Yacht Z

I hereby resolve to use this blog more. I think it fell by the wayside as I figured no one goes to websites and reads blogs any more, but also no one is going come check this if there’s never any updates.

After getting rained out two weeks ago, we were really hoping to get to play at The Boat tonight but the rain once again threatened! Judging from how the night went we must have really pissed off Poseidon or someone. The rain forecasts were all over the place. You could look at 10 different forecasts and they all said different things. We were supposed to start at 7p, but it looked like there would be rain right up until about then. So in consulting with the venue and our sound person, we decided to push it until 8p as it looked like it would be clear by then. Then the forecasts shifted and looked like the rain would also be appearing about 7-8. And possibly re-appearing right around the end of the night. Maybe. We waited until the last possible minute at which point it was misting and Dylan (our sound engineer) was having to wipe off his equipment. Even a light mist is not good for sensitive electronic gear and he had just been totally misted out on Thursday night as well. So the decision was made to go ahead and call it.

So of course, as soon as Dylan had packed up and left, the skies totally cleared and it never rained. That’s the way it goes sometimes. It’s our 4th rain out since we started playing The Boat back in October of 2021 but such is life in Texas when playing outdoor venues! Sorry to all who came out looking to get some smooth Yacht Rock. Everyone tries to make the best call in the moment but as we all know weather can be a fickle beast, especially in Texas. We’ll be back June 1 at The Boat! Join us then!

That may be 4 to the rain, but luckily we’re still way ahead! And we got to have some great chats with some of while we waited around!

Nautical By Nature,
Captain Heath

Well sadly, the rain and lightning but our set to a short but fun 45 minutes. Thanks to all who came out, and we apologize for having to dock prematurely. We hope to see you next time!

While we are working on where we will play next, you may have noticed a bunch of gigs pop up as The Boat ATX has given us a smooth monthly residency when music kicks back up in March after the winter months. The Boat and Yacht Z, a perfect pairing!

First show done and it was as smooth and magical as we could have hoped for.

Who knows “How Long” we will be “Reminiscing” about this “Cool Night.” We were “So Into You” and our “Love Is Alive” for everyone who came out and for The Boat ATX for having our debut show. We want to “Kiss You All Over.” Hopefully you don’t find that “Spooky.” These are just the “Things We Do For Love.”

The “Lowdown” is that we definitely hope to “Steal Away” and “Escape” with you all to “Thunder Island”, and play those smooth jams to get you “Dancing In The Moonlight” and enjoying the “Summer Breeze.” For the moment, the Yacht Z must “Ride Like The Wind” “Right Down The Line,” but don’t worry that “She’s Gone.” “Baby Come Back” next time we dock! You’ll find we are “Still The One” to make you groove.

I wanted to reference all the songs from our set but I “Couldn’t Get It Right.” If you think this is farewell, that’s “What A Fool Believes.” There are a few more titles I could use, but “I Keep Forgettin’.”

We will be booking more gigs soon and have word on the sea is that you will likely see us very regularly at The Boat come next March when things warm up a little again.

Also we have added a merch link to the Links page!

Ya’ll, I’m excervous about this. Nervited? 2 years ago I saw a post from Keith at The Boat looking for “tribute acts, especially Yacht Rock.” I had been really enjoying a lot of Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM and found that the music was deep in my bones. Stuff I remembered hearing on the radio as a child, or in my mom’s car. I contacted some of my favorite friends and bandmates to make this band. A LOT happened in the last two years including several personnel changes (for various person reasons, nothing dramatic), a pandemic that kept us just doing light practices in a back yard for a while, medical procedures that made the future of one voice uncertain, and a lot of learning some of the most complex and difficult music that any of us had ever tackled despite us all being long time professionals.

Appropriately, since it’s where this all started, we booked our debut gig at The Boat and it happens this Friday, 10/21. We held our last practice before the gig today. None of us are as ready as we want to be, but I’m not sure if we ever could be, being that we hold ourselves to a very high bar. The whole reason I booked the gig was that I knew we needed a target. A “Ready or not, that’s our debut” date. We will never be “done” learning, polishing and tightening these tunes and adding new ones. Every listen we discover new things or things to improve.

Well, it’s here. It’s time. in 5 days, 2 years of work comes to fruition. Our most recent member only joined 2 months ago and worked hard at getting up to speed. Will we be perfect? Absolutely not. Will there be mistakes? 100% probability. Will it be amazing, silly, fun, smooth and filled with some amazingly great music? Also 100% probability.

I plan to livestream it from the Yacht Z Facebook page, but it would definitely mean the world to us to have any of you there who can make it. Your energy, friendly faces, and love will feed us, and maybe if we’re lucky, the mistakes, or “clams” as we call them in the music world, won’t be too noticeable. The ship might have a few small leaks, but it’s going to be a smooth, grooving, fun ride. Please forgive my nervous, self-deprecating disclaimers. ‘Tis my nature. I live with excruciating transparency! She’s a good ship, the Yacht Z.

So yes, very excited. And very nervous. Excervous. Nervited.

-Heath

After solidifying our lineup with the addition of Phil McJunkins on Guitar (and keys and bongos), the last 2 years of plotting, scheming, learning, rehearsing, pandemic dodging, medical proceduring, and more will finally result in our debut gig October 21, 2022 at The Boat! It was a post by Keith from The Boat asking specifically for any Yacht Rock bands that spurred me to take this little idea and recruit some of my favorite people/friends/bandmates to make it a reality. This has been some of the most challenging stuff any of us have ever tackled and we are all long time seasoned professional musicians! It will be great to finally get this out into the world!

-Heath

All My Loving to our drummer, Matt Patterson who is now officially the drummer with Austin legends, The Eggmen! We hope Matt won’t bAll My Loving to our drummer, Matt Patterson who is now officially the drummer with Austin legends, The Eggmen! We hope Matt won’t be too Helter Skelter being fab to still play with us whenever we set sail! If he leaves on his Magical Mystery Tour to pay the Taxman, I’ll be yelling Help! Across The Universe While My Guitar Gently Weeps for the Two Of Us. Perhaps his lovely lady, Michelle (well, Michele, sa belle), can convince him that We Can Work It Out Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite and All You Need Is Love. If it is The End, we may have to rename ourselves Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Something. I don’t mean to be all “I Me Mine,” but I Want To Tell You, In My Life, I’ll be Fixing A Hole and You Won’t See Me until it’s Getting Better. It Won’t Be Long, don’t worry, I’m Only Sleeping. It’s just A Day In The Life. Say The Word and I’m Happy Just To Dance With You.

As a bonus, Yacht Z has now picked out our first hour of music and are in the process of rehearsing and refining it. BEHOLD!

I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near), Michael McDonald
So Into You, Atlanta Rhythm Section
Magnet And Steel, Walter Egan
Peg, Steely Dan
My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone), Chilliwack
Reminiscing, Little River Band
FM, Steely Dan
Steal Away, Robbie Dupree
Kiss You All Over, Exile
Summer Breeze, Seals And Crofts
Thunder Island, Jay Ferguson
What A Fool Believes, The Doobie Brothers
The Things We Do For Love, 10cc
Baby Come Back, Player
Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Rupert Holmes

More to come!

We are crewing up and making sure everything is ship-shape and water tight before bringing you the best Yacht Rock classics!