tim and Herf switching off singing lead, amazing three-part harmonies, and an all-around stellar arrangements of songs. If that wasn’t enough, how about the fact that during the second set they took a page right out of Dispatch’s book and decided to run around stage switching off instruments mid-songs? There was a mystical aura about that performance that is seldom achieved by most entertainers. They did their thing that night, and the crowd just understood it.

I had the opportunity to meet with the guys of “Breakers Broken” after their set and they are as humble as they are talented. Turns out that the two brothers, Tim and Herf Yamaya both attended the University of Miami where they met fellow drummer/good friend Neal Wehman. Not only were they lucky enough to find each other’s talent and expand upon it in college, they also learned that they were from neighboring Chicago suburbs. Starting a band just seemed to be the next logical step in their relationship. They started off playing regular gigs in the famous “South-Beach” area of Miami, and since graduating last May, they came back home and have been taking Chicago by storm. They recorded their debut album titled “Other Places to Search,” which has been getting great publicity and is starting to circulate college radio stations around the country. They have been gigging all over the Midwest and Colorado and increasing their fan base in the process. Go support these guys…they are the real deal. To find out more about “Breakers Broken” and their upcoming live performances and/or CD information, check them out at www.BreakersBroken.com. You can also download their songs on Itunes.

- by Robbie Mueller - Chicago's MODA Fashion Gazette

Trade Miami for Chicago?

Some might think that's insane--especially in the middle of January--but not if you're a musician.

Just ask Tim Yamaya, Herf Yamaya and Neal Wehman of Breakers Broken.

The three came back to Chicago a year ago after attending Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

"It wasn't tough moving back to Chicago, we're all from Chicago," said Herf, the band's bassist and singer. "It's tough from the perspective of 'Man, the winters are really cold!' "

"One of the biggest reasons we came back to Chicago is that the original music scene exists here; it thrives," said guitarist-singer Tim. "And there are awesome venues on every street you can go to to hear it."

"In Chicago, I feel like the sky's the limit," Herf added.

The Yamaya brothers grew up in Glenview, where the two got into music at a young age through violin lessons. Tim added guitar to his repertoire; Herf the bass.

The brothers might not have preferred the violin lessons, but they paid off.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grateful that I had to play [violin] ... that definitely really helped," Tim said.

When Tim went to school in Miami, he met drummer Wehman, who coincidentally grew up just 10 minutes away from the Yamaya brothers. Herf joined them at Frost after he finished high school. After Tim and Wehman's graduation--Tim earned an engineering degree--they left Miami to return to Chicago.

Tim recently got to test his engineering credentials on the band's full-length debut, "Other Places to Search."

"For the first album we ever had, I'm really proud of how it sounds," Tim said. - Chicago Redeye (Chicago Tribune)

Dec. 23rd, 2009

"Absolutely golden, shimmering pop. That’s what Breakers Broken bring to their new E.P. Reset. Harkening back to the glory days of true, gorgeously produced pop, Breaker’s Broken somehow manage to remind me of some of the best 80’s pop bands like Curiosity Killed the Cat mixed with, of all things, Michael Jackson. Sounds bizarre but it’s a massively refreshing mix of pure unadulterated hooks and melodies, blended with dancefloor energy, and, dare I say it, fun. Yes, music still can be fun.

“Last Man on the Planet,” is the standout here, blending some of the best, most Michael Jackson like vocals I’ve heard in ages. Not derivative or Xeroxed, but clearly Jackson-esque in tone and phrasing. Imagine if Jackson had one day fronted Level 42 at their poppiest, or Wet Wet Wet and you’ll get the feeling. Big synths, circular drums, dancing strobe lights and swirling lasers. The short instrumental “How Novel,” keeps the energy rolling high with it’s big synth intro, undulating bass groove, scattering guitar, and intricate drum line, merging seamlessly into “When She Needs Me,” another blast of delicate, R&B infused, synth pop. Boppy, bouncy, bountiful, complete with undeniable vocal hook and hum-along melody. “Falling System,” brings on the white boy soul a la Vitamin Z and their addictive single “Burning Flame.” It doesn’t take more than a moment for the bass to find it’s groove, then the perfect tenor bursts in like sunlight streaming through a breakfast nook window. The dubbed in rap of "Girl Behind the Bar,” doesn’t work for me, sounding a bit producer forced, but there’s no denying the talent here. In truth, it’s been a while since anyone wrote pure pop like this, and Breakers Broken deserve to find an audience."

