This week at Friday Cheers: Shakey Graves / Yarn

Ever since the weather has turned clement, the urge to drink, chat, and sway gently is probably upon you. Fret not, these two bands open up the one, the only Friday Cheers. Here’s our take.

May 1, 2015; 10:09 AM • by Ross Catrow

Update #1 — May 1, 2015; 10:08 AM

Shakey Graves, sadly, has had to cancel his performance due to some personal matters. We wish him well, hope it gets all sorted out, and look forward to an evening of Yarn, playing a double set.

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Original — April 27, 2015

It’s here! Friday Cheers begins anew this Friday, May 1st and features Shakey Graves and Yarn. Things kick off at 6:00 PM; tickets are $5, and children under 12 are free. Here’s a quick preview of what to expect this week, and, of course, there’s more info on their Facebook page.

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Shakey Graves

Genre: American country-rock guitar music!
Sounds kinda like: A man wearing a flannel shirt, the top three buttons unbuttoned, gripping a guitar by the neck and slinging it over his shoulder.
Sweet jam: “Dearly Departed”
Listen to the album: And the War Came on rdio »
shakeygraves.com

Friday cheers opens with an Austin-based act which so represents that classic, country-fried indie music we all craves on hot summer days. Some of his tunes deviate from that whack-and-slap guitar sound by adding a solid dose of fuzz, which I can totally dig (checkout “If Not for You” for some serious rock n’ roll vibes). The best tracks on the album are easily the ones featuring ex-Paper Bird vocalist Esmé Patterson.

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Yarn

Genre: Americana-y bluegrass
Sounds kinda like: A jammy country biscuit shared with James Taylor
Sweet jam: “Annie”
Listen to the album: Shine the Light On on their website »
yarnmusic.net

If some of Yarn’s tunes feel like something that John Oates may have written…you would be eerily accurate. In fact, you should go to Vegas and start betting on stuff right now. Anyway, Oates is a big fan of Yarn, saying that “they have one foot in the traditional sound of bluegrass and the other foot stepping into the future.” Who are you to dispute John Oates?