CLAP YOUR HANDS | 04.18 | ATLANTA

Words By: Stephanie Jacoby :: Images By: Aaron Williams

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah :: 04.18.07 :: Variety Playhouse :: Atlanta, GA

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah :: 04.18

I have to admit, I never had any desire to see a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah show, and trust me I’ve had plenty of opportunities to see them. But, I decided my distance would afford me the advantage of being an impartial, unbiased writer. And when all was said and done, I felt I’d done myself a disservice waiting this long to see them live.

With a somewhat newly released sophomore album in tow, Clap Your Hands hit the road with Elvis Perkins In Dearland (not Dreamland, as it was mistakenly written on the marquee) before commencing their international tour in early May.

Alec Ounsworth :: CYHSY :: 04.18

Clap Your Hands began their set with “Satan Said Dance,” and so we did. We danced, and Alec Ounsworth sang with a voice as passionate as David Byrne, giving the band’s performance a touch of Talking Heads-esque rock. As they played the opening chords to “Gimme Some Salt” an incredible surge of energy flowed from the stage to the back of the venue – a palpable force that kept even the most tepid fans on their feet as booming bass licks reverberated throughout the Playhouse.

Ounsworth’s warbling vocals, thankfully, translated much better live than on Some Loud Thunder. Even the slower tunes made a much bigger impact in concert than the studio versions.

Lee Sargent :: CYHSY :: 04.18

About halfway through their set, I caught a glimpse of CYHSY’s dark side in a long-winded jam, reminiscent of a Widespread Panic tune that dug deeper and deeper through their stereotypical indie-pop outer shell, bringing out the true musicians inside. The jam was accompanied by a short, colorful light show, and for a brief moment, my hair was standing on end – the feeling I usually get when I am so moved and uplifted by a live performance that the music makes me want to be a better person.

Unfortunately, there were a few sound glitches that interrupted the show every so often, the worst being right when the band was gearing up to play “Is This Love?” Ounsworth belted out the first line before deciding to nix the song entirely and start over again. What a tease. Most songs were perfectly executed but with the continuing sound issues and the unnecessarily dark stage lighting (as per the band’s request), it felt like I was watching a green band on their first tour.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah :: 04.18

As Clap Your Hands began their descent towards the end, they invited their friend in Elvis Perkins In Dearland to join them. With a complete horn section, a huge marching band bass drum and Ounsworth singing through a megaphone, the two bands whipped up another dark jam, a tornado of sound spinning out of control a la the Beatles’ “A Day In The Life”.

Even though the band’s energetic stage presence could use a little work, no one can argue with the quality of their music or their chemistry which keeps fans wanting more. After all, what kind of band would name themselves Clap Your Hands Say Yeah if they didn’t feel like they could make you do so by the end of their show?

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