Link: http://ripplemusic.blogspot.com/2009/12/electrifying-edifice-of-ebullient-eps.html - Ripple Effect

1/02/10

I heard a few worthy albums and emerging talent toward the years end that deserves some attention even though it's not strictly power pop. Here are some groups you might want to check out.

Breakers Broken "Reset" EP
Something really different here - a mix of dance funk and indie pop from this Chicago outfit. Vocalist Tim Yamaya almost channels Michael Jackson for "Last Man On The Planet" and the beats and bass work are very catchy here. Not everything here sticks, but it does enough and the great instrumental work (like in "The Climb") is just mesmerizing. It does create a powerful soundscape of genres fused together and why not give it a shot?

http://powerpopaholic.blogspot.com/2009/01/some-holiday-leftover-reviews.html - Powerpopaholic - an Honest Opinion

A product of Chicago scene, Breakers Broken is poised to make some waves in 2009. The rock band (remember those??) is working heavily with fellow Chicago producer Doug McBride (Smashing Pumpkins, Fallout Boy, Dashboard Confessional, Ben Kweller, Rachel Yamagata ) on their new EP. The trio's sound is slightly reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, with its sweet little chorus, only with more emotion and musical grit. Check out the rich, layered sound of "When She Needs Me" - URB Magazine

Back after a "guerrilla warfare" recording session, Breakers Broken charts new territory with their second release, Reset. After testing out the chosen songs in front of live audiences, brothers Tim and Herf Yamaya with drummer Neal Wehman knocked out a highly-esteemed and collectively produced EP in record (pardon the pun) time.

Now at my second hard listen, I am caught in a vat of musical irony. Electro-rock trio Breakers Broken has me groovin' happily down the street with headphones on full volume until I pay attention to what is actually being said. I call this the Ben Folds approach (melancholy/poignant lyrics set to warm, dance-friendly music a la "The Bitch Went Nuts"). That element alone will propel this second release from Breakers Broken to the forefront of different markets outside of their previous Chicago-teen niche into fun drum and guitar driven dance beats to a audience that could consider themselves "smart musicians." The song structures stick to a pop layout for the most part, but are filled with such dense musicality that if delivered any other way, the message posed by the talent in the group would be lost.

Reset opens with a track entitled "Last Man on the Planet," and, is in essence is the perfect introduction to this EP. Beginning with a quiet synthesizer melody and growing as each phrase introduces a new instrument, building tension until drummer Neal Wehman drops into the snare and the listener is greeted by the release of Tim Yamaya's soothing yet aggressive voice. The audience is able to hear all of the pieces of Breakers Broken come together before they set out on the trip they're about to take with this newly matured and revamped band. Careful, ladies (or should I warn Tim?), as this song may leave you wondering "Who is Nina?" and contemplating a name change.

"How Novel", an instrumental track, gives the pop ladies a chance to mull over that name change while providing a moment for fellow musicians and instrumentalists to appreciate the merge of acoustic instruments and electronically produced sound. It is almost as if Wehman laid down lyrics in the form of drumming, as his intense sound appears to tell quite a story. If there is one thing this band does right, it is that there is a definite arc to all of their songs, and "How Novel" is a perfect display that the narrator doesn't always have to be the vocalist.

Transition to single-friendly "When She Needs Me" and you'll be ooo-ing and oh-ing along with the perfected vocal blend between brothers Tim and Herf. As the younger of the two, Herf shines in his ability to seamlessly attach his voice to each piece with an uncanny sense of ease. Musical irony jumps out of this song as you may find yourself dancing along until you hear Tim confess he's "feeling cold as snow / this world feels like / livin' on a cannonball / with both hands tied / screaming with your body and soul..."

Perhaps my favorite track on Reset is "Failing System," because it is both perplexing and intriguing. The format is such that you may feel as though you're eavesdropping on something you shouldn't be hearing. But again, Wehman sets the tone with a dance-inducing beat so that by the time Tim's sweet falsetto takes over, your mind and body have already been lost in the atmosphere created by the sensory-encompassing instrumentation and melody. Sing along to "You give me oh-oh-oh" and enjoy the smart production behind the vocal layering, and distortion effects the drive intensity through the chorus and beyond the song's end.

Welcome back the '80s with throwback tune "Girl Behind the Bar" featuring emcee ADD. Tim and Herf's vocals are highly reminiscent of "King of Wishful Thinking" (Go West) throughout the hook until the verse displays a more intent vocal line more prevalent in today's music. Your ears will be saying thank you to the short, sexy, and shredding guitar solo so intelligently inserted before the confident percussion/vocal breakdown. Confidence, hopefulness, and an almost disguised vulnerability drive this song while providing a happy nostalgia.

