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KNOW YOUR YAHOOTee HISTORY - 1970's
LAUNDRY ROOM LEGACY
- The Yahootees, originally The Yahootee Mormans (or any number of different spellings) have entertained almost a half a generation of fans spanning at least some of the east coast Tri-state area!
- The first performance was in the laundry room of Bouton Hall, at New Paltz, NY. where Jim set off a firecracker in his guitar neck and the sounds of the dryer doors slamming served as the backbeat! They've done worse.
- Hits featured "Bullets in My Brain", "Coffin Life" and "Frogs Dress Up Too" (featured in Jim's poster!)
- The audience consisted of confused Boutonettes who spent their Saturday night doing laundry (lame). BUT…Karen Stella, Amy Sobieski, Jane Cullen and Julie Snow showed up to cheer on our delusion. And no one in the world has been to more shows than Karen—not even the band members themselves. Thank you!
Young Yahootees
- Founded by the song styling star "Jumping" Mike Doran and Jim "Dark Kook" Fletcher, the duo set out to scream out about their mutual love of the Monkees through the distorted broken lens of the early punk scene upon the sleepy college town of New Paltz, New York.
- The Yahootees staggering lack of skill soon had elevated them from harassing people in laundry rooms to the few smoky dives that the New Paltz night life had to offer, even eventually hosting the popular and aptly named, " No Talent Nite" at Coochies. Thanks Sean!
- "Fashion Hurts", "Household Appliances", and the Anti-Nuke song "Wood" were penned during these early days.
Wa-Ow!
- As their playlist of punchy punk/pop sing alongs such as " We Smoke Cigarettes", "WA-OW!" (theme song)" ,"Triptoe through the Tulips" and others grew, the duo added a much needed member to keep some semblance of rhythm, with drummer Gary Lam!
- While practice never even made close to perfect (a tradition that they would continue to embrace), at least it was louder...
- One of their most raucous "Live on Wednesdays" sets was the good-bye show of Glen Heroy and the Bad seeds, which had the entire audience worked into a frenzy by the end of the droning, pounding drums of the song "Middle Class America".
- Some of this shows actually survived on tape and will will be unleashed along with others from back then at some point, re-live at your peril!
- We also experienced our first Major Label rejection from Warner Bros. music at this time, setting the stage for the years to follow!
Yahootee MACH 2
- As they tried to add a complete set of strings to a guitar and tune their instruments (mostly to no avail) they teamed up with other like minded upstate upstarts, briefly teaming up with bass player Chip and drummer Martin (who would go on to form the more new wave-y Vial of Life)
- This new line -up started to morph their sonic barrage into actual passable song structures!
- The popular crowd , um ..pleaser(?) "Most Humans" and the bombastic "Kill the Punk Rockers" were added to the set this around this time, to little notice or acclaim.
1970's Photo Gallery
YAHOOTEES 80'S-1990'S
MY NAME IS DAVE
- Now out of school, but no wiser from the experience, Mike and Jim rekindle an old urge to set the world ablaze again with songs no one needs to hear.
- The addition of a Synsonics Drum Machine and a fancy new guitarist who knows at least a few more actual chords than Jim, the Mighty Dave Saltzberg enters the act and makes it a true three chord AND three ring circus of sound!
- Many great songs the band would continue to play live were churned our from this trio: "Heavy Metal Nuns" "The King", "Joy Cream", "Tina Thinks", and the rousing cover of "Froggy went a Courtin'", to name more than anyone cares to remember!
New York, OLD NOISE
- While Dave added new musical flexibility and sonic textures to the growing adventurous song list , the Drum machine was simply no match for the wayward and unpredictable wanderings of the band's muse!
- Despite the usual unruly feedback and many rehearsals that didn't follow the actual live set lists, the boys kept at it, going to REAL rehersal studios and starting to and play out live at downtown NYC bars!
- Most frequent of all their haunts was the famous Scrap Bar on Mac Dougal and Bleeker st. in the the village, where owner Steve Trimboli clearly had no idea what music was supposed to sound like, but on the other hand, no one has described this time of the Yahootee Mormons ruckus as music.
- The band also played at CBGB's during this time following in the footsteps of bands people actually listen to!
