via Trash For Your Eyes and Ears
After 14 months on the road, Yeasayer wrapped up their tour with two back-to-back nights at Music Hall of Williamsburg. It’d nearly been a year since I had last seen the band at a venue called Shangri-la in Brooklyn. As I mentioned in my intro to the Top Albums of 2008, Yeasayer’s debut album was a favorite of mine in 2007. “Wait for the Summer” is (appropriately) a favorite jam for my long, cold and windy walks to the subway station. Miss you, summer.
As much as I love free open bars at shows, I have to admit that not having that temptation allowed me to pay attention to what Yeasayer was doing on-stage. I was really impressed by the virtuosity of the band members, a huge performance factor that I didn’t pick up on last time. The guitar riffs in “Waves” were executed effortlessly by Anand Wilder (I have a little crush on him – I like his haircut). Ira Wolf Tuton is a bassist who plays his instrument like a good lead guitarist: doing crazy shit all the time. He may be the most active bassist I’ve ever seen live. Also, until this show, I’d completely forgotten that Yeasayer is considered by many to be “experimental” (I now reserve that word for music that I don’t quite fully understand). But, it seems like Yeasayer embraces this genrefication, as they create live versions, with the help of synths, that sound relatively reworked compared to the studio ones.
Yeasayer is back in the studio to work on their second album. See/hear you in six months, Yeasayer!
Wait for the Summer - Yeasayer
Waves - Yeasayer
December 10, 2008
Yeasayer - MHOW 12.06.08
January 8, 2008
New Year's Eve with Yeasayer
Sorry, it's been awhile since my last post. Since the TMSR show, I went completely MIA due to finals and winter break. Now for some much needed updating...
Because I'm really really smart, I flew back to New York on December 31. The snow in Chicago delayed me for over two hours. The entire time I was waiting, I was worried that I would not get back in time to see Yeasayer that night. Yeasayer was performing at a myopenbar.com party in Williamsburg. So, I trekked my way to Shangri-la, which does not really look like a venue. The entrance is unmarked, and the door is actually at the back of the building. I think the place used to be an industrial factory of some sort. Although I was a bit worried by the venue, Yeasayer did indeed show up and I was not disappointed. The two guitarists have long hair and look like hippies. The lead singer was dressed like a prep in his corduroy blazer. I was skeptical, but the lead singer was amazing. He was dancing, stumbling around all over the stage. Was the "dancing" planned? No idea, but it was fun to watch. Coincidentally, Yeasayer is the perfect band for a New Year's Eve party. From the song "2080," the band sings, "It's a new year, I'm glad to be here, It's a fresh spring so let's sing."
I blogged about Yeasayer back in November. Since I first found about them, I've been dying to go to a show. There was a show in December at Mercury Lounge, but it sold out before I could buy tickets. So, yes, I was the girl in the front who went crazy over the music.
...Or maybe it was the free beer and vodka. I'm pretty sure I spilled beer all over my camera when I took the pictures above.
Enjoy the songs. Check out the old post for more. "Wait for the Summer" is perfect for an unseasonably warm day like today in New York. Also, you can check out their Daytrotter session here. Pitchfork also recently interviewed Anand Wilder, who wrote "Forgiveness."
Yeasayer has another two New York shows in February, and they will be supported by MGMT!
Wait for the Summer - Yeasayer
Forgiveness - Yeasayer
Sunrise - Yeasayer
November 7, 2007
Port O'Brien & Yeasayer
Last Thursday, I went to see Rogue Wave at the Bowery Ballroom. At the show, I discovered two great bands:
1. Port O'Brien
Rogue Wave's second opening act was Port O'Brien. Port O'Brien hails from Oakland, CA, also the home town of Rogue Wave. Confusingly enough, they spent the summer playing in Port O'Brien, Alaska. I'm sitting here right now, listening to a few of their songs and trying to find words to describe their sound. You have the raw, unapologetic energy of "I Woke Up Today." Then, you have the very Rogue Wave-esque "My Eyes Won't Shut." Finally, you have the folksy "Five and Dime." WHO THE HELL IS THIS BAND?? Find out for yourself.
I Woke Up Today
My Eyes Won't Shut
Five and Dime
2. Yeasayer
By far, Yeasayer is my favorite new discovery of this fall. They affirm the fact that amazing music continues to materialize out of Brooklyn, NY. I was turned onto Yeasayer by the most unexpected person that I met at the Rogue Wave concert. As a 40-something male from Corporate America, Jonathan may appear to be the least likely person you'd turn to for music suggestions. On the contrary, he frequents a lot of great shows (you can find him on blogspot as "Hipster Replacement") and, he highly recommended Yeasayer after seeing them during the CMJ 2007 Music Marathon.
When I got home after the concert, I immediately looked up Yeasayer's MySpace. And I was blown away. Some people say that Yeasayer channels bands such as TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear, and Midlake. While I see some similarities, Yeasayer definitely holds its own and I would not be surprised by the emergence of a mass Yeasayer following.
2080
Final Path
