Yab Yum was formed in Seattle in 1993 by Dave Voss and Kelly Blanchard out of the ashes of our previous band Way Beyond. Voss proposed the name, which he came across in Jack Kerouac's beat generation classic Dharma Bums. They were joined by Tom Branigan originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on bass and Seattle native and college friend of Kelly's, Luke Packard on drums. in 1994 Andrew Linnemann replaced Packard on drums.
Tom Branigan left the band in 1995 and Yab Yum continued on as a two guitars and drums trio sans bass. Near the end of Yab Yum Tim Fekete of Goody Blick & the Country Kind played one show on bass as did Porter Harp. The band recorded and played live heavily between the years 1993 and 1996.
Dave Voss also played in Bone Cellar around this time, as did Andrew Linnemann. Bone Cellar fronted by Dave Nothing (Mortenson) became Happy Stars and at one time or another Voss, Linnemann and Branigan were in Happy Stars. Voss also helped start the Delusions with Dave Keppel and Matt Marti (formerly of Bone Cellar) with Jim Roth (ex-Voodoo Gearshift, Goody Blick & The Country Kind) who is now in Built To Spill.
After the demise of Yab Yum, Voss went on to form Mugwump with Porter Harp on bass and Don Grabrick on drums. Voss recorded frequently with Zachary Landsdowne at Electric Eel at this time. He recorded solo material under the name Daily Values drawing on Andrew Linnemann, Jim Roth, and Porter Harp among others to help record. He also started The Groceries with Goody Smith (Blick), Jim Roth and Tim Fekete, and later Scooter Haslip (Mos Generator, Voodoo Gearshift). Voss and Goody got married and moved to New Hampshire. Later Voss moved back to Macomb, Illinois and enrolled in School to get a masters in teaching. On the verge of graduation and with a teaching position in place, Voss' life was tragically cut short on May 27th, 2003. A prolific artist, Voss left behind a tremendous back catalog of music for us to remember him by and appreciate.
After Yab Yum Kelly Blanchard formed the Meltdowns in 1997 with Terrance Wilson, Stephen Palmer and Justin Brown until that band wound down and became Blue Star Creeper. In 2001 Kelly reunited with former Yab Yum band mate Andrew Linnemann to form Blue Star Creeper with Peter Goddeyne (cello) and Chandra Cogburn (bass). Goddeyne and Cogburn moved away from Seattle and were replaced by Matteus Vaga and Stacey Lester respectively. BSC continues to record and play regularly in the region.
Yab Yum releases:
1993 Puzzle Pieces (Rosasharn Records) Full length cassette album
1994 It's Delicious (Rosasharn Records) 9 song 12" vinyl
1995 Yab Yum (Rosasharn Records) Full length cassette album
1996 Try To Get it Together (Rosasharn Records) Full length cassette album
29 Live Compilation CD track: "You See Ghosts"
Storeroom Tavern comp. "Here's to the Losers" track "Kiss The Pain"
