YOGOMAN

“Yogoman Burning Band is one of the best and most consistent bands in Bellingham right now. Their music has an irresistible vibe that gets just about anyone in the audience on their feet dancing."
-Paul Israel, http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/ - Bellingham Herald

“Yogoman Burning Band is one of the best and most consistent bands in Bellingham right now. Their music has an irresistible vibe that gets just about anyone in the audience on their feet dancing."
-Paul Israel, http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/ - Bellingham Herald

“You'll want to sing, you'll want to dance, you'll leave the CD in the car stereo, remembering when listening to reggae felt novel and soul music tapped into something special.”
-Jennifer Savage, North Coast Journal - Jennifer Savage

“You'll want to sing, you'll want to dance, you'll leave the CD in the car stereo, remembering when listening to reggae felt novel and soul music tapped into something special.”
-Jennifer Savage, North Coast Journal - Jennifer Savage

"...one of the great dance bands you've never heard of... Yogoman is an absolute knockout. Imagine Yogi Bear and Yogi Berra on the dance floor. On fire."
-Bill Locey, Ventura County Reporter - Bill Locey

"...one of the great dance bands you've never heard of... Yogoman is an absolute knockout. Imagine Yogi Bear and Yogi Berra on the dance floor. On fire."
-Bill Locey, Ventura County Reporter - Bill Locey

by Haylee Nighbert (What’s Up Magazine - June 2009)

Yogoman Burning Band’s newest release, City of Subdued Excitement, won’t dissapoint their live show fans. They decided to release something that glittered with live-show appeal and dripping with groove. It’s an album that holds true to their reputation as an uplifting, high-energy jam band with an album that jumps from big band, to reggae, to dancehall and back.

A keystone of Bellingham musical culture, Yogoman Burning Band’s style comes together to make a great summer relaxation album that can appeal to anybody. The band already represents the laid-back, fun-loving side to our city. They’re a great groove-and-dance band whose musical styling brings large, diverse crowds together.

The energy that this album exudes is palpable and makes use of the band’s live presence. The use of horns and percussion make the tracks pop, not to mention the gratuitous use of funky guitar riffs and ad-libbed vocal yowls. One track that definitely stands out from the others is “Slow Song.” It incorporates a measure of folk and blues by using sparse guitar and heavy vocals that almost make it into a prog-rock song. It’s the last track on the album, and one of a few examples that showcase the band’s ability to play a wide range of styles and genres.

YBB has an uncanny ability to mix and match, creating a brand of music that is all its own and makes people want to dance. - What's Up Music Magazine

by Haylee Nighbert (What’s Up Magazine - June 2009)

Yogoman Burning Band’s newest release, City of Subdued Excitement, won’t dissapoint their live show fans. They decided to release something that glittered with live-show appeal and dripping with groove. It’s an album that holds true to their reputation as an uplifting, high-energy jam band with an album that jumps from big band, to reggae, to dancehall and back.

A keystone of Bellingham musical culture, Yogoman Burning Band’s style comes together to make a great summer relaxation album that can appeal to anybody. The band already represents the laid-back, fun-loving side to our city. They’re a great groove-and-dance band whose musical styling brings large, diverse crowds together.

The energy that this album exudes is palpable and makes use of the band’s live presence. The use of horns and percussion make the tracks pop, not to mention the gratuitous use of funky guitar riffs and ad-libbed vocal yowls. One track that definitely stands out from the others is “Slow Song.” It incorporates a measure of folk and blues by using sparse guitar and heavy vocals that almost make it into a prog-rock song. It’s the last track on the album, and one of a few examples that showcase the band’s ability to play a wide range of styles and genres.

YBB has an uncanny ability to mix and match, creating a brand of music that is all its own and makes people want to dance. - What's Up Music Magazine

Bellingham’s Yogoman Burning Band has triumphantly returned with their second album titled “City of Subdued Excitement.” The album is an upbeat blend of ska, reggae, and alternative rock dance hits, led by lead vocalist Jordan Rain (a.k.a. “Yogoman”). The Burning Band consists of Norah McLaughlin on bass/vocals, Thomas Akihiro Deakin on tenor sax/percussion, Mars Lindgren on trombone/percussion and Robert Blake on guitar. Listeners of this album will take a leisurely, musical stroll from beach party/dance hall tracks, to songs recalling melodies and dynamics of classic soul, R&B and reggae eras.

This unlikely combination of influences is filtered through the band’s mission to “unite people through music and dance.”

The album’s first track, “Up All Night,” gets things started with slow, heavily-reggae influenced melodies. My personal favorite, this song’s simple lyrics describe a guy who is taking things one lazy step at a time. “Got up late this morning/ actually I think it was the afternoon/ rubbed my eyes/ kissed my girl/ had my first cup of coffee about two o’clock.”

The band makes positive and vibrant dance music that is happy and upbeat, which is perfectly reflected in the second track “I Got Joy.” This guy is happy to wake up, eat, and even wash dishes. This song reminds listeners to be happy about the little things in life.

Slowing things down with “Show Me,” the band cranks out another reggae dance hall hit.

On “Boomerang” the band gets great use out of their back-up singers. This song is about a guy who finds himself returning to the same situations in life. “The world is a boomerang/ whatever you throw/ I’m going to come back.”

