It is said that to be a certified storyteller one must go out on the road and experience life in all it’s glory - to taste true pain, get every last bit of goodness from life, suck the marrow proper over many years. That is what Victor Kennedy has done. Along with his band of musical cohorts, Victor Kennedy You Yangs have birthed a debut album Ride The Blizzard which sweeps you away into that world of rich story-telling: A world textured by layers best likened to The Drones meets Lou Reed.
The album features contributions from Tim Brosnan on guitar, David Tillotson on bass, along with both Des Hefner and Jim Richter on drums. Victor handles vocals, guitar and keyboards.
Victor Kennedy You Yangs are impassioned musicians who draw upon a wealth borne from years of experience performing in other notable bands (The Birthday Party, Paul Kelly & The Dots, The Slaughtermen, Lobby Loyde etc), and are able to capture the heartbeat of Victor’s stories whilst paying homage to influencers like the aforementioned Reed.
At times a wild ride, at others a lilting, soft tapestry, Ride The Blizzard captures the listener’s attention and takes them on a musical and poetic journey. Containing nine self-penned tracks which paint a portrait from Victor’s diverse travels, alongside one David Bowie cover, he’s gleaned imagery and words whilst traversing the planet over the past few decades and shoehorned them into an outpouring of his soul.
Collectively Victor Kennedy You Yangs have created a most exuberant, colourful, intoxicating and well crafted high energy album with this their debut full length Ride The Blizzard. And like all good art - this collage of music contains equal parts light and shade.
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