MP3: The Yo-Yo's / Time Of Your Life & Hanging Up

Okay tonight we have one of the countless Wildhearts spin-off groups who formed between the bands split (well one of their longer splits) in 1997 and their reformation a couple of years back. 'Hearts bassist Danny McCormack joined up with guitarists Tom Spencer and Neil Phillips, plus charmingly monickered drummer 'Bladz'. A bit more old-fashioned rock and roll than the Wildhearts, they seemed both visually and musically stuck back in the Nuggetsy Rock 'n' Roll era, mixing things up with some nice bits of Beach Boys style harmony.

The band formed in 1998, signed to Sub-Pop (pretty random for a British band, especially one that sound like the Yo-Yo's), and released a number of singles, including Time Of Your Life, Sunshine Girl, Rumble(d), You Got Me Out Of My Mind, as well as one full-length, Uppers and Downers, in 2000. They toured with Backyard Babies (there's another band I haven't heard from in ages) and Pitchshifter. I saw them on the Pitchshifter tour at Southampton Uni Student Union, and quite randomly (or not randomly if you know anything about the family) got asked by Chris McCormack of 3CR if I had any coke next to the tshirt stand. Bizarre. Especially as I was 16 and not exactly the cokehead type.

Anyway a bunch of gigs were cancelled the following year (due to recurring 'health' problems) and the band split soon after. On relistening to the album, I still kind of liked it, but like a lot of music I was listening to when I was 16, its a bit heavier on the unpretentious happy rock and roll vibe than the stuff I listen to now, not that that's always a bad thing of course. Apparently the band reformed this year with new members, but whether they'll get around to playing their scheduled dates (with a yet again reformed Pitchshifter, will they ever give up?) is anybody's guess. Anyway hope you enjoy the tunes.

If you want more info the best place to look is the excellent Five Miles High, followed by the brand spanking new official site. More stuff can be found here and here. Rock on.

Download: Time Of Your Life - MP3 2.95mb (rapidshare)
Download: Hanging Up - MP3 2.45mb (rapidshare)