POOR YORICK....LIVE!
 ...and in COLOR!
Waterloo Ice House  (38th and Medical) MAP

A NEW YEAR!!

FRIDAY! January 4th   7 PM

NO COVER!

A TWELFTH NIGHT CELEBRATION!..(OK, maybe tenth or eleventh...)

Come early and get a good seat!

"Yuletide Fool"
Poor Yorick's 2008 Christmas album

Check out "Best of a Year"!

 Great Stocking-Stuffer!

Order online now!

"...a day that will live in infamy!"
FRIDAY! December 7th   7PM
 POOR YORICK....LIVE!...and in COLOR!
Waterloo Ice House  (38th and Medical) MAP
NO COVER!

DECK THEM HALLS!  Come early and get a good seat!

LIVE!
TONITE!

at the  
White Horse
500 Comal St.
Austin, TX 78702

Tuesday  NOV  27
7 PM

From the EP
"Another Horse Race"
Faking Cool

NOVEMBER 27th  7-9 PM

The WHITE HORSE

500 Comal St. Austin, TX 78702

Download it now just 99 cents!

 Another Horse Race: a micro-oper-ette

....OR.....

Order the entire CD/EP....complete with the micro-oper-ette PLUS additonal BONUS TRACKS!

Focus on the bass!.....Woody!

So.... What might be said about Robert "Woody" Woodruff...something that isn't obvious to those who have heard Poor Yorick in person over the years.  Perhaps a little background....In the dark formative years, primordial ooze being what it is, that which was to become PY had nothing but guitar-players in their midst and began looking for a bass player.  Ron said he knew someone who might fit the bill, but that he lived in San Antonio.  Woody had, in fact, been the pseudo-fabled "lead-rythm-guitar-player" for The Dogs at an earlier point (another story altogether), and leapt at the chance to once again play music in Austin.   

Well...anyone who has witnessed it can tell you,  Woody just doesn't play the bass.  Nor does he just play music.  He's.....kinetic...yes, that's it!  He moves.  And he has been a major fixture, influence, and force within PY for it's entire existence.  If we might be permitted a brief musical-techno-nerd comment,..Mr. Woodruff doesn't always stay safely 'locked-in' with the kick drum...he explores the transitions during the 'changes'...looks for alternative ways of 'getting to the root'.  At other times, he plays the damn thing one-handed!  Then there are the moments when we allow him near a microphone...which he himself will often attempt to avoid, but which would most certainly be missed by the PY faithful if he stopped.

Put on the headphones and give a listen to the melodic bass tumbles in  On With The Show (1997)...or the surprising funkiness in the bass line on Wishing Well  (2007)...and of course, explore questionable aspects of eastern European folk dancing with Woody's stirring/provocative rendition of Polka, Polka, Polka (2005)...how naughty! 

A seminal member of PY, an ever-freshening source of "facts that only he knows", and a consumate performer....we give you,..your honor, we ask you,... Robert "Woody" Woodruff.

Delightful evening last night at the fabulous Waterloo Ice House!  A very loyal and responsive crowd at a very intimate venue...  always a pleasure to perform for those who appear to enjoy it and look forward to our next show there.  A special thanks to the great staff and management who always make it a great evening for everyone.  Hope to see everyone again on October 5th!

Download it now just 99 cents!

Another Horse Race:
                     a micro-oper-ette

....OR.....

Order the entire CD/EP....complete with the micro-oper-ette PLUS additonal BONUS TRACKS!

For anybody who has had the distinct realization that they are not being heard.

Transmitter

from the "Another Horse Race" EP, (c)(p) 2012 One-Hand-Clapping Music...soon to be available on CD.

