Leeds’ four-piece Yard Act made a massive splash in a crowded post-punk wave with their 2022 debut The Overload. Frontman James Smith was impossible to ignore, and the band’s humorous approach to the genre was a refreshing addition to the established acts leading the scene.
On their follow-up Where’s My Utopia?, Smith’s charisma is still front and center, but a bit more self-reflective, and the agitated guitars have been replaced with synths and dance beats. Co-produced with Gorillaz member Remi Kabaka Jr., the disco-inspired dance-rock album drastically expands on their post-punk minimalism.
Watch Yard Act perform “Petroleum” and “Dream Job” from Where’s My Utopia? as well as 2022’s “Payday” live at WNXP’s Sonic Cathedral.
Hear Yard Act discuss their new sound and the inspiration behind it while On The Record with WNXP.