Put The Hammer Down also includes a couple of cover songs that were in the set on the last couple of tours for Fear Not The Obvious. The cover of "Love Train" is not much of a stretch for The Yayhoos, and is just as much fun as the original tune, with a dose of Yayhoos style added for good measure. The real surprise on this album, is the cover of the B-52's track "Roam", which has been appropriately rocked up with guitars that would make Kate and Cindy's beehive hairdos run for the hills! Anybody that read my review of Eric Ambel's Knucklehead album will also know that I would have been very happy to see their version of "Down By The River" wind up on this record. Who knows, perhaps we might see it show up on that long talked about Yayhoos live album?
Speaking of Ambel, if I have a complaint about this album, it would be that there is not nearly enough Ambel on it. He turns in a couple of fine tracks vocally, particularly "Between You And Me", and also the pleasantly retro "Hurtin' Thing". Eric Ambel has become a favorite, and hopefully we will get another solo record from him one of these days.
All in all, Put The Hammer Down does just that, and is a record that unbelievably manages to top Fear Not The Obvious, and then some. The album will be enjoyable to anyone that enjoys good rock and roll and comes with an invisible ticket that guarantees that you will get your ass kicked at a future Yayhoos show, very soon.
Order Put The Hammer Down from The Yayhoos official website.
Other web links of interest:
Eric Ambel official site
Dan Baird official site
Terry Anderson official site
Lakeside Lounge
Article comments
1 - Matt T.
Great review. I just picked up my copy of Put The Hammer Down, and I agree completely. I fell in love with the Satellites when I was 12 and heard "Keep Your Hands To Yourself". Thanks to them, I went on to discover NRBQ and discover the glory that is The Faces/Ronnie Wood's solo work/Rod Stewart's early stuff. I've had the opprotunity to interview Dan Baird a couple times, and he's a really cool guy. Matter of fact, all the Yayhoos are the type of guys who make you feel good about rock & roll, either by playing the hell out of it or obviously enjoying it so much.
I'm also a bass player, and Kieth Christopher is an inspiration. I saw the band do "Roam" live in Atlanta (at Smith's Olde Bar, where Kieth recorded a killer album with Billy Joe Shaver). The crowd went nuts, and I've been jonesing to hear it again ever since.
Again, good work, and more kudos for the excellent review of Knucklehead (which may've been the last CD I reviewed before I gave up that gig, but that's another story). The Yayhoos play Atlanta May 5th (the closest show in my area, and we can't get 'em to come Athens, sadly), and I cannot wait.
Take it easy.
2 - Vern Halen
In the Land of Salvation and Sin by the Satellites is the great lost album of the late 20th century. I've never been able totrack down any Yayhoos material, but if they're even 1/10 as good as DAn BAird's former band, then they might be one of the best bands in AMerica today.
3 - Matt Wardlaw
Matt - glad you dug the review. You are right about the Yayhoos - they do indeed make you feel good about music in general...glad that someone else feels that way!
Vern - check out Yayhoos.com - you can order both CDs from there - it's easy!
4 - Vern Halen
Thanx - I always forget this is the digital age & I don't hahve to go down to my local CD/LP dealer. Not a good thing for the retailer, I suppose, but good for the consumer (did I just say that? Have I gone over to the other side?).