"Another Horse Race: a micro-oper-ette"                        

...and they're off!!!  (well that's putting it mildly)

POOR YORICK'S LATEST RELEASE,.. snarkily devoted to the seemingly endless/continual political campaign cycle... presented here as a 'single', or is it an 'EP'?...anyway,  a 12 minute opus comprised of five newly recorded and interwoven pieces:

*  INTRO-TURE
*  UP FOR SALE
*  BEST GOVA'MENT MONEY CAN BUY 
*  BIG DADDY
*  I CAN BE FOOLED

     If it sounds as if we're taking a poke at this election year with all its 'hype-driven-stuffed-shirted-self-promoting-holier-than-thou-don't-we-smile-nice-and-have-all-the-answerrs-aren't-you-glad-you-agree-with-us-and-oh-by-the-way-we-need-your-money' nonsense........you are correct.

"At whom specifically?" you might ask.

"At each and every one of 'em," we might reply..."swing a dead cat..." we might say....just a way of blowing off a little steam since we don't do it on Facebook.

...but if you take your politics seriously, then maybe you shouldn't...aahh,... what the hey,... go ahead.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE THING HERE

Hey!  Be sure to get on the Poor Yorick mailing list

Click here!

Studio News:  Cloistered away in the studio for much of the day, doing final remixes of the songs to be included on PY's imminent release, "Another Horse Race: a micro-oper-ette".  All we can say at this point is that this 12-minute single (or is it an EP?) will attempt to tweak the nose of the political puppeteers we all find ourselves assailed by as of late.  "Which ones?" you might ask.  "All of them," we might reply.  But don't quote us.

 We can say with some degree of authority, that sitting in a dark room listening to the same piece of music over and over again, pushing buttons, adjusting EQ and compression levels, "riding" faders, "rolling off" unwanted frequencies, uh...sorry, didn't mean to go on such a techno-nerd rant....but it does begin to turn into something resembling work.  And we do have to take a break now and again to stave off the hallucinations....perhaps we've said too much.

Anyway,...with a small amount of luck (not to mention bourbon and coffee), we should have our little opus ready for your consideration by the time the political party conventions are in full swing (late August-early September).

Stay tuned!

Focus on JAMES JOHNSON

In late 1986 (or was it it early 1987) the beginnings of what was to become Poor Yorick began to slowly form...you know, like primordial ooze.  Anyway, performing in those days under the name "EPS" (10 points if you happen to know what that stands for) our original drummer was none other than... JAMES JOHNSON.  We had all fallen in together while working at day jobs in a very "silly" place and, after a time, with a few band-personnel shifts, and after having changed our name to 'Poor Yorick' (a story in-and-of-itself), James settled into lead guitar duties.... and has been steady in that role ever since.

As a seminal member of PY, JAMES has produced some tasty performances throughout the band's catalog...early on as the percussionist as mentioned, and later on his solid-body-electric-six-string guitars.  Just a quick and limited sample of some of our favorite guitar passages from JAMES includes... a slippery counterpoint break in  'Not As If We Lied' (1992); some driving riff work on  'Walking the Dogma'(2005);  and some wild-classic-retro-blasts in the middle of  both 'Walking Through'(2012) and  'Gone Munkeys' (2005).


Needless to say...O.K. we'll say it...PY wouldn't be the same without him, his guitar, his supporting vocals, and his goofy sense of humor.

Ladies and gentle-germs....JAMES JOHNSON!

Soundcloud.com/poor-yorick

 Just a reminder to check out the Poor Yorick Soundcloud site for the latest postings and,....the occasional free download...just click on over to the site and look for the 'download' icon for each song...many of the tracks are free for the taking...its on us!

Meanwhile..."Another Horse Race", a micro-oper-ette is slated for release sometime toward the end of this month (August '12)...stay tuned.

 For anybody who has found themselves dealing with the enduring logic of large bureaucracies...and the people who love them.


Not As If We Lied

from the "What Fools" album, (c)(p) 1992 Sideffects Music

Studio News:  Final mixing of the latest project, "Another Horse Race: a micro-oper-ette" is all but completely done at this point.  This 12-minute romp devoted somewhat to the upcoming/ongoing election hub-bub includes two newer, original tunes as well as a couple of 'reboots' of some classic PY political offerings....all melded into a flowing mass of.....well you can be the judge and very soon we hope.  Slated for debut some time in late August...if not a bit earlier.  We hope to have a version posted on Soundcloud very soon.

