Youngblood Hawke began the final quarter of 2011 unsigned, but with plenty of interest. October 2011 was a breakout month for the band. While playing a residency at The Satellite, the band signed to Universal’s Republic Records. For many aspiring band’s, signing to a major label can be bad news. For Youngblood Hawke, contract negotiations were likely far more streamlined than negotiations might go for the average startup band. Founding members Simon Katz and Sam Martin, formerly of Iglu & Hartly, already had the experience of working with a major label and dealing with the challenges associated with a band. In short, Simon and Sam brought with them an education in the industry that would ultimately help them build Youngblood Hawke into the “right” band.

In the Spring of 2012, Youngblood Hawke developed a following through social media, Bandcamp, and a series of crtically-acclaimed shows. They traveled out to Austin, TX for a series of live performances at South By Southwest, even headlining the PureVolume late-night party alongside Morning Parade and Shiny Toy Guns. When SXSW was over, Youngblood Hawke returned to Los Angeles, California with an incredible amount of buzz for a band yet to have an official release.

By the end of July 2012, KROQ had the distinction of debuting Youngblood Hawke’s first single, ”We Come Running”. Within the first three days, Youngblood Hawke topped the countdown charts, beating out bands like The Killers, No Doubt, and Green Day in the process. In the following days and weeks, “We Come Running” would become a global smash hit. On August 14, 2012, Youngblood Hawke released its self-titled debut EP on iTunes, breaking into the top ten on the charts within hours of the release.

The four song EP is brilliant. Sam Martin, Simon Katz, Tasso Smith, Nik Hughes, and Alice Katz created an absolutely gem, with four very different songs operating in unison to introduce the world to the unique sound and style of Youngblood Hawke. “We Come Running” is an anthem, featuring gang vocals, including the services of the Los Angeles Children’s Choir. “We Come Running” is fun and energetic, yet a chameleon of a song. That is, whether enjoying the song on the sands of the Cayman Islands, or the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, “We Come Running” somehow blends in, providing the perfect soundtrack for just about anything that could generate a smile. The song features a perfect blend of guitars and electronics courtesy of Tasso Smith and Simon Katz, the smooth vocal fusion of Sam Martin and Alice Katz, and the pulsing beat of Nik Hughes. In sum, the song captures an audience like one giant hook, yet maintains dynamics that are so uncommon on the mainstream airwaves.

”Stars (Hold On)” starts with an Edge-esque guitar lick before a beat drops to a symphony of strings. Imagine that you encounter a peacock. The peacock spreads its bright, colorful feathers, looking you straight in the eye while saying “yea, I’m that awesome, what of it?” Likewise, with “Stars (Hold On)” Youngblood Hawke spreads its proverbial feathers and gives the listener a glimpse at dynamic beauty of their capabilities. “Stars (Hold On)” is completely unlike any of the other songs on the EP, but it works.

“Forever” illustrates the softer side of Youngblood Hawke, while somehow maintaining their signature upbeat enthusiasm. Flooded with acoustic and electric guitars, along with exceptionally stylized keys, Youngblood Hawke creates a wall of sound that never threatens to drown out the vocal flow of the composition. In fact, like all Youngblood Hawke songs, Sam Martin and Alice Katz craft a lyrical rhythm that captures the listener better than any single instrument possibly could.

In ”Rootless”, Simon Katz and Tasso Smith take the guitar parts to another level. Of all songs, this song is by far the most complex. Littered with catchy delays and leads, “Rootless” is the kind of song that makes the listeners subconsciously bob their head to-and-fro while tapping their toes to the dramatic drum lines of Nik Hughes. Lyrically, it is the most thoughtful of the tracks. This song leaves the listener in a frenzy, only wanting more. Asking questions like, “wait, where’s the next song?” and “why is it over?” Ultimately, that is what the band wants. Conceptually, “Rootless,” provides the perfect prelude to the band’s forthcoming full-length album.

With their first official release finally behind them, Youngblood Hawke hit the road for a massive opening slot alongside Passion Pit. After playing three sold out shows at the world famous 9:30 Club in Washington D.C., Youngblood Hawke toured the nation earning fans every stop along the way. Each night, fans who attended the shows for Passion Pit fell in love with Youngblood Hawke in the process. No sooner than the band left the stage each night, fans would send praise to the talented group’s Twitter feed. Like Carson Daly before them, it was love at first performance.

After completing a successful tour with Passion Pit, Youngblood Hawke ended the year with a bang. In their first national network television performance, the band played “We Come Running” on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Thereafter, they tackled a string of sold out radio festivals (Austin, Los Angeles, Boston, San Diego, and Chicago) that took them through the holidays.

Youngblood Hawke kicked off the new year in style with a widely praised performance of “We Come Running” on Jay Leno. As the band continued to make waves in the industry, Youngblood Hawke kicked off its national tour with Keane on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

Youngblood Hawke is something new and unique. They are unlike any other band out there now in style, sound, and performance. It’s both exciting and encouraging for a group of such talented musicians to hit their stride in such a cutthroat industry. If you haven’t heard of them yet, give them a chance. Even if it isn’t your thing at first listen, but you enjoy a stellar live event, catch them on tour. They might just change your mind and make you a fan anyway.

Youngblood Hawke w/ Keane Tour Dates:

Tue 01/08/13 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Wed 01/09/13 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
Fri 01/11/13 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
Sat 01/12/13 Los Angeles, CA Pantages Theatre
Sun 01/13/13 San Diego, CA House of Blues
Wed 01/16/13 Houston, TX House of Blues
Thu 01/17/13 Austin, TX ACL Live at The Theater
Fri 01/18/13 Dallas, TX House of Blues
Sun 01/20/13 Kansas City, MO The Midland by AMC
Mon 01/21/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
Wed 01/23/13 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Thu 01/24/13 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
Sat 01/26/13 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
Sun 01/27/13 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
Tue 01/29/13 Burlington, VT Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Wed 01/30/13 Portland, ME State Theatre
Thu 01/31/13 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall

*Contact Robert at robert@starsandsatellites.com