Meet the Band

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The Morning Yells is a new Los Angeles-based band consisting of siblings Phil & Laura Stancil (guitar, vocals / bass, vocals), Trevor Smith (guitar, vocals), Jacob Boll (Keyboards, Guitar, vocals), and Scott Shelko (Drums, Percussion). Blending Heartland Rock, Americana, and Folk with ease, the group has a knack for writing songs that are familiar and new at once. Their 2017 debut EP, Proper Wilted, received praise for its harmonies, song craft, and nods to classic folk. ­Comparisons to Big Star, The War on Drugs, Tom Petty, and Fleetwood Mac are common mentions at their live show.

On the influences that helped shape his approach to writing and performing, singer Phil Stancil says: “We grew up in a family band playing roots-rock and folk music at festivals and venues throughout Michigan, where we’re originally from. Our Dad taught how to play guitar and sing, and we fell in love with the Beach Boys, America and The Moody Blues by digging through his record collection.”

In 2017 the band released its first EP Proper Wilted and in the span of five songs, the band adeptly covers a variety of genres, from the opener “Must Be You,” an easy-breezy number that sounds like Fleetwood Mac’s 70’s heyday if it were laid down in Motown-era Detroit, to the authentic 60’s country of “She Knows Exactly What She’s Doing”. The effort was a thoughtful and gorgeous showcase of craft and collaboration—the band then set its sights on performing live.

2018 - 2020 saw the Yells traversing the great state of California as much as possible, spreading their laid-back yet energetic tunes to eager listeners up and down the coast, and adding keyboardist/guitarist Jacob Boll along the way.

The Morning Yells released their debut full-length “On The Lash” in 2019. The album was recorded at Boulevard Recording with Engineer/Producer Clay Blair (The War on Drugs, Borns, Richard Thompson). The songs boast strong blood harmonies and anthemic choruses paired with often sorrowful and deeply rooted lyrics.  

 In the dregs of winter, January 2022, The Morning Yells’ escaped to a cabin in the mountains of Big Bear for a mere three days to start demoing ideas for another record. After driving through a whiteout snowstorm and laying out what few instruments they had brought, what they came away with, unscathed, was “Moonlight Mountain Bungalow” - a full 12 songs broken into existence between the heavy snow falling and the knells of a church close by. The record starts with a sunny folk murder ballad titled “Mercy Killin’” then weaves through the rugged airs of hinterland country love songs with “My Girls” and “Jagged Blue,” the type of songs you’ve already formed memories with after only just listening. After a pit stop into some groovy disco moonlight beats with “Ecclesiastes,” you’ll swerve right back into a witching-hour monastical version of “What Wondrous Love” then on to a lilting sing-along pub song about WWII. Featuring each band member on percussion and vocals throughout, “Moonlight Mountain Bungalow” to be released October 28, 2022.