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By: Dan Ettinger
Yeasayer :: 04.03.10 :: 9:30 Club :: Washington, D.C.
On the first show of their U.S. tour, with a sold out crowd roaring in approval, Yeasayer ambled
onto the 9:30 Club's
stage.
Odd Blood, the band's second studio release, is full of juxtapositions. Uplifting
lyrics often accompany creepy, futuristic, dark music, or vice versa. The live setting
perfectly showcased these contrasts. Strange piano arpeggios looped over a booming bass
on opener "The Children" as lead singer Chris Keating's heavily processed voice
oozed through the mic. "Children" sounded as if Radiohead's "Street
Spirit" drank too much Dextromethorphan and was almost too fucked up to function.
The syrupy goodness of "Children" gave way to the bouncy pop of "Rome" and the crowd
started to get down, which is quite a rarity in D.C. Even the Dirty
Projectors' "Stillness is the Move" only elicited slight head nods from a D.C.
audience. "I Remember," a wistful, trippy ode to a former lover, mesmerized the crowd as
four white screens behind the band pulsed different colors along with the music, like a
psychedelic heartbeat.
"2080" was a true highlight of the evening and nearly burned down the house, Talking Heads
style. "2080" is a song about being handed your future when you are born and dancing away
the tribulations that come along with this predicament. Those who knew the complex lyrics
to this apocalyptic, carpe diem tune sang along, and the rest simply yelled in unison with
the chorus.
A completely rearranged "Mondegreen" pulsed with a heavy reggaeton beat (seriously).
Guitarist Anand Wilder's patient, reverb heavy solos shone through intense synths
and Keating's almost-rap-like delivery.
With the majority of the songs coming from Odd Blood, it was fascinating to compare
the evolution of the band's sound against tracks from their debut, All Hour Cymbals
(JamBase
review). Most of the older songs sounded folksy, with a tinge of Middle Eastern pop.
The newer songs were much more driving, catchy and quixotic. Behind "Wait for the
Summer's" lush sitar loops and a key change worthy of a Bar Mitzvah, percussionist
Jason Trammell played sixteenth notes on the hi-hats with a shaker in one hand and
sleigh bells in the other. This was quite a contrast to Odd Blood's dance hit,
"O.N.E.," or the inspirational "Ambling Alp".
After pausing for a brief encore break, the band finished with the quiet, cascading
"Grizelda," which segued into All Hours' percussive opener "Sunrise." Although
they only played for about an hour and 15 minutes, Yeasayer showcased an impressive
ability to weld together diverse, incredibly fun influences, creating a futuristic, must-
see show. After each song, band members would continue to improvise with various noises
and synth settings, perhaps giving the audience a glimpse into the group's creative
process. As the tour continues I imagine these noises will soon bleed into the songs,
creating a non-stop dance party.
Providence, Rhode Island natives Javelin opened the show with danceable, electronic tunes and
hilarious backing clips (including a 1990's Shaquille O'Neal rap video).
Yeasayer :: 04.03.10 :: 9:30 Club :: Washington, D.C.
The Children, Rome, Wait for the Summer, I Remember, Tightrope, 2080, Love Me Girl,
Mondegreen, O.N.E., Strange Reunions, Madder Red, Ambling Alp
E: Grizelda, Sunrise
Check out JamBase's recent Yeasayer feature.
Yeasayer Tour Dates ::
Yeasayer News :: Yeasayer Concert
Reviews
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