Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ McCarren Pool 8/11-8/12

Even though legends Sonic Youth were on the concert bill, it was clearly a Yeah Yeah Yeahs crowd. More specifically, a Karen O crowd. Two young women standing in front of me were dressed EXACTLY like Karen O. From the Chucks, to the fish nets, all the way to the green face paint. When Karen O embedded her microphone in her mouth and let out a primal scream during Art Star three burley guys standing behind me were discussing how she was "their kind of woman". These guys were eating it up, as was the rest of the crowd. As for the music. The new songs sounded a lot better this time around in comparison to their Bowery shows in February. Maybe it was the large venue, the Brooklyn crowd, six months on the road or the fact that I actually knew the material. Whatever the case, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs gave everyone who disparaged their new album, Show Your Bones, a reason to reassess. Honeybear and Turn Into were crowd pleasers with the crowd shouting in unison, "I know, what I know" during Turn Into. The band reached back to their first EP and played Miles Away. Then jumped to Fever to Tell and played Date With the Night, Pin and Maps. At one point Karen O brought Brian Chase front and center for an impromptu interview.

Brian gave props to his family and friends in attendance and all over Brooklyn. He gave an extra special shout-out to the local public transportation for getting him around Brooklyn. The only song that disappointed was Cheated Hearts, which sounded flat. Maybe I was expecting too much since this is one my favorites off the new album and because the song sounded so good back in February. I took a video anyway and youtubed it. Check out the video.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs set was short an encore night two. Maybe Karen O tired herself out the night before with all her jumping? She came out with some slick shades and then went Pharaoh Ramses on our ass and gave us a Kool Aid smile for good measure.

She brought so much energy night two even though the crowd didn't match her skip for skip. The band pulled out Mystery Girl and Bang!, two more songs from their EP. In particular, the performance of Mystery Girl  was stand out. Nick Zinner delivered some exquisite guitar work. Thurston Moore was even digging it stage side.


Cheated Hearts was more spirited the second time around. The crowd was also treated to a beautiful acoustic version of Maps, which Karen O dedicated to her designer, friend and soon to be newlywed, Christian Joy. Warrior, a song I was hoping to hear this weekend was played on night two. Karen O screamed with conviction, "trouble at home, travel away" which made us all believe she was skipping town after the show. As for the rest of the band, Imaad Wasif was dressed in a Royal Tenenbaums, Ari and Uzi-esque tracksuit (thanks C!), Brian Chase was not interviewed this time around and Nick Zinner was still skinny and pale and cutting through the atmosphere with his guitar. On a side note, am I the only one irked when Karen O laughs or giggles through a song? At first it was charming. Now it’s a little strange when she laughs during Cheated Hearts or during Poor Song, when she sings “and cool kids...they belong together.” But let's not lose focus on how great the band sounded and how much fun both nights turned out to be.

Other Links:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Pictures @ McCarren Pool 8/11
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Pictures @ McCarren Pool 8/12
Know Your Band - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Bowery Ballroom 2/24/06

What other blogs are saying:
BrooklynVegan.com
The Music Slut
FluxBlog
Check out Ryan' s Smashing Life to see what mischief the YYY's caused in Boston.

Comments

[poodle's lady friend]

I am a fan of the "smile" and generally indie rockers are not hep to the cheerful emotive gesture. So, I gotta disagree with you about Karen O.'s tendency to smile--it makes me feel alot better about my own smiling at the shows. She def doesn't take herself too seriously, like some other rockers like, say...Eddie Vedder.

[m]

thanks for your kind words.

we heart you angry citizen.

and your fantastic pics!

[Ryan's Smashing Life!]

Stop by my page to read the review of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Boston show. Excellent video and music resources as well.

Plus you can occasionally hear me rant! (I haven't done one of those in a while...)

[lili]

Great commentary and insanely hot photos. Keep it comin' AC.