Page 28 - the Noise October 2016

INTERVIEW
YY&ZS
BY BEVERLEY NAPALM
Northern Arizona’s Premier Theatrical Party Band, Yin Yang & Zen Some is turning 10 years old this October. Come Halloween Weekend, the band will be celebrating with two shows, in Flagstaff and Sedona, where the group hails from.
Originally the group was conceived to play just two shows over Halloween Weekend 2006. Since then, YY&ZS has sporadically exploded with bursts of activity, covering more than 250 songs, playing over 40 party-themed events, owned numerous closets full of costumes, and have, to quote bassist Dylan Jung: “Used up more rolls of duct tape and spray paint than MacGyver.”
All in the name of rock n’ roll, and putting on a good show. It is a show they pride them- selves in, over the fact it’s a show they’d want to go to themselves.
Throughout the past decade, YY&ZS has peri- odically thrown in the towel, only to be coaxed back by the lure of the fan adoration, the thrill of the stage lights, and their own yearning for make-up.
“We’ve had fans take home parts of our set
design and keep them around for years,” ex-
pands Dylan. The band is at home at any venue, equally comfortable playing bars, house parties and festivals. Dressed in drag, as nerds, or futuristic rock n’ rollers (à la David Bowie), superheroes ... you name it! Halloween is perhaps the most appropriate holiday for them, but they are ready to make a holiday out of any given weekend if you give them the chance. They would like to be thought of as “Alice Cooper meets David Bowie at the Rocky Horror Picture Show whilst traveling through Space, only to land on Earth to battle flesh eating zombie cannibal unicorns from Mars.”
The band clearly enjoys the art of the show and celebrates the craft of showmanship. This writer posed the following questions:
10 years? That’s quite an achievement for any band. It seems Yin Yang and Zen Some must be a lot of fun to be involved with. Is that the secret to reaching your ten-year anniversary celebration?
Lou: Of course. But don’t tell anybody.
Whose initial idea was it to start the band? And was the stage presentation an important part
of the concept, from the get go?
Mike: The stage presentation is part of who we are. We never thought of not doing it.
Lou: Dylan and I had toyed with the idea of a theatrical Halloween band for years. Appar- ently ten years ago we finally did it.
You describe yourself as theatrical rock, and clearly a lot of thought goes into preparing for a show. Is each band member responsible for their individual attire? Or is it a case of one of you turning up with a wardrobe saying, “Hey, why don’t you wear this one tonight?”
Lou: Yes each band member is responsible for their individual attire, but input from others is welcomed for the most part.
Dylan: I think we have more fun preparing for the shows than at the show itself even. It’s a group of guys having a blast together, putting in mindless hours of work for a final result that’s always unknown until we plug in, yell at the audience, and go! Our audience has al- ways picked up on that I think.
You have quite an extended line up! Has the band fluctuated much over the past decade?
Lou: There have been 15 musicians to have played with Yin Yang over the years. Most prominent in previous years were Matthew Barlow and Jim Wildermuth.
For someone who has never witnessed your live act, what can they expect from your 10th anniversary shows?
Dylan: “Human sacrifice, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria,” to quote Bill Murray in Ghostbusters. A lot of sweat, costumes and debauchery. A huge mash-up of songs from the ‘50s to present day, with an edge and twist that is only ours.
Present line up: Lou Moretti, drums; Dylan Jung, bass; Jason Vargo, lead vocals; Nate Mullins, vocals; Mike Jung, lead guitar; Christian German, guitar & keyboards; Uncle Marc Wolin, trombone/keys. It is hinted at that these two Halloween performances may be their last, but they intend, as ever, to pull out all the stops and put on one hell of show. So don’t miss out! You are encouraged to dress up with them, and make the most of your evening in the band’s company. They guarantee that “You won’t be disappointed.”
Friday, October 28th @ Olde Sedona Bar & Grille, Sedona. Saturday, October 29th @ Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge, Flagstaff.
28 • {online at thenoise.us} OCTOBER 2016 | THE BEST OF ARIZONA | the Nöísẽ