The story of Reset continues with "The Climb," as each member again takes a term serving as narrator with guitar, keys, and drums tracked over synth. I find Herf's repetitive piano melody haunting as its melodic build somehow reaches inside and confronts the soul.

I am perpetually haunted by the chorus of ending track "Fools and Gold." Wehman's delicate yet aggressive intro adds to the shock at the emotional level in which the vocals enter. "People share stories of fools and gold / time will find people mean so much more." As a heavier rock ballad, "Fools and Gold" may provide some insight as to where these three musicians are now, and how far they've come.

Thanks to the popular convention of bonus tracking, listeners get to hop out of the EP on a happier note with an extended version of "When She Needs Me."

And I'm back to skipping down the street, headphones on full volume, "ooo-ing" and "oh-ing" along with my new iTunes top song.
- Stephanie Fravel

Tonight's Tuesday Night Roundup is dedicated to a few bands that sent me samples of their music, and have proven themselves awesome enough to warrant my attention as well as yours. So once you're done hearing me rave about them, do go check out their MySpaces, facebooks, etc. and support some new worthy music.

First up is Breakers Broken. Breakers Broken are an electronic rock band that sound like a more suave version of The Killers. Like most electronic based bands, they're big on melody and huge choruses, both of which come off as strong points for the band. But Breakers Broken seem smarter than to just hit you over the head with high energy pop fare, and instead mix it up a bit with cuts the like blink-and-you'll-miss-it "How Novel" and the busy "When She Needs Me." If you like your dance music with a touch of brains and have enough patience to let these songs grow, Breakers Broken's new album Reset is probably a good fit for you.

Breakers Broken - When She Needs Me [iTunes] (YSI)
Breakers Broken on MySpace - Viva La Mainstream!

Things That Turn Us On - Chicago RedEye - Jan. 2010

Song: "Last Man on the Planet" - Breakers Broken

Smooth production, stirring vocals and head-nod-worthy beats added up to victory for Breakers Broken, this week's triumphant track-off contestant. The local collective earned undeniable online support for "Last Man on the Planet," a vaguely techno-sounding submission, which begins with swirling instrumentals that give way to hard-hitting percussion. Check out this week's Kyles Files track-off for yourself at redeyechicago.com/kylesfiles and then come back every Monday.
- Kyra Kyles

Breakers Broken is a rock trio whose reputation is one of attention-commanding live performances, and professional sound quality recordings. There debut album, “Other Places to Search” is a diverse collection of songs that revolves around wonderfully personal lyrics and catchy hooks. This album has strong hints of blues, funk, acoustic, and rock all rolled into one package - Alternative Addiction

"If you love to dance then this quirky indie/pop trio will have you up on your feet within seconds. Lead track "Last Man on the Planet" begins and we are introduced with a peaceful, almost ambient track breaking down into a number which has you tapping your feet merely seconds after hearing the light yet effective indie guitar work. Usually, as soon as a band bring in the heavy use of synth effects in their songs, the song is ruined. But this works well. This works very well in fact for Breakers Broken whose usage adds a different element to their work which if anything, works strongly in their favour.

We're soon lead into an instrumental track in "How Novel" which flows so easily from the lead track that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was part of the same song. It's the band ability to make the transition from track to track so seamless which takes this EP from just good to brilliant for me.

"When She Needs Me" can be found twice on this EP in the form of the original version and an extended version with a longer instrumental breakdown which with a perfect mix of woahs and genuinely strong vocals makes it one of the strongest tracks on the EP. It's through tracks like these that the dancing levels are raised once again. After another brilliantly executed instrumental intro, "Failing System" has you busting a move and singing along to more of the same themed successful work as previously used.

Breakers Broken aren't afraid of venturing into a number of different genres on this release, collaborating with rapper A.D.D on one track in particular which would not sound out of place thirty years ago in an era where dancing and generally having a good time was the most important factor. The strong vocals shine through yet again resembling the sound of a young Justin Timberlake which is no bad thing at all.

Given the right push, you can easily see a number of the songs showcased by this promising group of guys, being blasted across commercial radio stations all over the globe each and every day. It may seem a tall order but with such a strong debut which covers so many different genres it certainly isn't impossible. The band should perhaps focus on the punchier numbers instead of the slow moving final track but I really can't wait to hear more from these guys and something tells me I'll have no choice but to be hearing more from this band in the future.

4.5/5

'Reset' by Breakers Broken is available now." - Alter the Press