yokoDeathray
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yokoDeathray

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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The best kept secret in music

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"press"

Light starch please, and could you get this stain out? I think it's blood.
Oh, and I need it by 2:00 tomorrow.
Thanks. - yokoDeathray


"A yokoDeathray Recipe"

Reviewer: Leslie (London, UK)
In a blender, combine: Led Zeppelin, Iggy Pop, Smashing Pumpkins, Cheap Trick, Black Crowes, PJ Harvey, RHCP, Nirvana, Radiohead, Rolling Stones, and a pinch of Danzig.

Pour in a gallon of whatever whisky's on sale, and drop in a huge chronic blunt, a dose of MDMA, two habanero chilis, four drops of animal musk, and six drops of demon sweat (if you can get it); and hit the 'puree' button.

I seriously can't stop listening to this record. CAN'T. STOP. Its combination of aggression, melancholy, and hummable melodies is totally addictive.

Lyrically yokoDeathray is not afraid to voice your most embarrassing pathetic thoughts ("My karma's in the toilet and my inner child's bored / I fell down in the kitchen and it hurt less than before" or "I am never gonna change, I can only rearrange / I can't remember anything but my name"), and your most megalomanical ones as well ("I'm a hell-bound honey with 2 bad eyes / Drinking Maker's Mark out of a skull / and I'm smoking little pieces of my brain" or "I can't explain it / I think I might be Satan / or Jesus, I can't decide"). These guys are f-ed up and crazy and sad and ecstatic and high on their own genius, and it's all there lyrically.

The musicianship is outstanding as well. The drums and bass are tighter than a virgin, and can be relentless or hypnotic, and sometimes both. Davoid is a shockingly good rhythm guitarist, the way Keith Richards or Rich Robinson is, the kind of rhythm guitar playing that is an art form but could escape your notice because its effortless sound is the biggest part of its charm. And I don't even know what to say about the vocals - they're not classically perfect, although they're musical, they're in tune and all - but mainly, they have this incredible raw genuine appeal. Love love love.

The record spans a lot of styles and moods, which is part of why I can't seem to get it out of my Discman, it never bores me. But somehow there's a cohesiveness to the diversity. To write a tune so Beatlesque, it's practically lawsuit-worthy, and then to give it lyrics like "I've had 52 erections just for you..." is their deepest talent, to be able to make that honestly mesh, to make it sweet, even. Another gem like this is "A Little Wave", that starts out as a lovely summery bossa nova song - albeit with an underlying tension that one can't quite put a finger on - and then transitions into a growling head-banging manifesto that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up - and then back again to the bossa nova in a way that just makes me say "well, of course, of course this is where we are again, just right."

I swear that I feel better-looking when I listen to yokoDeathray. There's an extra swing in my walk, and my hair bounces a little more, and I want to turn it up loud enough so the whole world can hear it and feel sexy.

If you pass this record up, do so at your own peril. - Amazon.com


"yokoDeathray 3 Song Demo"

You meet people in the strangest place. Somewhere between the produce aisle and the checkout stand at my local grocery store lurked a mysterious character that seemed somewhat familiar. “Are you in a band?” I inquired. “yokoDeathray” was the reply. Next thing I knew I had a demo in my hand and was headed straight to my CD player.
Upon looking at the demo I was prepared for some intense death metal. Wrong! Lesson learned, you can’t judge a CD by its cover. What I heard was not death metal but an incredible mix of rock, pop, punchy punk and country (in a Stones like fashion) combined with some damn great lyrics and incredible musicianship.

First cut entitled “52 erections” has a Cheap Trick approach to hit song making. With a almost 60’s middle, infectious straight ahead chorus and some oh da da da da da da da’s this song sticks to you ribs and brain cells.
“peel” leaves me scratching my head wondering why indie 103.1 and other stations across the planet earth don’t have this song in heavy rotation. A bit moody, the song entices you closer and closer. Then the passage “when I walk away” sets the hook. If you listen to this song twice, it will be a hundred before you get enough.

“flake”, which I affectionately refer to as the West Nile Virus song due to the summer mosquito lyric, is where the country ala Stones part comes in. The song starts slow like a canoe drifting down a lazy river, and then breaks into a something from a shindig hoedown. Killer Mick Taylor type guitar styling featured. If this song doesn’t leave you ginning, you be a dead bitch. Hoots and howls abound.
The only problem with this 3-song demo is that it makes it almost unbearable to wait for the full length CD to be released. Peter says it will be soon.