DRUMMER X / #F*CHUCK
- An addition of a mysterious masked figure known only as technologist DRUMMER X was added to the line- up in the early days of the Scrap Bar gigs. This enigmatic figure ,to this very day, refuses to show his face to the public.
- His only quote about this time with the band: " I liked those guys but c'mon man, the music was terrible!"
- "Phlegm Brothers" would the band's last musical misfire with anything heavily techno driven in the 80's.
- The band was then honored to be asked to play it's first fundraiser! They didn't ask what the cause was, and ended up helping to raise money to get someone out of jail on double homicide charges. You're welcome America!
- Moving on from the sudden departure of DRUMMER X , the band got lucky and got back at least 1/2 of a rhythm section with the arrival of bassist Chuck Kinsinger. Gi Joe says "knowing is 1/2 the battle". Chuck claims he knows what the other 1/2 is, but is under oath not to tell.
- Chuck also brought his own brand of social commentary into the group with killer songs like "Jesus Dry". Hell yeah, once again America wins.
CrossDressing
- One of the pinnacles of the Yahootees catalogue has to be the pop sensation "Crossdressing with My Dad"!
- The Yahootee Mormons got TV time on USA Network's "Up all Night with Gilbert Gottfried and Video Jukebox and even snagged some college radio airplay!
- Mike's directorial debut on his unique take of father/son bonding time let Jim push his glam rock star look into a totally new direction. Too bad they lost those snappy dresses after a wedding!
- Luckily YOU can still watch it at the video link below! Almost 80K views!! Wa-ow!
- Crossdressing with My Dad (1990): Vocals/Lyrics by Mike Doran. Music by Mike Doran, Jim Fletcher, Dave Salzberg and Rob Fielack. Rob also produced this little ditty and wants waaaay too much credit. Directed by Mike Doran. Filmed by the other-worldly Mindy Weisberger.
PFMANK you DI COMO
- Once in a generation a person comes along who's a game change, makes a big impact all humanity can benefit from, or charts a bold new course that really makes the world stand up and take notice.
- Well, Mike Di Como didn't do any of that shit, he wasn't famous, but he could play in THIS band!!
- When the youngest Yahootee joined the misfits of musical mayhem, something strange started to happen.. guitars start being in tune.. a rhythm section (that plays together at pretty much the same time) emerges, acoustic guitars start showing up.. what's next? Oh, but then he wrote " Song". showing that he managed to unlearn everything else he knew about music!! We hear he's grateful to this day.
- This grouping of the Yahootee Mormons added some more nuanced songs such as "Afterlife", "Holiday", "It's Over" to their live sets + "Violent Goodbye", a throwback to the early days of the bands outlook on life and relationships!
- Big Press shout outs at this time: Buzz Magazine and mentioned in one sentence in Billboard Magazine!
TENSE FROG
- Now that the band was complete again, it was time to waste some of the planet's resources to get a record out on the Tense Frog label.
- In 1994 the four-hit wonders "Cross-dressing with my Dad" ,'Let's Get Drunk", "Stop that Babblin" and "That Fool" were finally able to be spun on turntables around the globe...
- The globe apparently had other things to spin as sales soared in to maybe the double digits.
- A live show at the 1991 Albany New Music Expo showcased the bands unrelenting desire to play songs out of tune like "Palais Royale" , and then butcher the rock anthem "Taking Care of Business" to the dismay of the crowd!
High fliers
- These were busy times for the band and choosing the right color paper and which street corner to post concert fliers on was always difficult.
- Playing frequently in NYC clubs, such as CBGB'S, The Bank, Bond St, Cafe,Tilt, The Spiral, Downtown Beruit, Street Level, Sidewalk Cafe, the Continental, Acme Underground and Brownie's kept them for applying themselves to any real jobs, frequently earning upwards of $1O.25 each member per show!
- Spending the meager funds they did make, Mike and Jim would frequently bring costume changes/ props and even some times matching outfits to shows!
- A side note: NONE of these clubs are around any more, a stunning testament to the Yahootees impact on the vibrant downtown NYC music scene of the 80s-90's!
TOMMY "GUN" KWON
- Was he ever called that? NO.
- But with the departure of Dave due to creative indifference, the band needed a new axe-wielder!
