Austin TX's indie rock foursome, Young Tongue (previously The Baker Family), consists of husband and wife Stu and Liz Baker along with Nathan Ribner, and Darryl Schomberg II. The band has been writing, performing, and recording material since their freshman full length “Death Rattle” in 2014, and is currently releasing a series of singles from September 2017 to Summer 2018.
Young Tongue complicates the earthy momentum of their percussion-driven sound with surprising touches — an airy omnichord melody or a jagged guitar solo. Their sound generally ranges from progressive indie rock to psychedelic dance-infused dream pop. It’s this range of lightness of sound and force of rhythm that stirs their audiences to dance. Their lyrics move associatively, stringing along images to reveal stories. If a new language is born out of a necessity to communicate, Young Tongue captures that same sense of urgency to expose narrative.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Stu Baker presents a magnetic and mysterious live show. He oscillates between calculated subdued stillness and less-controlled fits that underscore the music’s rawness. Their show highlights the complexity of Schomberg's drum parts — at times three members playing percussion at once. Ribner's bass lines cut through the mix with counter-melodic phrasings that often serve as a song's lead motive. Liz Baker brings the same lightness and bright energy as her vocals and omnichord parts bring the songs. She moves everywhere, weaving between the other members, connecting them, bringing their music to life. But perhaps the best part of their show is the element of surprise. You never know what strange object will be used as a drum, which instrument Stu will play next, what moment Liz will hop off stage and ask you to dance.
Young Tongue complicates the earthy momentum of their percussion-driven sound with surprising touches — an airy omnichord melody or a jagged guitar solo. Their sound generally ranges from progressive indie rock to psychedelic dance-infused dream pop. It’s this range of lightness of sound and force of rhythm that stirs their audiences to dance. Their lyrics move associatively, stringing along images to reveal stories. If a new language is born out of a necessity to communicate, Young Tongue captures that same sense of urgency to expose narrative.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Stu Baker presents a magnetic and mysterious live show. He oscillates between calculated subdued stillness and less-controlled fits that underscore the music’s rawness. Their show highlights the complexity of Schomberg's drum parts — at times three members playing percussion at once. Ribner's bass lines cut through the mix with counter-melodic phrasings that often serve as a song's lead motive. Liz Baker brings the same lightness and bright energy as her vocals and omnichord parts bring the songs. She moves everywhere, weaving between the other members, connecting them, bringing their music to life. But perhaps the best part of their show is the element of surprise. You never know what strange object will be used as a drum, which instrument Stu will play next, what moment Liz will hop off stage and ask you to dance.
