The first time I ever saw Yojimbo perform was a surprising, revelatory experience. Colorful in
appearance and coming on with just the right touch of aloofness, they proceeded to exhibit such crackling energy, such a palpable sense of enthusiasm for what they were doing (exacerbated many-fold, no doubt, bythe welcoming and well-lubricated vibes of the near-capacity crowd) that the delightful mayhem I was assuredthey would deliver seemed all the more potent as a result…so it was with a great sense of curiosity that I dove into their debut record, We Are Dogs, seeking an answer to the question of whether or not their oh-so-blazing live presence could come off as powerfully on disc. And the answer, friends, is a veritable YES.Song by song, this record offers a wildly pleasurable palette of sounds and sensations. The overriding mood is one of jaunty aggression, some tracks designed to enliven you right up off your dainty little feet, others of a more caustic, belly-curling flavor (they also happen to bear some of the most memorably tongue in cheek titles of recent memory, for instance: Yo Mama (Is a Man) and Mr. Happy Bunny (Goes Bounce Bounce Down Da Boom Boom Path of Righteousness). Each of Yojimbo’s four members – highly skilled and damned creative players all – are afforded space aplenty to let themselves go as far as their respective talents will take them, complementing and urging each other on along the way, resulting in a debut that is nothing short of fantastic; a harbinger of musical delights that are sure to follow…

Yojimbo are:

Adam Gartner (Drums, Percussion)
Carly Meyers (Trombone)
Drew Sharp (Moog Bass, Keys)
Josh Starkman (Guitar, Pedals)