Digital, 26 February 2010
Hailing from Brooklyn and after a tour supporting MGMT back in 2008, the bar for Yeasayer has been set high. Hyped and anticipated, their style borrows sounds from across the globe. On record, the tin carnival drums, ethereal keyboard effects and gently woven harmonies form a happy and light mixture, but live they are a different beast entirely. The drums are stronger, more industrial than expected, and the beats heavier – this is music to really dance to.
Singer Chris Keating directs with fluid hand movements across the crowd, his long thin fingers picking out each beat like a maestro. The drummer, wearing a Smurf-like beanie, smashes his set with precision. Bassist Ira Wolf Tuton, in a white vest and long arm sleeve, moves his hips and flails arms with passion. Diminuitive guitarist Anand Wilder is clad in a camo jumpsuit, making him look similar in appearance to the Mighty Boosh’s character Naboo, a factor that belies his mighty fret skills. A keyboard player is a comet of colours as he moves shakers in his tie-dye t-shirt.
The boys swig on bottles of water, not the typical pint of lager; theirs is a busy stage of focused activity. “We are very happy to be here – Brighton’s a great town – we are great fans of that place Bill’s! They must put something addictive in that stuff, like KFC but the healthy version!” says singer Keating.
As third track ‘Wait For The Summer’ starts, nodding heads of the crowd morph into full bodies dancing, and people clap along to the chorus of “rising rising / falling behind.” The lights on stage go from green to blue to pink. The two main singers have a great dynamic as bassist Tuton moves alone and Keating faces out to the crowd. The singer’s use their voices as instruments; this is not lyric led but a percussive world of woven sounds. Wailing vocal screams are heard above claps. ‘Forgiveness’ is a highlight, with its slow undulating chorus.
The boys are enjoying themselves immensely, and know what they are doing. Keating’s dancing is not a pose, his movements seem an unavoidable expression of rhythm. The praise is well deserved for an impressive band moving fast – catch them while you can.
What did you think of the gig?
Rosie: 8/10 “It was so good, I couldn’t stop dancing!”
Jess: 8/10 “I loved it! Awesome, so glad I got a ticket.”
Max: 9/10 “Absolutely amazing, they have such a new sound.”
Emily: 8/10 “I didn’t know what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised, really happy and dance-y.”
Words by Lizzie Simner
More about the band at: myspace.com/yeasayer