We would indeed be remiss if we allowed this July 30th to pass without acknowledging a milepost birthday event for our one-an-only JAMES JOHNSON III...lead guitarist for Poor Yorick these many years.  We'll leave it to James to divulge (or not) which milepost this might be and encourage any-and-all to add their best wishes here on our comments page.

And now for something blatantly non-political...though someone did once ask if we had any politicians in mind when we penned this one...actually, can't remember what the original point was...but, see what do you think?

Gone Munkeys 

from the album "Aren't You Glad You Came" available on itunes, Amazon, Rhapsody

Also available on CD through Poor Yorick's Official Website!

Looks like some of the search engines have caught up with the website change,...but not all.  So here's yet another reminder about the new address.  Get all that goofy info..looking for how to get CD's or downloads, find out about the next LIVE appearance, get on the email list, gander at some old snapshots, or even find out what in the world the band's name means....go to: www.pooryorickaustin.homestead.com.

Another lovely time last night,7/21, playing a private engagement in North Austin for some very dear friends celebrating both a 25th wedding anniversary,..as well as an impending 'milestone' birthday (we shall be discreet as to which one).  Wanted to give a grateful nod to our delightful hosts, David and Susan and wish them all the best.

Stay tuned for further news on the upcoming "Another Hose Race " project.

Well, it has been a bit of old-home-week down here at Poor Yorick Central as one of our own has come to roost for a while.  Fresh from an extended engagement on the 'Continent', (specifically Rome ...the one in Italy), PATRICK HANEY, seminal member of the PY family has made his way back to Austin for a visit.  Be sure to check out vintage PY performances featuring Patrick on Poor Yorick YouTube as well some of his performances with his current band in Rome,  Alamo Hotel. 

Also!...wanted to note that  LOST JOHN CASNER will be hosting Texas Music Night at Giddy-Ups on MONDAY, JULY 23rd, 7PM.

ALSO! ALSO!...make plans to come see POOR YORICK... LIVE! 

at Waterloo Ice House, 38th street,  FRIDAY,  AUGUST 3rd, 7PM.

More info as usual about CD's, downloads, photos, yada, yada,...at
www.pooryorickaustin.homstead.com

 Poor Yorick's Official Website
 

Once again, we wanted to make sure there was ample access to all that goofy info..looking for how to get CD's or downloads, find out about the next LIVE appearance, get on the email list, gander at some old snapshots, or even find out what in the world the band's name means....go to: www.pooryorickaustin.homestead.com.

Went into the PoorYorick recording basement and laid down the final tracks for our election year mini-rock opera.....Nice afternoon to record. Ron's squirrels need to be put on a diet....

-Woody

 Watch Video
"Kool City Kat" (live in 1995)

 ....classic Patrick Haney, James Johnson and a good live take of how we used to do it with Stephanie Bush driving the whole thing.

Just a reminder to check out the Poor Yorick Soundcloud site for the latest postings and,....the occasional free download...just click on over to the site and look for the 'download' icon for each song...many of the tracks are free for the taking...its on us!

More to come on the emerging "Another Horse Race" project...stay tuned.

'Lets All Be Normal ' (live 1995)

Watch Video

Ah!....those were the days...or maybe these are the days...hard to tell.  Anyway, a slice of a TV appearane back in '95,...complete with both Patrick Haney and Stephanie Bush.

 

HEY!
TONITE!   July 6th   7PM
POOR YORICK....LIVE!...and in COLOR!
Waterloo Ice House  (38th and Medical) MAP
NO COVER!
Let's extend the holiday a bit.  Come early and get a good seat!

Happy Independence Day!
(insert big BOOM! here)

Hope everyone have a safe and pleasant midsummer holiday.

