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Surf Ballroom will again be hosting a hell of a party when Boogie & The Yo Yo’Z swing by for a New Year’s Eve bash like you’ve never experienced. If you miss them this time, they won’t be back until the Mardi Gras party in February!
A group of 8, they hail from the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin and describe themselves as a “high energy, variety rock band playing the hits of the 80’s through today.” They perform everything from “500 Miles,” by The Proclaimers to “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree,” by KT Tunstell. Their song list can also include music by Dave Matthews, Carrie Underwood, John Cougar Mellencamp and The Killers. No matter what genre they are performing, they do it with high energy and harmonies that are tough to beat.
Getting their start in 1995 under the name Yogi & the Boo BooZ (with a “Z”) they took on the nickname of their drummer at the time, Brian Yogerst – not the name of Yogi Bear’s sidekick, Boo Boo. However, they soon found Hannah-Barbera, the owners of Yogi & Boo Boo, knocking on their door. What they were told was that they needed to change their name. They did so without much of a rumble and went on to quickly gain a reputation as a “party band.” It definitely shows during their performances and over the last decade, they have become one of the most in-demand bands of the Midwest!
Currently, they play a variety of parties such as weddings, corporate events, birthday’s, local and state fairs, local taverns, and bigger gigs like opening for national acts. Their mission statement is this: "No matter who you are or how your day was, you will have fun with us." Here is a list of things that make them different than every other band out there.
Horn Section: Not too many bands are able to boast a 3-4 piece horn section. This allows them to play a bigger variety of tunes without sacrificing quality. In addition, they really know how to get the crowd going with their most excellent choreography; it makes for an energy filled show.
Everyone Sings: One of the strongest points of Boogie & The Yo Yo'Z is that their talent is deep and diverse. Because everyone sings, it greatly increases the amount of musical tastes that they can satisfy. They have this same depth and flexibility in their instruments.
Sound & Lights: They recognize that every event they play is going to be different from the next. That’s why they travel with a seasoned sound company that has the ability to provide sound and lighting for crowds as small as 200 and as large as 20,000.
Variety: It’s the spice of life, isn’t it? Well, in that case, Boogie & The Yo Yo’Z are pretty spicy! They cater to what their audience wants. They avoid songs that have off color language and may be offensive. On their website, they have a forum, specifically for fans to request songs for upcoming shows. Know there’s a song you want to hear on New Year’s Eve? Head to their website and let them know; you might just get lucky enough to hear it!
Energy: Although this band is said to be one of the most professional to deal with, at least as a venue owner, they have more than enough fun on-stage. With energy that exceeds the 100% mark, they are constantly signing, moving, and keeping the crowd on its feet. They typically take only two 15 minute breaks, so you’ll definitely get your moneys worth at one of their shows.
The Boogie & The Yo Yo’Z Line Up
| Dave Lange | Bass & Vocals |
| Eric Peters | Lead Guitar, Bass, Trombone, Percussion, Piano, & Vocals |
| Tony Bell | Saxophone, Aux. Percussion, & Vocals |
| Kevin Baker | Drums & Latin Percussion |
| Dave Richter | Vocals |
| Nicky Jordan | Vocals & Keyboard |
| Dan Marbes | Trumpet, Latin Percussion, & Vocals |
| Scott Anderson | Rhythm Guitar & Vocals |
Now you can see what they mean when they say they have “depth & variety” amongst their group. It’s amazing if you really take a good look at the line up. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to see a band with this many different instruments, and only 8 people to do it all.
It sounds like Surf Ballroom is the place to be this New Year’s Eve. Tickets for the Boogie & The Yo Yo’Z show are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Additionally, if you had tickets for the Vic Ferrari show on November 24th, and are unable to make the rescheduled show for December 21st, you may use your ticket to get in to the New Year’s bash.
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