PAUL HUSSEY
The Muse (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — “There’s been people who have messaged us on Facebook and stuff, and they said that, although they had a lot of fun at the show, they’ve taken the record home and immediately listened to it.

“It’s not just a night of fun — it’s maybe a little bit more, you know?”

Yukon Blonde’s frontman, Jeff Innes, feels like their music is beginning to stick with people as of late, and for good reason. After changing the band’s name in late 2008 from Alphababy to Yukon Blonde, the band has been showered with success from their new sound and direction.

“The whole reason for the change was just to do what we wanted musically: To play some rock ‘n’ roll,” said Innes. “Before, we were a lot more jammy and keyboard-based and stuff — a lot darker. After touring that stuff for years, we’re just like, ”˜Let’s play in a fun rock ‘n’ roll band!’”

“We were getting older. When we started this band, we were all around 20 years old — now, we’re all up in our mid-to-late 20s now. Definitely more of a mature sound, but also more of a mature mentality about how we want to go about playing music for the rest of our lives, you know?”

And it’s not only the average fans that have noticed the change in these indie rockers. Last year, their self-titled album was on the longlist for the 2010 Polaris music prize, the CBC listed them among the top 10 bands expected to break big, and Chart magazine chose them as the best band of the Canadian Music Week festival.

Credibility can’t hurt their cause, and neither can a unique sound. While Innes and Yukon Blonde identify themselves simply as rock ‘n’ roll, they are a much more dynamic band who have managed to fuse their own sound. Their 1970s rock-influenced sound has drawn comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills and Nash, while their catchy riffs and ability to turn things up a notch are akin to indie heavyweights My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes.

All together, this makes Yukon Blonde’s sound truly refreshing, as they wield the soul-filled harmonies of ’70s Americana with a dash of Pacific Coast indie rock.

From one coast to another, Yukon Blonde has made their way across the continent on their North American tour. The Vancouver-based band started the tour in their home city by opening its first seven dates for Plants and Animals across Western Canada, and have been headlining along with The Pain Movement ever since.

The band has been writing new material, but Yukon Blonde kept mum on details for a new album. Until then, fans can listen to their four-song EP and a self-titled album.