Yukon Kornelius


Yukon Kornelius is a rock music supergroup. It consists of bassist Stefan Lessard from the Dave Matthews Band, singer/guitarist Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, singer/guitarist Adam Gardner from Guster, and drummer Eric Fawcett from Spymob. The band's name comes from Yukon Cornelius, a character in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The band's shows have so far been known for including special guests. The band was originally put together for charitable purposes when the members were together for a planned ski/snowboard trip while filming Warren Miller's Children of Winter, a snow sports film.

Debut performance

On January 9, 2008, Yukon Kornelius played its first show at Okemo Mountain Resort, Vermont. The show benefitted the Vermont and New Hampshire food banks, as well as Gardner's environmental group Reverb.
The band played several songs, including "Yukon Kornelius Theme", "Sympathy for the Devil", "Psycho Killer", "Careless Whisper", "White Room", Guster's "Center of Attention", "Pinch Me", "Lost in the Supermarket", "Stefan Jams on the Bass", and "Rockin' the Free World". Jason Biggs joined the band for a few songs, such as "Don't Fear the Reaper", and "Low Rider". Dee Snider participated in "Highway to Hell", and Snider and Biggs joined in for "We're Not Gonna Take It".
Full setlist including original artists:
  1. Yukon Kornelius Theme - Improvized lyrics found at the Dave Matthews Band Almanac
  2. The Reaper - Blue Öyster Cult
  3. Low Rider - War—featuring Steve Morell of the Pete Kilpatrick Band on sax
  4. Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
  5. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
  6. Careless Whisper - George Michael—featuring Steve Morell of the Pete Kilpatrick Band on sax
  7. White Room - Cream
  8. Center of Attention - Guster
  9. Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies
  10. Lost in the Supermarket - The Clash
  11. Superman - R.E.M.
  12. Improv Jam - Stefan Lessard
  13. Rockin' in the Free World - Neil Young
  14. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
  15. Highway to Hell - AC/DC

    Current status

Yukon Kornelius played at the Belly Up in Aspen, Colorado on January 24, 2009. Stefan Lessard mentioned via his Twitter account that a mini tour with additional dates was in talks, but due to band members' obligations with their own respective bands, they had to put it off.
The band played a show in Vail, Colorado on December 11, 2009. Amongst other songs the band covered the Dave Matthews Band song, "Halloween", with Dee Snider on vocals.
Full set list from the December 11, 2009 show below:
  1. Theme
  2. Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
  3. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
  4. Pinch Me – Barenaked Ladies
  5. Center of Attention - Guster
  6. Sympathy for the Devil – Rolling Stones
  7. Careless Whisper – Wham!
  8. Shimmer – Fuel
  9. Rockin’ in the free world – Neil Young
  10. Reaper Reprise
  11. We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
  12. Round and Round - Ratt
  13. Shout It Out Loud - Kiss
  14. Highway To Hell – AC/DC
  15. Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions
  16. Have Your Self
  17. Halloween - Dave Matthews Band
  18. I Wanna Rock – Twisted Sister
On December 10, 2011 the band performed a show in Vail again. The band Lit opened for them and several guests joined the band during the show. Guests include Jerry DePizzo and Marc Roberge of O.A.R., Boyd Tinsley and Rashawn Ross of the Dave Matthews Band, DJ Logic, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Brett Scallions of Fuel, and as always Dee Snider of Twisted Sister. Olympic skiing gold medalist Lindsey Vonn also came out during the band's final song.
Full set list for the December 10 show:
  1. Since We First Met - Yukon Kornelius Theme
  2. The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
  3. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
  4. Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies
  5. Happier - Guster
  6. Miss You - Rolling Stones
  7. Night Shift - O.A.R.
  8. Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin
  9. Let's Dance - DJ Logic
  10. Limelight - Rush
  11. Song 2 - Blur
  12. Destroyer - The Kinks
  13. Fire - Jimi Hendrix
  14. Touch Me - The Doors
  15. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
  16. You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll - Twisted Sister
  17. I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister
  18. Halloween - Dave Matthews Band
  19. Nightrain - Guns N' Roses
  20. God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols
  21. Highway to Hell - AC/DC