KEXP Premiere: Scott Yoder – Ways of Love

Local Music, KEXP Premiere
09/12/2017
Dusty Henry

Scott Yoder knows a thing or two about embracing his psych tendencies. Yoder spent years fronting the local garage-pop outfit The Pharmacy, crafting some of the most expansive and delightfully freaky music in the city, and now finds himself writing and performing under his own name. He's been putting out solo material since 2015, including last year's Looking Back in Blue, but if you've missed any of it then his new 7-inch single might be just the introduction you need. The A-side "Ways of Love" exemplifies what Yoder excels at — crafting hypnotic pop rock that veers between surreal sonic visions and grounded real-life emotions.

His vocals stumble into the mix on the track, wobbling over the chunky acoustic guitar chords and the clamor of snapping drums. While the instrument is packed with incredibly lush arrangements, including a particularly infectious lead guitar line, his voice remains one of the most fascinating instruments on the track. The way he harmonizes his voice in a woozy howl on the chorus and spits out words like "star stuff" like it's everyday conversation are transfixing on their own. It's a punch drunk ode to cosmic love; one that you'll want to leave repeating on your turntable.

You can pre-order the 7-inch now, out September 28th via Greenway Records. Listen to "Ways of Love" and check out Yoder's upcoming tour dates below, including a show this Saturday here in Seattle at Black Lodge.

 

9/16 - Black Lodge (Seattle, WA)9/20 - Pony Tour kickoff/7" release!9/23 - Luckey’s (Eugene OR)9/24 - Holland Project (Reno NV)9/25 - The Hatch (Oakland CA)9/26 - The Echo (LA CA)9/27 - Harold’s Place (San Pedro CA)9/28 - Cafe Passe (Tucson AZ)9/29 - El Rancherito (Silver City NM)9/30 - Monarch (El Paso TX)10/1 - Main at South Street (Fort Worth TX)10/2 - Hotel Vegas (Austin TX)10/3 - Poor Boys (New Orleans LA)10/5 - Sidetracks (Huntsville AL)10/6 - Hi Tone (Memphis TN)10/7 - Static Age Records (Asheville NC)10/8 - The Cave (Chapel Hill NC)10/9 - The Station (Charlotte NC)10/10 - Wonderland (Richmond VA)10/11 - Slash Run (Washington DC)10/12 - TBA (Delaware)10/13 - TBA (Philadelphia PA)10/14 - Muchmore’s (Brooklyn NY)10/16 - TBA (Pittsburgh PA)10/17 - Now That’s Class (Cleveland OH)10/18 - UFO Factory (Detroit MI)10/19 - Hi Dive (Milwaukee, WI)10/20 - Cole’s (Chicago IL)10/21 - High Noon Saloon (Madison WI)10/22 - Palmer’s (Minneapolis MN)10/23 - Gabe’s (Iowa City, IW)10/24 - Blind Tiger (Kansas City MO)10/25 - TBA (Denver CO)10/26 - TBA (SLC UT)10/28 - The Olympic (Boise ID)10/29 - Liquor Store (Portland OR)

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