Come see us Friday night, July 6th, 7 PM
at Waterloo Ice House (38th street), Austin, TX
No Cover


Also visit us at
www.pooryorickaustin.homestead.com

 "Lets All Be Normal"...a retrospective romp

     Watch the Video                               

Spotlight on the Skins!...             Trisha Reis

It is a fact that Poor Yorick has been blessed with excellent drummers throughout its existence.  From James in the early days (yes...lead guitarist James Johnson was, in fact our first drummer), to Perry Hubert, to Stephanie Bush,... lets face it...our percussionists have usually been one of the best, if not the best musician in the band.  So we'd like to take the opportunity to highlight one of our best assets as a band...our drummer/percussionist, TRISHA REIS.

We met Trish in the summer of 2003 as Poor Yorick was in the process of re-inventing itself yet again.  We were certainly impressed with her background: hailing from New Orleans; having been a journey-woman drummer in the LA area; and her current emphasis as a Music Therapist with severely challenged populations;..all of this made Trish a welcome asset to our little organization.

But the simple truth is, as anyone who has heard PY over the past nine subsequent years can testify,  Trish has got the "chops".  The truth be known, she makes us sound better by just being back there, holding down the groove.  No matter if it's Jazz, Salsa, Bassa nova, Swing, Blues, a Waltz, or straight four-in-the-bar Rock & Roll,..Trish drives it. Take a minute to give a listen to the infectious, percussive performance she gives on "Monkey and the Rat" , the driving syncopated snare/hy-hat patterns on the goofy "You Stole My Lunch", or the smooth, laid-back brush work on
"I Might Be Wrong"... a bit of alright!

At this point, Trish has been the longest tenured drummer with Poor Yorick, and all of us down here at the PY Head Office (Clown-In-The Ground Cental: subsidiary of Dead Jester Enterprises) feel damn lucky to have her...

So..ladies and gentlemen, we give you...Trisha Reis!

...just sayin'

Studio News: Looks like the boys down at Central have put their heads together yet again (we thought we heard the clatter of slide-rules) and there is some consensus down at the head office that the current recording project will receive yet another working title change .  In keeping with the up-coming/on-going election year "jockeying" shenanigans, the new project is now called, "Another Horse Race: a micro-opera-ette".  Final vocal tracks are being done as well as a set of transitional pieces for the final mix.  The usual bit of procrastination has reared its ugly head, but progress is being made anyway.

 
Also...we are looking forward to an up-coming show at Waterloo Ice House (38th Street and Medical, Austin, TX) a week from today, July 6th.  Music starts at 7 PM for this "dinner show".  Always a pleasure appearing there with the usual well-behaved crowds (aka. no broken furniture or unwanted tattoos at the end of the night).  Thought we'd just extend the Independence Day festivities a bit.  Good food, great staff,...do plan to join us....and bring an unsuspecting member of the public.

Poor Yorick "Lite" will be playing Wednesday night for patients at the Austin State Hospital. Nearly every member of PY, past and present, has worked at the hospital. Despite having all the shortcomings and frustrations one could expect from a state run psychiatric facility, ASH holds a special place in PY's collective hearts. Looking forward to providing a little entertainment for folks who haven't gotten the best shake in life. 

News at large (or even smaller):  Lovely time last night, 6/23, playing a private engagement in one Austin's sleepy, well-forested sub-urbs...very nice.  Good to see some old "fans" again and to have had the opportunity to conjure a few new fans as well.  Another grateful nod to our delightful hosts, Cody, Chris, Steve, and Sally!

Studio notes:  Work continues, and appears to be tapering toward an end, on the new 12-minute project,..now tentatively entitled "Another Horse Race: a micro-opera-ette"....still not sure about that yet though.

Video possibilities: have been rummaging around the archives at the head office and ran across some video of "live" performances from days-gone-by that perhaps require exposure yet again... (did we just threaten to expose ourselves?).  Stand by... perhaps we'll get some of these versions of classic Yorick tunes posted along with the associated footage.