- When Mr. Tom Kwon signed up to join the Yahootee gang they knew they had something new in the their arsenal of aural attacks..this dewd could shred out solos like a paper shredder on crack.
- In the "Suit for Jesus" video (below) Tom's solo absolutely tears the roof off the steeple!
- Tom's fancy fretwork helped propel "The Ballad of Woody and Soon Yi" into a cult hit! It was played on WFMU, and many of other stations with 4 initials!
- With Jim up to a solid 5 chords by this point having a guy who could play a decent solo added a whole new dimension to the band. Granted that dimension was one that few wanted to travel to, but still..
SUIT FOR JESUS
- If you haven't been to church recently, that's ok, because repeated watching of THIS video by the Fab 5 will make sure you won't be going to Heaven anytime soon!
- Man tries to bribe his way into heaven by offering Jesus a suit. Sounds dumb, but it really was a fancy-schmancy rhinestone studded suit!
- Directed by Mike Doran and the fabulous Micki Pagano. Featuring Rod Marcus as Jesus (or was Jesus playing Rod Marcus?), Lovely Lara Bemis as his sister, and the effervescent Steve Trimboli as the waiter. Shot by John Inwood, who we still owe money.
- "Suit for Jesus" was the debut single off of Project: Carwash, our third album (which sounds so much cooler than third cassette tape). Produced by the musical genius, Mr. Bill Smallacombe.
END OF AN ERROR
- 5 years into the 90's and it looked like the band was destined for the dustbin along with their fancy red 45's, and cassette releases of Lady, Don't fry my goat!, Five men, one Brain and Project: Carwash.
- It would indeed be almost the last flier the band would staple to a pole in NYC , and the show drew one of the biggest crowds the guys ever played to. At least they figured out how to spell their own band name by this point, a big accomplishment in it's own right!
- Connecticut had indeed claimed more rock n' roll souls.
THE LAST WA-OW?
- As with most great bands, the farewell show turned out to be sham as the lads briefly reunited in the late 90's. But like Y2k, it didn't make any impact.
- Mike Boris joined as the drummer playing with the wrath of an unleashed animal! Actually more like animal from the Muppets, dude rocked.
- Joon Ho Park filled in the gaps on guitar at a few shows and joined for the final studio recording sessions.
- "Three Old Broads", "4:10 AM "and the bombastic "No Hard Feelings" were all laid down at the Hotel Edison Studios in NYC.
- The final, final show was the "Rock the Vote" Fundraiser for Al Gore, remember how THAT worked out!
- And just like that...POOF! The band disappeared off the face of the earth along with Al Gore's political career.
1980's-90's Photo Gallery
2021, A BUNCHA CLOWNS start a new RUCKUS!
- Jim and Mike dined together while the former was in the latter's town, which was the latters' and former's former town where they last formerly played.
- Jim pulled out his I-pad (Apple feel free to send more for this shameless product placement!)
- Jim wrote a few chords
- Mike wrote a few words
- That night the loving couple gave birth to "Clown Car"!
- While hiding out from Covid, Jim started feverishly revisiting some old chestnuts that the band had never recorded all pro-like. "Surgeons", "Hit Person" and "AM Party" were tossed in with new tunes like "The Real Stand out" and some Hotel Edison re-masters were sprinkled on top!
- And so, the songs of HUCKLEBERRY were released to the delight of our 10 remaining fans in 2021, with ALL NEW songs of RUCKUS following in 2022!
YAHOOTEE photo GALLERY 2000's !
where are they now: Jim Fletcher
where are they now: Jim Fletcher
where are they now: Jim Fletcher
Jim "Dark Kook" Fletcher knows at least 7 chords now, and dabbles around with a few new instruments to annoy and entertain your eardrums.
He also does all the art chores!
Go see what else he does at:
https://www.instagram.com/fletchergraffix/
and:
https://www.fletchergraffix.com/
oh and...
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Mike Doran
where are they now: Jim Fletcher
where are they now: Jim Fletcher
Jumping Mike Doran may not bounce as high, but the self proclaimed "song styling star" is still shining bright and ready for you to shut up and listen to him! https://www.facebook.com/mike.doran.12