David Yeager Band
Gig Seeker Pro

David Yeager Band

Band Christian Singer/Songwriter

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Recording Magazine"

This month’s Spotlight not only features creativity in the songwriting, arranging and performing departments, but in the recording department as well. So how is that different that any of our other submissions, you ask? Well, aside from the obvious high quality on all these fronts, “Tom Bombadil” was recorded in three different studios and mixed in a fourth! In an age where it’s tough to get five people to decide what they want on their pizza, David and his friends chose what they felt to be the best working arrangement for their busy lives, and they pulled it off beautifully, even if the process of creating this song (and the others on their album In Your Sight I Am Sound) took nearly two years from start to finish.

The project started with David laying down a click track along with a rough guide vocal and guitar track at a studio belonging to friend Dennis Ostermann, where drums were the first instrument to be tracked. Once this was done and the drums were added, things moved over to Steve’s home studio where the acoustic guitar and some of the electric parts were laid down on his Mac using Cubase. These tracks were then transferred over to David’s Pro Tools Digi 002/Mac system in his basement studio, where the vocals were added. With us so far?!

Next, the tracks were delivered back to Steve’s for additional overdubs, which included electric guitar, bass, violin and percussion. Steve also used this opportunity to archive all of the work to date in Cubase. Smart! At this point the entire band gathered at Steve’s and reviewed (“extensively”) all of the parts. Satisfied with the fruits of their labors, the tracks were then loaded onto a hard drive as stems, and sent to Mat for the final mix.

Since none of the band members were present during this stage, Mat utilized the internet to post his “in progress” mixes for the band’s critique. The guys would each download these, and after review, email back their opinions/concerns. Allowing Mat the freedom to tweak his work to their specifications was a process that David says “worked surprisingly well, given we are all somewhat perfectionist”. After several small revisions, Mat finished up his mixes and voila, the results speak for themselves.

We love the (Dave Mathews style) acoustic guitar intro coming from David’s Taylor 514/AKG C 480 B and C 414 XLS combination. Equally impressive is Jon’s nimble bass work. The tone here is rich and yet very focused perhaps due to the use of two signal paths, one a DI through a Focusrite ISA 428 and the other through a Line 6 Bass POD.

The other half of the rhythm section is also outstanding both in performance and in tone. David miked Matt’s Mapex kit with mics from Shure, AKG, Earthworks and Oktava, and Mat did an excellent job presenting them in the mix. We love the panning on the toms and the fat snare tone is one of the best that we have heard in quite some time. Kudos also go out to Steve for his engineering of not only the bass but the electric guitar as well, and man, can you beat a Tele through a Vox AC30?!

Finally a word on David’s superb vocals. We seem to spend an awful lot of time in these pages discussing the problems that many of you out there have capturing vocal performances without the presence of artifacts such as overcompression and sibilance. Well, if you’re looking for an example of how it’s successfully done, look no further. David’s voice fits his Neumann TLM103 mic like a hand in a glove, and once again Mat has really delivered the goods with it’s placement in the mix.

Suggestions: As you can tell, we are mightily impressed with “Tom Bombadil”. The band, along with Mat, have delivered an exciting radio-friendly mix that captures the energy and the vibe of a live performance by utilizing their individual and collective talents as a team. We give it two thumbs way up.

Summary: Viva the home studio(s)!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Source:
http://www.recordingmag.com/tapereviews/2009/09/83.html - Marty Peters


"Christianity Today"

Tight musicianship and a rootsy acoustic sound highlight the foursome's spiritually-centered assessments of the paradoxes between the church and the world.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Source:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/reviews/2009/openbook.html - Andy Argyrakis


"Guitar Player"

Yeager's Christian-rock song is practically a master class on stirring composition, arranging stunning vocal harmonies, song dynamics, evocative audio production, and keeping a listener's interest for 4:40. There's no hot guitar here, as it supports the track rather than taking center stage, but the song is so gorgeous that I didn't even notice.

Source:
March 2010 issue of Guitar Player Magazine - Michael Molenda


"Count Me In Concerts"

A Great New Discovery- David Yeager Band

Backthird Audio is a well-hidden spot in Aurora, but my trip there was certainly worth the three times around the block to find the building (which is nestled in an alley). I was headed to a Songwriters' Showcase to check out some aspiring musicians, including the evening's featured artist, David Yeager Band. David Yeager was the winner of last month's showcase, thereby earning the band the spot as the next featured artist.