Finally:  We would indeed be remiss today if we did not throw a small bit of confetti directly at our "lead bass player", Mr. Robert "Woody" Woodruff and wish him the happiest of Birthdays!..we'll leave it to him to comment and divulge which birthday this happens to be.

'Til we get further clearance from the boys-down-at-central, this is Ron...

Woody reports:
Spent the day in the basement...er...den...as recommended by the boys in central. Rehearsed PY's upcoming project...an election year rock opera with the theme of Best Government ($ can buy), and a special ode to Rush (or any other big daddy pundit who guides political dogma)....in the end...we can be fooled...Just tell me what I want to hear and then tell me more....

 At times we get puzzled looks from folks when we reveal the band's name...so on occasion we'll feel the need to explain.  To quote from William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', Act 5, Scene 1...

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?  Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that." 

Translation?...Yorick, the king's jester at one time, used to be hilarious!...but he's been dead for a while and nobody's laughing now.  So yuk it up while you can!

NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS!

www.pooryorickaustin.homestead.com

Search engines have yet to catch up to the change so we're making the site link as easy to find as we can.  Be sure to Bookmark or put it in your Favorites.

More work this afternoon on some over-dub guitar tracks with James.  

It used to take us a year to finish off an album's worth of material and get it out in CD format. We're now experimenting a bit, not so much with our sound (pretentious though that seems), but rather with an intention to not let ideas just sit around...to act on them...get a song or piece of music out of the studio, push it along and actually have it available for people to listen to ..and hopefully react to...good, bad, or in between...in a relatively short time span.  Current access to technology makes this more viable than ever before.  So please don't hesitate to follow our little digital-bread-crumb-trail over to Soundcloud.com, give a listen and make comment.  It is after all an experiment.  Do it for science!

News from Pseudo Pstudio:

We are sneaking up on completion of what we hope to be a micro-rock-opera-ette devoted to the upcoming (on-going) election year.   Still have some over-dubs to do,..including some Lost John piano here and there, a guitar track or two from James, a couple bass tracks from Woody, some Trisha stuff...not to mention tightening up vocal tracks with Ron as well.  This little opus has yet to be titled in its entirety (perhaps something about 'money' and 'elections'), though the individual songs included in the nearly 12 minute string include two newish compositions, "Up For Sale", and "I Can Be Fooled", to be spliced together with two re-recorded 'reboot' versions of previously released Yorick songs,  "Best Gova'ment Money Can Buy" and "Big Daddy".  If all goes well (note the lack of complete conviction), we hope to have something in presentable form posted on Soundcloud.com in the coming days/weeks...might even get a 'single' version posted on itunes, Amazon, etc...but that's not decided.  There's even the possibility (even less decided) of rendering an EP...complete with the 12 minute single along with separate, more developed versions of the newer tunes,..and a couple other 'B-sides' as well...but that would be an after-thought at this point.  Stay tuned!

This posting cleared by the Boys-Down-At-Central, PY head office, Ossipee, NH.

Studio news: Wanted to have folks visit  Soundcloud.com to hear some of latest musings...including a brand new tune, "Transmitter".  Be sure to make comments on the "blue bar" below each tune if you are so inclined.

Hey!...not to be to discrete about it, but...The Boys-Down-At-Central have radio-ed us that a couple Yoricians have birthdays comin' up!

In between recording and rehearsing for this and that...we wanted to let people know that the address of our WEBSITE HAS CHANGED.  The new address is www.pooryorickaustin.homestead.com

Search engines such as Yahoo, Bing, etc.  haven't caught up yet so be sure to bookmark it so you can stay current with all the news coming from the 'Boys-Down-At-Central' at the head office up in Ossippe, NH.

Studio news:  We've been cobbling together some tracks lately,...not for any album-like project per se,...though we do have an EP-Mini-Opera-thingy on the front burner...dedicated somewhat to the upcoming election year...it will feature a couple of new-ish tunes along with some older 'reboots' of  our more politically driven songs, and run about 11-12 minutes front to back..  Some of this is posted now on Soundcloud.  Hope to have something presentable and downloadable by mid summer!