Yawn Mower

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Yawn Mower
Yawn Mower live in 2018
Yawn Mower live in 2018
Background information
OriginAsbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2015–present
LabelsIn the Clouds, Mint 400
MembersMike Chick
Biff Swenson
Websiteyawnmower.com

Yawn Mower are an American rock band from Asbury Park, New Jersey.

History[edit]

Yawn Mower are a rock duo from Asbury Park, New Jersey that formed in 2015.[1][2] While in their former bands, guitarist and vocalist Mike Chick and drummer Biff Swenson met playing shows in Seaside Heights and Asbury Park, and considered jamming, which began after Chick bought a baritone guitar and suggested they start a two-piece band.[3] Yawn Mower is known for their fuzz-rock guitars, crunchy hooks and sense of humor as The Jersey Journal describes their blend of music to be "spazzy surf rock" and a "comedic two-man guitar/drums act who look and sound like two of The Muppets."[4][5][1] They released several EPs independently and on in the Clouds Records, and opened for the alternative rock band Electric Six.[6]

Mint 400 records[edit]

In 2018, Yawn Mower signed with Mint 400 Records and released two singles, "Kickstand" and "Local Summer," which would appear on the EP Could Eat, Would Sleep. Swenson notes the EP is "the most-produced record and the most time we've spent on a recording to get the sound the way we wanted."[3] "Kickstand" is about "relying on friends to make through some tough or wild times," and in the Asbury Park Press, Chick describes "Local Summer" as a "tribute to the post-Labor Day days at the Jersey Shore when the tourists leave but the days are still warm [...] the song is half carefree because when local summer comes around, everybody who is local is excited because they feel they're going to get their beach town back from everybody who comes and vacations over the summer."[3]

Could Eat, Would Sleep was released on April 20, 2018, and is listed on music journalist Jim Testa's Top New Jersey EPs of 2018.[7] Yawn Mower performed at the North Jersey Indie Rock Festival on October 6, 2018.[8]

Yawn Mower took part in the Speak into My Good Eye annual 24 Hour Songwriting Challenge, with the song "It's All Non-Stop."[1] They also contributed a cover of "I Love You All" that appears in the 2014 film Frank for the Mint 400 Records compilation At the Movies.[9] In 2019, they released a 90s-themed five-track compilation, entitled Why Work Harder Than You Have To.

In 2022 the band revamped, going from a duo to a seven piece at various shows. Their album "To Each Their Own Coat" spent 3 weeks on the NACC charts starting in September 2022.[citation needed]

Members[edit]

  • Mike Chick – vocals and baritone guitar
  • Biff Swenson – drums

Discography[edit]

LPs

  • To Each Their Own Coat (2022)

EPs

  • Get to the Boat (2016)
  • Yawn Mower Ruins Christmas (2016)
  • What's All This New Piss? (2017)
  • Could Eat, Would Sleep (2018)

Singles

  • "Kickstand" (2018)
  • "Local Summer" (2018)

Compilations

  • Covers (2016)
  • More Covers (2017)
  • Waffle House (2018)
  • Why Work Harder Than You Have To (2019)

Appearing on

  • The 4th Annual 24 Hour Songwriting Challenge (2017)
  • At the Movies (2018)
  • NJ / NY Mixtape (2018)

References[edit]

Citations

Bibliography

  • BrooklynVegan Staff (July 18, 2018a), "What's Going on Wednesday?", BrooklynVegan, retrieved December 16, 2018
  • BrooklynVegan Staff (October 6, 2018b), "The North Jersey Indie Rock Festival", BrooklynVegan, retrieved February 6, 2019
  • Impose Staff (November 18, 2017), "Yawn Mower: "It's All Non-Stop"", Impose, retrieved December 16, 2018
  • Jordan, Chris (April 20, 2018), "420 Day Meets Locals Summer at Yawn Mower Record Release Show in Asbury Park", Asbury Park Press, retrieved December 16, 2018
  • Makin, Bob (December 13, 2018), "Makin Waves With Yawn Mower: "Hey Babe, It's Local Summer"", The Aquarian Weekly, retrieved December 16, 2018
  • Testa, Jim (October 3, 2018a), "North Jersey Indie Rock Fest Unites Bands, Media, Labels – And Fans", The Jersey Journal, retrieved December 16, 2018
  • Testa, Jim (October 24, 2018b), "A Night at the Pet Shop: Bands, Beer, Wine And An Exciting New Venue For N.J.", The Jersey Journal, retrieved December 16, 2018
  • Testa, Jim (2018c), "Top New Jersey Albums", Jersey Beat, retrieved January 27, 2019
  • The New York Times Staff (July 31, 2016), "Things to Do in New Jersey, July 30 Through Aug. 7", The New York Times, retrieved April 19, 2019

External links[edit]