In the meantime visit yokoDeathray at:

www.yokodeathray.net - SubarBuzz Magazine


"yokoDeathray Live and Beyond"

So good to be back home on the streets of Hollywood. My late night drive to the club was a typical event. Seems every time I near Highland my alcoholic skid row car stalls at every given chance. At least it starts up again right away. Tuesday night on the streets in Hollywood seem to be as bad as the weekend when you are just trying to get somewhere in a hurry. All sorts of assholes turning every which way and cutting you off. Or was that me doing that?
I did lucky up and find a free parking spot on a dark side street off of Sunset. Upon exiting the car I encountered 2 street people that were thrilled that they found a stashed bottle of Merlot near a dumpster. Inviting me to join in the celebration I had to regretfully decline as I was in a bit of a hurry to hook up with the inside. Also the Merlot was a bad year.

Now if I can just cross the street in safety. A woman was stopped at the red light as I was crossing and I could see that she was screaming and crying hysterically about some inner torment. Really sad. God I love Hollywood!

So I entered Club Lingerie and let my eyes adjust to the dark usually found in atmospheric places. A sparse Tuesday night crowd was mingling around awaiting the first act. We didn’t have to wait long.

Right at the end of 2 Cent Penny’s set I encountered Peter of yokoDeathray. After being invited outside, I was treated to refreshments in the death van that takes these bad boys from show to show. While peering out the driver seat window, I caught a glimpse of Victoria Jane Joyce strolling down Sunset with camera in hand. Cool now we will have pictures too!

Show time was approaching so we all headed inside to partake in the yokoDeathray live and beyond experience. And what an experience it was.
yokoDeathray opened their set, I think, with "Honey Bunny". This tune was heavier than the stuff I heard on their demo, but really fitting for these guys. Some kick ass metal!

Right from the start yokoDeathray began the classic on stage banter this band is famous for. Good times. Almost tongue in cheek at times, it is good to see that things are not serious all the time.

This 3 piece band really packs a punch with other titles including "Sweetness", "Superhero" and "Monkey Soul".

The music ranges from full on assault hard rock to Hendrix like guitar styling courtesy of some wicked guitar work by David Everett Bishop.

The band continued with classics like their noho tribute entitled "North Hollywood".

Also to my delight yokoDeathray played "52 Erections" from the Planet Punk Bitch demo I reviewed here at SugarBuzz several weeks ago. Sounded as good or even better live due to the bands enthusiasm while performing.
The set ended with a wholesome ditty entitled "Fuck You and Fuck You Too". Good Shit!!

Well the show was over and I returned to my car for the haul home. Passing my old apartment I realized the price you pay to live in my new mansion on the hill. 20 more fucking minutes of drive time. - SubarBuzz Magazine


Discography

We have 2 full length LPs.
"Dumping And Reloading The Internal Memory" and
our brand new 2005 record "Planet Punk Bitch".
We also have a variety of EPs featuring live tracks and home recordings.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…..oh shit! I’m sorry, that’s from that movie Spaceballs! My bad, let’s start over. Some time ago in a war-torn village called Hollywood, a miracle occurred, a real rock ‘n roll band was born. yokoDeathray starring Davoid on guitar and vocals, Vuoto on bass and whatever else, and Raymod on drum set and ashtray. I realize the Pope may dispute my use of the word miracle, however given the sorry state of the current rock scene, it’s like totally justified. You have a better chance of seeing a unicorn in L.A. much less a good rock band. That’s the bad news. The good news is that yokoDeathray exists along with an amazing second album entitled Planet Punk Bitch. Produced in part by former Porno For Pyros guitar man Peter DiStefano and Keith Sterling formerly of Canada. I swear to God this album rules! It’s a punky, wasted, noise-filled onslaught wrapped in sparkling pink sugar. No dog, you don’t understand, it’s also got actual songs on it! Remember those? Probably not, but you will once you hear it. You’ll be laughing, crying and touching yourself before it’s over. And don’t get me started on the live show! On second thought, get me started. Every show is a real life rock concert. Remember those? Probably not, but you will. It’s a religious experience on a good night and a different kind of religious experience on a bad night. Either way it’s loud, sexy, dangerous, and a shit-load of fun. What more do you want? Fuck it! Surrender! Your futile search for the one true soul-licking rock ‘n roll explosion has ended! yokoDeathray lives so that you may die smiling and full. Thank you You’re welcome Sincerely, yokoDeathray