Artist Information
Biography
“If you can't get up a head of steam... you're gonna have to make it on sheer caffeine.”
That's a line that Wisconsin songwriter Bryce Black says popped into his groggy brain "real early one morning" years ago, as he was desparately trying to wake up and rush off to his day job. Fortunately, that line stuck in his head and started percolating. Eventually it was brewed up into Sheer Caffeine, the energizing title cut on the eagerly awaited first recording recently released by Bryce and his long-time neighbor, friend and collaborator, Yata Peinovich.
Instrumentation
Bryce Black: lead and harmony vocals
Yata Peinovich: lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitar
On special occasions, we may also be joined by:
Timothy Young: poet/spoken word artist
Bruce Hecksel: guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards
And other friends who happen to drop by.
Discography
Bryce & Yata released their first CD in 2008: Sheer Caffeine. It's crammed with 13 witty and thought-provoking original songs. They range from wicked social satire and irreverent whimsy, to the profound, heartfelt meditation "Loving the Questions."
Several songs from the album have been played on Wisconsin Public Radio's Sunday evening program "Simply Folk." And several videos from our CD release concert can be seen on YouTube.
Sheer Caffeine was produced by Bruce Hecksel of the nationally known "Fast Forward Folk" duo Patchouli.
Yata has also collaborated on six other CDs: Artesian Dreams (1980); Boy with a Pail (1989); Mississippi River Blues (2002); Mad as the Mist & Snow (2004); Spirit of the Raven (2007); and Snow Has Fallen (2008).
Video
Press
Setlist
Bryce & Yata play nearly all original songs. We can play one long set (1 1/2 to 2 hours) or two shorter ones (45 minutes to 1 hour apiece).
Typical recent set list:
Windmill Baby
Paragon Not
Look for Love
Burnin' a Hole
Chickens
Stone Goose
Cocoa Butter
Music in the Outhouse
Loving the Questions
What I Need
Keep On Doin'
Follow Me
Euphemisms
Wisconsin Waltz
Tractor Collector
Bucolic Splendor
The River
Mississippi River Rag
Sheer Caffeine
Mad Cow
Baler Twine
Mississippi River Chant