And the Nebraska Project rolls on. Today we catch up with Dave Yuknat to talk about his involvement in the project. Also, of note: the ticket link for the whole big shebang is now up. Get your tickets, tell your friends, come on out for a really great show! https://tickets.passim.org/ordertickets.asp?p=4534&backurl=default.asp
1) So who are you, what do you do, where are you from, what style of music do you play? The whole shebang, introduce yourself to the fine folks reading.
DY: Dave Yuknat is my name and I lead a roots rock band known as The Inebriations. Our sound falls somewhere in between Sun Studio and a classic rock radio playlist. We released a couple of singles back in 2014, and most recently we released a new EP titled, “Whiskey Wanderlust EP”. That EP can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp and streamed everywhere else!
2) How did you come about this Springsteen tribute project? Why are you involved and how has the music of The Boss come to influence you are a songwriter or musician?
DY: Over the past year I’ve gotten to be friends with Dann Russo after playing a handful of solo acoustic shows together and being a guest on his internet radio show, “Under the Covers with Dann Russo” (Sundays at 10am on WEMFradio.com). After getting wind of his spearheading this compilation project I got pretty excited and basically begged for a spot on it! I was psyched to see the title track was still available and I jumped on it. I soon found myself overwhelmed by the gravity of recording “Nebraska”, and ended up recording it twice. I thought the first try sounded too much like Johnny Cash, and I had taken too many liberties with it. Take two more closely follows the phrasing and chord structure of the original. It was a fun, yet nerve wracking process!
I was re-introduced to Bruce through my good friend Chris Canty. I also roped him into this compilation and he covers “Used Cars”. He’s the biggest Springsteen fanatic I know. I caught a couple amazing shows and found myself really latching on to some of (relatively) current stuff on “The Rising” and “Devils and Dust”. Canty first introduced me to the lore of this album, how ballsy it was to follow up a hugely successful album with a 4 track recording he was literally carrying around on a cassette in his pocket. I love that. For the uninitiated, let me suggest to your readers what was suggested to me – grab a pair of headphones, a bottle of whiskey, a dark room, and listen to Nebraska. It is an experience.
I wouldn’t say Bruce has affected my writing directly but what an amazing influence he is in terms of looking inward, and not being afraid to write and record what comes out the other side. A brave songwriter, he is.
3) A big part of this is the bringing together of a community of musicians both locally and nationally. How do you think the community aspect of this project impacts you as a songwriter? How do you feel you fit into your community of musicians or is there a substantial change you have witnessed lately?
DY: What I love about participating in this project is that I’ll get to know a bunch of local artists a little bit better. The compilation and the release show will give all involved a direct exposure to different styles and approaches and that’s always inspiring.
To answer the second part, I’ve been on the periphery of our local music community for a while now, and I find it fascinating. I’m not trying to present an outlaw image or anything, it’s just that where I’m at in life, my ability to get out and about can be limited. For the past few years that I’ve paid attention, I’ve found the community to be absolutely loaded with talent. I see a vibrant scene full of opportunity and great people, and by no means limited to a primary genre. There’s so much going I haven’t had time to explore, but I am in awe of what Tom Bianchi is doing with the long running Open Mic Challenge at the Lizard Lounge. Talk about community! And over the past year something’s been building around WEMF radio and I love what’s happening over there. And that loops us right back to my meeting Dann and getting involved in The Nebraska Project 2015. I’m thrilled to be a part of it! If I can say one more thing, thanks Red Line Roots for your community building efforts and for participating in, and covering this great project!!