YACHT ROCK REVUE Release Disc 1 of 'Escape Artist' Today
YACHT ROCK REVUE
RELEASE DISC 1 OF THEIR 21-TRACK
CONCEPT ALBUM
ESCAPE ARTIST
TODAY
DISC 2 SET FOR RELEASE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
WRAPPING UP NATIONAL 45-CITY SUMMER
ROAD TRIP 2024 TOUR
WITH TRAIN AND REO SPEEDWAGON
IN PHOENIX, AZ ON SEPTEMBER 11
Above: Yacht Rock Revue; Credit: Perry Julien Photography
NASHVILLE, TN (September 6, 2024) — Today, Yacht Rock Revue — hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band” — delivers the first half of their original album, Escape Artist. Now streaming across the DSPs, Disc 1 serves up smooth grooves and good vibes to close out the summer as the band prepares to shift gears for headlining shows following their final five shows with Train and REO Speedwagon.
STREAM DISC 1 OF ESCAPE ARTIST HERE.
Slated for release on Friday, November 29, the entire 21-song concept album (Disc 1 and Disc 2) — spanning four sides of vinyl — showcases Yacht Rock Revue’s evolution beyond a mere tribute act. This ambitious collection blends the band’s distinct style with the classic yacht rock vibe, capturing waves of emotion and paying homage to the vinyl era. It’s a sun-soaked journey back to the anthems of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Escape Artist captures the desire to escape modern society, using music as a primary tool to break away from the worries of daily life. “Look out in the crowd and imagine what each person is escaping from. They’re escaping the modern condition to the idea of a less complicated time,” Yacht Rock Revue’s lead vocalist Nicholas Niespodziani explains. “We see it every night on the road — an audience transported somewhere else. We are Escape Artists. That’s our magic trick.”
“Of course, there’s the literal layer — I want to escape the confines of what our band is supposed to be,” Nicholas continues. “Are we allowed to be artists, or are we trapped by a genre? We’ve always been pushing the envelope, going where no band like ours has gone before. I want it to be OK for us to express optimism and sadness and fear and vulnerability. I want to escape the caricature that defines us. The ‘Escape Artist’ song lyrics tell that story.”
Above: ‘Escape Artist’ Album Artwork
The latest release from Yacht Rock Revue features a rich collection of singles showcasing their signature yacht rock sound. The August 9 release included the double single featuring “Waves” and “Sail On.” “Waves,” with its gentle synthesizers and steady bassline, features ethereal vocals from Kourtney Jackson that navigate lyrics about life’s ebbs and flows. Meanwhile, “Sail On” offers a Caribbean-inspired melody and island ambiance, with Peter Olson delivering reflective lyrics about simple life lessons.
Prior to this, the band released “Lost In The Meantime” and “Steal Away” on July 12. Nicholas describes “Lost In The Meantime” as a tribute to the understated yet profound moments in relationships, while “Steal Away,” a cover of Robbie Dupree’s 1980 hit, has been praised by Dupree himself for its fresh and delightful take. The album also features the lead singles “Tropical Illusion” and “Passengers,” which debuted on May 24. “Tropical Illusion,” co-written by Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass and Nicholas Niespodziani, pays homage to Looking Glass’s classic “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).”
Elliot Lurie, reflecting on his collaboration with Yacht Rock Revue, recalls his first experience with the band and their growing national presence. “I played my first gig with Yacht Rock Revue about 12 years ago,” he says. “Seeing them perform to a massive crowd was unforgettable. Co-writing ‘Tropical Illusion’ with Nick for their new album is a full-circle moment and a testament to their enduring appeal.”
ESCAPE ARTIST TRACK LISTING:
DISC 1:
Escape Artist
Make You Miss Me
Separate Grooves
Waves
Reverse Sunset
Lost In The Meantime
Sail On
Steal Away (Robbie Dupree Cover)
Tropical Illusion (feat. Elliot Lurie)
Passengers
DISC 2:
Triangle of Combustion
Lonely For You
Inverse Sunrise
San Junipero (Every Night Like Tonight)
Things Look Different
Monkeys Always Swinging
Bad Decisions
Worse Decisions
Here For the Feeling
Four in the Morning
What A Year
The band has spent their summer redefining the limits of what a cover band can achieve on the 45-city tour with Train and REO Speedwagon as direct support on the Summer Road Trip 2024 Tour. In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Yacht Rock Revue’s Nicholas Niespodziani and REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin shared their enthusiasm for the tour. Additionally, Yacht Rock Revue offered an exclusive peek into life on the road with a candid tour diary for V13, while Music Connection featured the band with tips on “How to Be Original in a Cover Band.”
Beyond their summer-long tour, Yacht Rock Revue will finish out the year headlining stages like NYC’s The Rooftop at Pier 17, Stony Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ, and Roadrunner in Boston, MA and more. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Sarah Bahr of The New York Times reported her first-hand experience of Yacht Rock Revue’s liberating on-stage energy, observing fans who “danced for two hours to tunes from the 1970s and ’80s,” while Entertainment Weekly noted that “the shows tend to be unabashedly joyous affairs.”
Above: Yacht Rock Revue; Credit: Mitchell Davidson
FOR ALL YACHT ROCK REVUE SHOWS AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE HERE.
ABOUT YACHT ROCK REVUE:
Founded in 2007 by two enthusiastic fans in a basement, Yacht Rock Revue has evolved into a formidable force, transforming yacht rock from a guilty pleasure into a respected art form. This dynamic 10-piece ensemble from Atlanta, GA, features Nicholas Niespodziani (vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion), Peter Olson (vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion), Greg Lee (bass, vocals), Mark Dannells (guitars, vocals), Mark Bencuya (keyboards, vocals), David B. Freeman (saxophones, keyboards, flute, piccolo, percussion, vocals), Keisha Jackson (vocals, percussion), Kourtney Jackson (vocals, percussion), Jason Nackers (drums), and Ganesh Giri Jaya (drums). Living the yacht rock dream, the band has shared stages with legends like Kenny Loggins, REO Speedwagon, Train, Robbie Dupree, Elliot Lurie, Matthew Wilder, John Oates, and Eddie Money. Their energetic performances, whether in intimate bars or arenas, set them apart, making their concerts immersive experiences that leave audiences yearning for more and solidifying their place in the illustrious history of yacht rock.
Above: Yacht Rock Revue
L-R: Kourtney Jackson, Ganesh Giri Jaya, Peter Olson, Mark Bencuya, Nicholas Niespodziani, Jason Nackers, David B. Freeman, Mark “Monkeyboy” Dannells, Greg Lee, Keisha Jackson
Credit: Emily Butler Photography