The multi-talented, multi-instrumental, once-in-a-generation songwriter. Meet Pete Yorn.
August 21, 2024
From the Boss’ State of New Jersey.
There must be something in the water in Jersey that makes for incredibly talented songwriters. Take Pete Yorn, for example. He was born and raised in the same state—just 65 miles up the Garden State Parkway—as the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. Yorn had his own musical glory day while drumming for his band in a high school talent contest. The crowd requested he sing “Talent Show” by the Replacements and Yorn nailed it. So much so that another band in the competition invited him to sing Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.” While it’s unclear who won the scholastic contest, Pete Yorn clearly won his classmates’ hearts at Montville Township High School and was on his way to winning the world’s, too.
The breakout album musicforthemorningafter.
By March 27, 2001, everything was about to change for Pete Yorn. With the release of their new album. “musicforthemorningafter” and the lead single “Life on a Chain,” Rolling Stone named Yorn one of the “10 Bands to Watch in 2001.” The publication bestowed the album with a four-star rating, which meant even people who wouldn’t normally listen to the alt rock/indie genre would love the music. To prove it, Pete Yorn set off for a whopping 18-month tour to promote the album. To spread the word, share the beautiful work that had come to fruition and to make sure as many people as possible got a chance to hear their original, melodic sound.
Gold records or the silver screen? Pick two.
The Farrelly Brothers picked Pete Yorn to write the score for their movie Me, Myself & Irene, featuring the original songs “Strange Condition” and “Just Another,” which some argue was a bigger break than his debut album itself, being released just prior. But regardless of when the true explosion happened, it became clear in the early 2000s that audiences everywhere loved hearing Pete Yorn. And in many other places than just rock venues. The band was featured more and more on the small and large screen, including their song “Just Another” on the WB show Dawson’s Creek. The band’s song “Murray” was also featured on the soundtrack of Igby Goes Down with Kieran Culkin and Jeff Goldblum, as well as their hit “Undercover” on the Spiderman soundtrack. The boy from Pompton Plains, New Jersey, was now being heard across genres and around the world. Oh, and he was also invited to a little venue called Carnegie Hall in 2007 for a tribute to, yes, Bruce Springsteen.
He plays all the instruments. Including ours.
Flash forward to present day, a full 23 years after the debut album “musicforthemorningafter,” and Pete Yorn is still bringing his signature sound to fans everywhere. One of Yorn’s trademarks over the years, on top of the fact that he’s penned some absolute classic indie rock hits, is that he plays his own instruments, too. Let’s do a quick count. This multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist plays the 1). Guitar 2). Drums 3). Bass 4). Piano 5). Harmonica and 6). Analog synthesizer. But for Cardboard Session 25, it was only fitting he added one more to his list: the Cardboard Fender Stratocaster guitar. Tune in today to watch Pete Yorn pick up our paper and poly masterpiece to play “Real Good Love” from his latest album The Hard Way, with Jackson Phillips accompanying on the keys. Enjoy!
