As appeared in The Crass Menagerie 9/98
This Ain't Oprah - Interview with
BLUE YARD GARDEN
Interview by Jeb

BLUE YARD GARDEN are redefining the incestuous relationship between modern blues and pop rock. Their smooth delivery is encapsulated in an honest and passionate vibe born of the heart, mind, and soul. You just gotta hear this...

CM: Your sound, although rockin', seems to rely heavily on blues, what is the musical background of the band members?

BYG: Everyone has always listened to everything, we are all real music lovers across the board. Bluegrass-hiphop. Jim Croce-big Head todd-REM..

CM: Do you see yourselves appealing to an established market of music fans? Where do you see yourselves in the mix?

BYG: There is definitely an established market. The people who enjoy the honest pop sounds of bands like Counting Crows, Wallflowers, and Dave Matthews will love it, someone just needs to extend a hand

CM: How does the band write? Do you have a dominant personality or is it a band effort?

BYG: Everyone comes in with stuff, sometimes someone brings in a whole song -but it always ends up sounding different once everyone else starts in. Jeff and Ted have taken care of the lyrics so far. Actually, Ted is the dominant songwriter, he has written a majority of the band's material.

CM: On the same note, how much do you feel the band reflects individual personalities of the band members or is it a composite personality?

BYG: It's like a support group- someone will have a song the rest will feel the vibe and we will help each other emote- then again, sometimes we all do it at once and do the composite thingy..

CM: Do you believe that a person can get to know you from listening to your music?

BYG: Yeah, there's definitely a theme- Melancholy on the "feel good side" the music has a consistent vibe- Ted and Jeff's lyrics are a little different when they write separately-sometimes you can tell-when they write together it meshes up well

CM: What besides "On the Galaxy" is available from BYG?

BYG: EP- released end of 95 entitled- "Table For One." Then released July '98 "No Good Sundays"- - I am sure you will be getting a copy soon.

CM: Tell me about the name... What is a blue yard garden?

BYG: Emotional purging

CM: The album art for "On the Galaxy" is great. Is that a merry-go-round? How did you go about choosing that as your cover?

BYG: Yes it is, it is a merry go round that is located in Glen Echo Park right outside of DC in MD along the Potomac (GO Terps!!) The park was a thriving place In the 50's its real cool, actually the back picture and the picture under the credits are from the park as well. Well , Randy took the picture (Bass) and everybody loved the picture, it looked like the songs.

CM: On the back of the CD insert there is a BYG logo with a picture of what looks like a person in tribal make-up crying... what is the story behind that?

BYG: Randy came up with that thingy, he is a really artistic person, he actually drew the logo one day while goofing around,. He actually prints all of the band's t-shirts, and did the full layout for both of the CD's, he is real handy to have around!!! The person actually in the Logo is Winnona Ryder, we all find her to be rather attractive

CM: Is the band actively pursuing a major label contract? What is the appeal of a career in music?

BYG: Aren't we all??- it would be great but we try to keep focus on having fun- hoping and prying to get signed can eventually destroy the writing process. So, yes we are currently shopping, and have had many contacts, we are in no hurry though, why not just keep it to ourselves and not compromise a thing. We have a real cool label (Empyrean) that we are developing into our own little Major!!! Gonna get all the good bands together and do some really cool things with the music.

CM: What passions do you have outside of music?

BYG: Ted likes- cars, lamps, plants, and old TV sets, Randy likes camping, old cars, creating stuff, dickens cider John likes Wood, Jeff likes camping, women, bar jokes, Willie likes computer things, NJ Hair, his family.

CM: If you could share a stage with any performer ever, who would it be?

BYG: A big huge stage with- The Sundays, John Hiatt, Victor Wooten, Gene Vincent, and Gene Simmons.....

CM: Any last words?

BYG: Listen-enjoy-hopefully something you hear will make you feel something. Thanx a lot for namin' this album one of the best of 97 hopefully the new one will not disappoint.