Yula and the eXtended Family @ Maxwell’s w/ Kiss Kiss, and Emilyn Brodsky

photos & story by Star Beat

Yula and the eXtended Family, the multi-instrumental 5-piece from Brooklyn performed at Maxwell's in Hoboken with Kiss Kiss and Emilyn Brodsky. Hank and Cupcakes headlined, but sadly I have to leave before they started. Yula and company know how to craft good, danceable songs. Led by Yula Bee'ri on vocals, bass, and keyboards she brings a personality to the band that is entertaining and yet can be serious. She captures hints of her previous projects, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Star Fucking Hipsters, and Nanuchka. Other instruments include accordion, trumpet, clarinet, trombone, and drums performed by Isaac Gardner, Taylor Galassi, and Stefan Zeniuk. The outfit immediately got the crowd going. They played songs off their latest release, Victor, plus a few new songs including one about "myspace and facebook."

Opening was the ukulele songstress from Brooklyn, Emilyn Brodsky. She to knows how to entertain and tell stories. She started off playing solo, then introduced her bandmates James on drums and Anthony on bass after which Anthony said,“Only Emilyn could display such a fine sense of vulgarity and pop sensibly. Motherfucker. Ahh.” DaCosta. I expected Brian Viglione to play drums, but I guess that was a one time thing for CMJ but this line-up was tight to. There was clap stomping for "Swear to God." The banter between songs was amusing to. Emilyn said, "This is my fake family and I’m excited to see Yula and Extended Family." She also said how she went to her senior prom with someone in the audience and how she broke her nose at a World/Inferno Friendship Society show. while not the most musically on point musician, Emilyn is worth seeing live.

Kiss Kiss was next. They have a way of seamlessly going from a light, beautifully laced keyboard and violin sound to spastic, where the band speeds it up and the music gets hyper and fun to move along. I've dubbed them "circus-punk." They did a version of the Tetris theme song. The way the band move around and interact during their performance is great, to. Catch them on tour with the Venetia Fair and Trophy Scars.

See below for photos.

Yula and eXtended Family












Emilyn Brodsky (and her fake family)





Kiss Kiss