Yesman
vornon@gci.net
907.245.3140
Yesman has been performing in Anchorage since 1995, although the years have seen this band plagued with personel changes and long absenses. Yesman is now stronger than ever with a diverse ("all-star") lineup of musicians that bring new energy and focus to this old band. Players include Michael Holtz (guitar, vocals), Rick Kinsey (drums), Jamie Pinkstaff (bass), Gwendellin Bradshaw (violin), and sometimes Zallman Shedlock (electric guitar). All the musicians in Yesman write and perform their own music outside of Yesman.
Yesman performs original music along with a few covers including songs by Frank Sinatra, Beck, The Beatles, Mike Gorder, and Kermit The Frog.
Michael Vornon Holtz is the songwriter for the band. Holtz has been performing music in Anchorage for 15 years, playing drumset, guitar, and bass. He has also performed his original songs solo in acoustic shows at venues like Benihana, Bernie's Bungalow, U.A.A., Borders Books, Kaladi Brothers, and Snow City Cafe. More frequently, Holtz has collaborated with other musicians in a variety of bands, Mallaka, Pikal, Albedo, Hopscotch, Doctor Zaius, Zallband, Middle Finger, Jonny Irons & Duct Tape, Sleepy 29, Supagroup, Splinters, and Grin. He has also done music/dance collaborations with the U.A.A Dance Ensamble. Currently, Holtz drums with The Flying Falcons and Woodrow and plays bass in Yolanda and The Starlites while fronting Yesman.
Rick Kinsey is the drummer for Yesman and is a true veteran of the Anchorage music scene, having a history that dates back to the early 1980's. Previous bands he has performed with are The Shocks, Three Blind Trees, Trauma Groove, Sleepy 29, and Hopscotch. Like Holtz, he's played drums in many bands but also has his own band Pikal that has been his songwriting outlet for many years. Pikal has released four albums. He also drums with Yolanda and The Starlites.
Jamie Pinkstaff plays bass for Yesman and fronts his own very popular band, Flying Falcons, which has played many shows over the past couple of years and has a dedicated following.
Gwendellin Bradshaw plays violin for Yesman. Bradshaw is a classically trained violinist and has done many projects with the U.A.A. Dance Ensamble, as well as played with the group Mallaka. Last year she fronted her own band called Enfant Terrible, and can be seen performing at U.A.A.'s "Noon Music".
Zallman Shedlock was Yesman's second bass player (after Shawn Cory Campbell), but has since switched to electric guitar. Yesman has been privilaged to have Shedlock bring his amazing guitar skills, as well as singing, to the project. Shedlock is considered a permanent band member although he generally does not perform with the band.
A review of a recent show said, "Yesman put on a surprisingly diverse musical showcase. ...Their sound seemed more music-focused this time around, with intricate melodies and long periods of instrumentation. Mike Holtz donned an acoustic guitar and shared singing duties, as usual, with Zallman Shedlock. Gwendellin backed the duo up with beautiful crests of violin, and Rick Kinsey rounded out the sound with perfectly executed drumming. Thier set was as impressive as it was loud--yet, as evidence by the sleeping infant in the front row, Yesman created a musical lullaby."
-The Anchorage Press, 2003
Also, check out this article about an annual show we play at that was in the Anchorage Daily News..