Leeds-based rockers Yard Act call Coachella performance ‘crazy’

Yard Act says not thinking about the scale of bigger gigs like Coachella and The Tonight Show to perform at their best is an important “coping mechanism.”

The Leeds-based rockers, who spoke to the PA news agency in person at Coachella, said they try to “make the best of” unexpected situations and “focus on the task at hand”.

Although their debut album was only released in January, the band has just completed a string of US tour dates, including two shows at the world-renowned music festival and a special guest appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s late night program.

“It was a blast,” frontman James Smith said of his appearance on the TV show.

“You have to make the best of these situations, you don’t expect to end up in them, so it’s ‘cool’ if you do.

“It might be the first of many times you do it, it might be the last time, so just do what you’re doing, you enjoy it and you take as much free stuff as you can.”

Bassist Ryan Needham added, “It’s freaking awesome but if you get too into it it drives you insane and it sounds like we’re downplaying it, but it’s a bit of a coping mechanism.

“It’s crazy, it’s crazy to be able to come and do these things, but you have to tune it out a bit and just play.

“We’re all sitting in a room together, whether it’s at Jimmy Fallon’s or the damn practice room in Leeds, we know how to play and that’s all there is to focus on at these times when you’ve got the adrenaline of Spike and you you’re nervous as hell

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“I’m sure when we come home in six months and sit down, you’re like, ‘Woah, that was crazy,’ but when you’re there, like Blitz Spirit, you have to pull yourself together.”

“I try not to think about it, I just focus on the task at hand and just never get that perspective, I think it’s psychologically important,” said guitarist Sam Shjipstone.

“It’s all really surreal,” adds drummer Jay Russell.

Yard Act is known for their politically charged material, which often features sardonic lyrics.

But the band says the US audience’s trope of not getting their humor or being overly serious is “bullshit.”

“A guy we work with said, ‘Don’t try all your sarcastic bullshit because it won’t wash,’ and that’s not true,” says Needham.

“That Americans don’t understand irony is absolutely not true.”

“It’s offensive to Americans to say they don’t get it,” Smith adds.

“If you’ve listened to our music for more than a minute, you’re either on board or (you’re) not. It’s a good filter for whether you’re sick or not.”

After a final date in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Yard Act will return to the UK for more shows in cities including Liverpool, Nottingham and their hometown of Leeds.

And work has already begun on their second record, with several songs written, although the band say they have yet to nail down a “vibe.”