“If You Don’t” blends the twangy influences of a banjo and sharp trumpet blast to remind listeners that they should not give up because there is always tomorrow. “If you don’t feel alright tonight/ you can try again tomorrow.”

The band makes a short, more alternative-sounding “Christmas Manifesto,” then decides to take listeners on a smoother, R&B-influenced “Night Stride.”

The album wraps up with “Slow Song,” with lyrics that are sung, well, quite literally, pretty slow. The song is carried by equally slow snare and soft guitar strums. “This isn’t the time to get angry/ this isn’t the time to fight/ this is the time to unite.”

The laid-back, uplifting style reflected in this album has allowed Yogoman Burning Band to pack Bellingham venues over the past three years. The band stays true to their “come together” attitude by hosting fundraisers and benefit events for local organizations such as Bellingham pre-school the Cottage School and the Surfrider Foundation, a group that sponsors oceanic clean-up efforts.

The community has also been receptive and supportive of the band through several local awards: 2007 and 2008 “Best Band” by Cascadia Weekly Magazine, 2007, 2008 and 2009 “Best Booty-Shakin’ Music” by What’s Up Music Magazine, and 2007 “Best Selling Local Album” at Everyday Music in Bellingham. - Tacoma Weekly

(Neumos) Some old civic pride probably plays a hand in why I like Bellingham's Yogoman Burning Band—essentially a vehicle for drummer/vocalist/composer Jordan Rain's rock-steady/reggae interpretations. Rain used to spin old soul, R&B, and rock-steady records at Bellingham's late, great 3B Tavern, and his deep appreciation of the genres shows in YBB's music, which takes a vaguely reggae tone, complete with a horn section and a fashioned Jamaican patois. This all may sound a bit derivative, but there's something disarmingly earnest about Rain's delivery. And cuts like "You Trouble/LGBT (Got Your Back)," "If You Don't," and "Up All Night" are undeniably catchy. GRANT BRISSEY - the Stranger, Seattle, WA

Bellingham’s Yogoman Burning Band has triumphantly returned with their second album titled “City of Subdued Excitement.” The album is an upbeat blend of ska, reggae, and alternative rock dance hits, led by lead vocalist Jordan Rain (a.k.a. “Yogoman”). The Burning Band consists of Norah McLaughlin on bass/vocals, Thomas Akihiro Deakin on tenor sax/percussion, Mars Lindgren on trombone/percussion and Robert Blake on guitar. Listeners of this album will take a leisurely, musical stroll from beach party/dance hall tracks, to songs recalling melodies and dynamics of classic soul, R&B and reggae eras.

This unlikely combination of influences is filtered through the band’s mission to “unite people through music and dance.”

The album’s first track, “Up All Night,” gets things started with slow, heavily-reggae influenced melodies. My personal favorite, this song’s simple lyrics describe a guy who is taking things one lazy step at a time. “Got up late this morning/ actually I think it was the afternoon/ rubbed my eyes/ kissed my girl/ had my first cup of coffee about two o’clock.”

The band makes positive and vibrant dance music that is happy and upbeat, which is perfectly reflected in the second track “I Got Joy.” This guy is happy to wake up, eat, and even wash dishes. This song reminds listeners to be happy about the little things in life.

Slowing things down with “Show Me,” the band cranks out another reggae dance hall hit.

On “Boomerang” the band gets great use out of their back-up singers. This song is about a guy who finds himself returning to the same situations in life. “The world is a boomerang/ whatever you throw/ I’m going to come back.”

“If You Don’t” blends the twangy influences of a banjo and sharp trumpet blast to remind listeners that they should not give up because there is always tomorrow. “If you don’t feel alright tonight/ you can try again tomorrow.”

The band makes a short, more alternative-sounding “Christmas Manifesto,” then decides to take listeners on a smoother, R&B-influenced “Night Stride.”

The album wraps up with “Slow Song,” with lyrics that are sung, well, quite literally, pretty slow. The song is carried by equally slow snare and soft guitar strums. “This isn’t the time to get angry/ this isn’t the time to fight/ this is the time to unite.”

The laid-back, uplifting style reflected in this album has allowed Yogoman Burning Band to pack Bellingham venues over the past three years. The band stays true to their “come together” attitude by hosting fundraisers and benefit events for local organizations such as Bellingham pre-school the Cottage School and the Surfrider Foundation, a group that sponsors oceanic clean-up efforts.

The community has also been receptive and supportive of the band through several local awards: 2007 and 2008 “Best Band” by Cascadia Weekly Magazine, 2007, 2008 and 2009 “Best Booty-Shakin’ Music” by What’s Up Music Magazine, and 2007 “Best Selling Local Album” at Everyday Music in Bellingham. - Tacoma Weekly

"...It's ALWAYS a good idea to spin a Yogoman track. Positive lyrics, infectious melodies, stellar musicianship...just great, great songs. They've gone from being unknown to KHUM listeners to being possibly the most requested band during my shift."
Larry Trask/DJ - Presto PR

"...It's ALWAYS a good idea to spin a Yogoman track. Positive lyrics, infectious melodies, stellar musicianship...just great, great songs. They've gone from being unknown to KHUM listeners to being possibly the most requested band during my shift."
Larry Trask/DJ - Presto PR