It didn't take long to see why Yeager was the winner. His music combines substantive songwriting with memorable hooks, and excellent musicianship with intricate musical detail. In their 30 minute set, the band played 6 songs from their upcoming release. (Plus, the audience wouldn't let them leave without an encore!)

Yeager's songwriting reflects his deep spirituality and the many paradoxes of the Christian life. In Giving It Up he acknowledges, "The battle ends in surrender/ but surrender is the start," and "I'm ready for my sentence/ It begins when I walk free. " The lyrics of Won't Let Go include deep spiritual truths ("I sought you/ I caught you/ I spent my blood and I bought you"), while Light of the World the ponders the challenges of being a Christ-follower ("How can I be the light of the world/ I stumble in dimness and dust").

Soaring violin riffs, passionate vocals, and tight harmonies are all hallmarks of the music of DYB. Yeager switches effortlessly between lead vocals, guitar and violin duties. The other highly-skilled band members include Matt Chandick (drums), Jon Chavez (bass, bgv's), and Steve Wick (guitar, bgv's).

Here's hoping David Yeager Band will soon be playing a Count Me In Concerts show.

Source:
http://countmeinconcerts.blogspot.com/2009/06/great-new-discovery-david-yeager-band.html - Cathy Hill


"Backthird Audio"

I first heard David perform at our studio’s Songwriter Showcase. His songs have the kind of immediate appeal and easy listenability that only come with years of creative effort. He was the clear favorite – for me and for the other performers. When his band returned to headline a month later, I wasn’t surprised to find they were tight as a drum. These are great pop songs, shaped and played with love and craftsmanship. This group cares enough about what they do to genuinely do it well – and they do it well enough to make you care too. - Benjie Hughes


"Medinah Baptist Church"

I first heard David Yeager’s music in a basement recording studio in May of 2004. A friend played me a demo of the young singer/songwriter. I know today what I knew then…this man has a talent and a creative perspective that flows from his voice with sheer originality and truthfulness. I hope this is the first of many David Yeager Band recordings! - Bryan Harden, Director of Worship Arts


Discography

In Your Sight I Am Sound, 2009

Sing It, Tell It, Whisper It, Yell It: children's album published by Awana clubs, 2008

Steve Wick - A Sense Of Place, 2005

Steve Wick - Incidents Of Travel, 2000

Photos

Bio

Meet the David Yeager Band.

Together these four artists infuse the lyrical substance of a gifted singer/songwriter with the passion of old-school rock and roll. The resulting sound is intricate yet accessible, the hooks both memorable and meaningful, and the message clear.

DYB front man David Yeager (vocals, guitar, violin) is backed by guitarist Steve Wick, bassist Jon Chavez and drummer Matt Chandik. The band formed in 2007 after the four members crossed paths in church music ministry. They released their full-length debut In Your Sight I Am Sound in the spring of ’09, and now perform regularly throughout the Chicago-land area.

Though a new band, the DYB members are experienced musicians with a history of success. Wick has two solo albums under his belt as well as a host of production credits through his home-grown Resonance Audio Media. Yeager himself is an active session violinist/vocalist and published songwriter. His resume includes live performance on Moody Broadcasting Network’s Midday Connection and a children’s album released through Awana Clubs International with Wick producing.

Yeager’s lyrics dance between the spiritual and the commonplace, exploring the space that lies between the sacred and the everyday. “That place where we spend so much time and yet never get comfortable,” Yeager explains. “There’s always a tension in the Gospel,” he continues. “We have these tremendous promises in Christ, but we still have to get up every morning and fight the traffic. We have to live in both worlds.”

Yet it is not merely the songwriter’s craft or the band’s musicianship that ties these songs together. The other common element is the group’s collective joy. Despite reflections on a hurting society and the occasional moody break-up song (a staple in any self-respecting songwriter’s catalog,) these performers reveal a kind of childlike wonder that reaches their audience as well. They become caught up in the moment, not just in the music itself but in praise of a Creator who makes such moments possible.

Recommended for fans of: Caedmon’s Call, Sara Groves, Vigilantes of Love, David Wilcox, Chris Rice