Yekrats

Brian Starkey moved to Columbus from Ashtabula, Ohio in early’99. A few years later, in late ’01, his brother Tim followed him here. Both had an interest in music and decided to form a band. Brian already had the experience. He had been in two bands while still in northern Ohio, Lost Nation and Wired. So the brothers set out to make it happen again. Together, they recorded a cd to be a demo as well as entice more members to join. With Brian singing, and playing guitar and Tim also playing guitar, they now needed a drummer and a bassist. With flyers plastered around town, they waited for the phone calls. Finally, they came. Charlie Lancaster had seen their flyer in Sawmille music and was very interested. They set up a practice, and from there the rest is history. The three of them formed the band Yekrats in early 2003. By April of 2003, a friend of the group, who was also a musician, introduced Tim and Brian to Sam Stafford. Sam also had experience with some other bands, he had played with Big Tobacco and The Whisper Kings. Sam soon joined the band as the bass guitarist. The band was now complete, and ready to start practicing and playing gigs.

With shows at such places as Flannagan’s Dublin, Cadillac Jack’s, Andyman’s Treehouse, Fat’s Billiards, Hot Spot, Little Brothers, and High Five, their fan base is only growing. Add to that the benefit shows for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Columbus Cancer Clinic, the Red Cross, and WM3 and it grows even more. Together, through their love of music, they have created memorable original songs that are well thought out, and carefully crafted using themes that appeal to the everyday person. Their cover songs range from Johnny Cash, to Pink Floyd, to Dave Mathews. So whether you’re a citified country boy, a middle aged professional out for drinks with a friend, or a twenty-something on a girls night out, you’re guaranteed to find this show appealing. With Brian’s soaring vocals and Tim’s captivating guitar riffs, their unique style of music is both fresh and innovative. Add in Charlie’s drum skills to keep your feet tappin’ and Sam’s multi-talents with everything from a bass to a piano and even a harmonica, and you’ve got a thrilling live show that keeps your mind reeling and your body moving.

These amazing skills of all the band members have taken them to three Battle of the Bands. In the first two, at the Barley Shack and Bernie’s Distillery, they ranked 3rd. In the most recent one in September of 2005 at the Cove Nightclub in Geneva, Ohio they ranked 1st. Dan Sidlo from the North Coast Voice Magazine, had this to say about the Yekrats, “When the smoke cleared, standing at the top of the heap in first place was Yekrats.” And Keith Lipovich, of Tevis Entertainment had this to say, “By far the best band here tonight.”

The Yekrats have released several cd’s including an early five-song demo cd, and three live cd’s (Live at Little Brother’s, Live at Barley Shack, and Live at Barley Shack II). They have all been well received among the patrons of the local bars and nightclubs. Because of this, the Yekrats have begun work on their first full-length studio cd due out early this winter and a live compilation cd to be titled “The Official Bootleg.”

Yekrats shows are advertised and promoted through radio and newsprint advertising as well as website listings of mid-Ohio entertainment events. Radio stations that advertise Yekrats shows include 90.5 fm, 96.3 fm, 97.1 fm, 99.7 fm, 101.1 fm, and 107.1 fm. Newsprint advertising is done through the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Alive, The Other Paper, and various other weekly entertainment publications as well as their websites. Other websites used to advertise include myspace.com/yekrats, columbusmusic.com, and various radio station websites.