NAMM Show 2025

Seems like Yachty by Nature always finds a way to be in the spotlight of important happenings!  Importantly, we played the NAMM Show 2025 again this year.  Additionally, Captain Carl attended the 2024 Grammy Museum screening of HBO’s Dockumentary.  In fact, I was ecstatic to see our friends at HBO & our friends that invented Yacht Rock: JD Ryznar, Hollywood Steve and David Lyons.  Seriously, it was amazing to share the small room with the greatness.  As a matter fact, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Steve Porcaro & David Paich were all there.

In nearly 9 years of the band, the accolades and firsts and notables keep stacking up.  Speaking of which, the stars of the original Yacht Rock YouTube series, JD & Steve have come to see us in concert.  In fact, here’s a great picture of JD’s tweet celebrating a Yachty by Nature performance in person from 2018.  In addition, the band has been featured on KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles regularly.  Additionally, we played as opening band for Snoopadelic and appeared on Rich Eisen’s national TV sports show.

NAMM and Yachty together!

But nothing seems to shine brighter, than our performances at the world’s largest music trade show:  NAMM Show 2025.  All told, the band has graced the stage at the event 3 times starting back in 2020.  Our first two performances were special.  We love to perform these classic and award winning cuts from the 70’s & 80’s one hundred percent LIVE.  And, for a deeply MUSIC oriented audience.

Importantly, NAMM is a testament to the power of music, all the wonderful musicians of the world and the amazing gear on hand at the show.  This year, we were gonna need a bigger boat!  Yachty by Nature was invited by the committee at NAMM to play on the Yamaha Grand Plaza stage:  an 80′ wide by 80′ tall behemoth of sight and sound.  Dare I say, the band has never sounded tighter, bolder, and yet more smooth!  Ultimately, the band showed up in our classic navy blazers look and caught fire.  Let’s face it, the pressure was on.  Ultimately, playing complicated music to a musician crowd and making it fun is nerve wracking!

Blow the Horn

This year, we decided to ramp up our Yacht Rock performance.  In fact, the band added trumpet and trombone for a full horn section.  Dubbed the Hornblowers, this won’t be their last “cruise” with us.  In fact, we are setting a course for adventure and lining up some opportunities to sail with the Hornblowers again soon.  Moreover, Sailor Steve (trumpet) and Barnacle Ben (trombone) were on fire right out of the port.  By the time we passed the buoy, the horns were punching on Ride Like the Wind and throwing gas on the fire!  Importantly, this year’s crowd kept streaming in and filled the plaza for maximum Yachty pleasure.  Lastly, we thank NAMM and so many great posts from around the convention for digging our music.  In fact, NAMM show 2025 was a huge hit.  Blow the horn, the Hornblowers were a hit and so was the Yacht Rock Concert!

NAMM show Set List

And, if you’re wondering.  Yes, our set list was nearly 100% yacht rock.  Horn section.  Scotty McYachty vocals.  Julie McCoy’s songstressing and the band completely on fire.  Thanks to the band for helping Captain Carl limp to the stage in his foot in a cast from surgery still.  Although we had some challenges.  The event was amazing and that huge stage gave us the perfect venue to show what the band is capable of.

Christopher Cross to begin with horns punching.  Add a Steely Dan deep cut on FM.  In fact, Sanford Townsend’s Smoke From a Distant Fire… what yacht rock band dares play that?  Lemme tell you, the horns were the perfect icing on the cake on that.  But, I have to be honest.  Despite the Lido Shuffle, Private Eyes, and Olivia Newton John, the dark horse winner might have been Lotta Love by Nicolette Larson.  When Pacific Rim belts out those sax solos and then kills it on the Ron Burgundy jazz flute, it’s magic.  Finally, wash it all down with a smooth drink of Toto’s Rosanna.  Like that crisp taste of champagne, Yachty by Nature washed that charcuterie down smoothly.  The NAMM show 2025 setlist really played masterfully.  We just can’t thank the NAMM audience for welcoming us and posting vigorously about our set.

To our fans and musician friends out there and around the world.  Thanks for the love.  We love what we do and we respect the music enough to play it all live without backing tracks.  That’s a rare thing out there and our new horn section, The Hornblowers really got the job done!  What a special performance and extra special venue to show off what this band can do!  NAMM show 2025, THANK YOU and hope to see you soon.  Be sure to check our last Yacht Rock Cover Band post too!

Next, make sure and check our next blog post from this Yacht Rock Band.