On a cold and quiet Wednesday night, we witnessed one of the best things to happen to rock and roll.

The Yawpers have to be one of the most intimidating acts out there. The Colorado threesome blew in like a storm and raged at the Jackpot all night long. Talk about a force to be reckoned with! These gruff, Southern-inspired rockers made Jack White look like a sissy!

They’re quite charming, too. They started off the show by threatening folks who didn’t make the trek from the bar to the stage with a promise to punch them “in the fucking mouth.” Halfway through their set, the eloquent gentlemen yelled “This is a song about huffing gasoline and fucking hookers!” This got a round of applause and cheer from the crowd, who then happily yelled the lyrics back at them.

The reason these patrons knew all the lyrics is because The Yawpers actually come through Lawrence quite often, so you’ll have the chance to see them again very soon. Their fans here are few, but dedicated. Our guess is that over the next few months word will spread like fire and you may find yourself running to their next show.

The boys are talented, for sure. The slide guitar is enough to slay you, and the screeching vocals could make your life flash before your eyes… and through it all, they barely broke a sweat. This is a band that makes it look effortless… and meanwhile, the audience is getting messed up. The Yawpers are American heroes.

Here’s how they started off their show:

And because there is not a doubt in our minds regarding their badassery, here’s a bonus clip.

Words and photos by Fally Afani