Hell Yes (Alkaline Trio song)
Encyclopedia
"Hell Yes" is a song by the Chicago
-based punk rock
band Alkaline Trio
, released as a single
in 2001 through Lookout! Records
. Both tracks of the single, "Hell Yes" and "My Standard Break from Life", were recorded in 2000 at Pachyderm Studio
in Cannon Falls, Minnesota
during sessions for the band's 2001 album From Here to Infirmary
. The single was the band's final release to include drummer Mike Felumlee
, who left the group shortly after From Here to Infirmary' s release. Both tracks were reissued in 2007 on the compilation album
Remains
.
wrote "Hell Yes" in tribute to Anton LaVey
, founder and High Priest
of the Church of Satan
. It was written shortly after Skiba moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
where LaVey had once lived. In the liner notes for Remains, Skiba commented that "I miss the Bay, and Doktor LaVey and The Black House on the hill that has since gone away." Singer and bassist Dan Andriano
cited "Hell Yes" as one of his favorite songs to perform and noted it as one of the most often-requested numbers at the band's performances, describing it as "a perfect punk rock song about doing what makes you happy. Plain and simple."
"My Standard Break from Life" was written by Andriano in the span of roughly twenty minutes during a time when he was living on Chicago's north side next to a crack house
. Describing his inspiration, he stated "Let's just say I was pretty depressed. I was totally unmotivated, drinking way too much, smoking way too much, and the ladies weren't exactly banging down my door. But, somehow the song is pretty fun to play." Though infrequently performed as a group, Andriano occasionally plays the song solo at the band's shows.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
, released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 2001 through Lookout! Records
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
. Both tracks of the single, "Hell Yes" and "My Standard Break from Life", were recorded in 2000 at Pachyderm Studio
Pachyderm Studio
Pachyderm Recording Studio is a residential recording studio located in rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota, United States, 35.8 mi southeast of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. It is located in a secluded old-growth forest with a vibrant trout stream. The studio was founded in 1988...
in Cannon Falls, Minnesota
Cannon Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,795 people, 1,550 households, and 996 families residing in the city. The population density was 946.4 people per square mile . There were 1,611 housing units at an average density of 401.8 per square mile...
during sessions for the band's 2001 album From Here to Infirmary
From Here to Infirmary
From Here to Infirmary is the third album by the Chicago-based punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released April 3, 2001 through Vagrant Records. It was their first album for Vagrant and their only album with drummer Mike Felumlee, who replaced previous drummer Glenn Porter. It was also their first...
. The single was the band's final release to include drummer Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
, who left the group shortly after From Here to Infirmary
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Remains
Remains (Alkaline Trio Album)
Remains is a compilation album from Alkaline Trio that was released on January 30, 2007. The album is a collection of 22 tracks that the band has recorded for various compilations, EPs, B-sides and international releases. The disc also includes three new live tracks from a 2006 concert at Avalon in...
.
Background
Singer and guitarist Matt SkibaMatt Skiba
Matthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
wrote "Hell Yes" in tribute to Anton LaVey
Anton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
, founder and High Priest
High priest
The term "high priest" usually refers either to an individual who holds the office of ruler-priest, or to one who is the head of a religious caste.-Ancient Egypt:...
of the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
. It was written shortly after Skiba moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
where LaVey had once lived. In the liner notes for Remains, Skiba commented that "I miss the Bay, and Doktor LaVey and The Black House on the hill that has since gone away." Singer and bassist Dan Andriano
Dan Andriano
Daniel Michael Andriano is the bassist and co-vocalist of the punk rock band Alkaline Trio.-Education and early bands:...
cited "Hell Yes" as one of his favorite songs to perform and noted it as one of the most often-requested numbers at the band's performances, describing it as "a perfect punk rock song about doing what makes you happy. Plain and simple."
"My Standard Break from Life" was written by Andriano in the span of roughly twenty minutes during a time when he was living on Chicago's north side next to a crack house
Crack house
Crack house is a term mainly used in the United States used to describe an old, often abandoned or burnt-out building often in an inner-city neighborhood where drug dealers and drug users buy, sell, produce, and use illegal drugs, including, but not limited to, crack cocaine.In the 1980s, inner...
. Describing his inspiration, he stated "Let's just say I was pretty depressed. I was totally unmotivated, drinking way too much, smoking way too much, and the ladies weren't exactly banging down my door. But, somehow the song is pretty fun to play." Though infrequently performed as a group, Andriano occasionally plays the song solo at the band's shows.
Track listing
Band
- Matt SkibaMatt SkibaMatthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dan AndrianoDan AndrianoDaniel Michael Andriano is the bassist and co-vocalist of the punk rock band Alkaline Trio.-Education and early bands:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Mike FelumleeMike FelumleeMike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Production
- Matt Allison – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, mix engineerMix engineerA mix engineer, also referred to as "mixing engineer", is a person who, once all instruments, voices, and sounds, etc., have been recorded, creates what is called the final version of a song, hence the term "mix engineer"... - Neil Weir – assistant producer