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Words and photos by DCist contributor Francis Chung
Brooklyn-based four-piece Yeasayer brought their self-described "Middle Eastern-Psych-Pop-Snap-Gospel" to D.C. on Wednesday night, and the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue proved to be an apt setting for their inspired performance. The historic building's excellent acoustics and top-notch sound system conveyed the nuances of the band's complex sonic palette. The religious setting also gave the spiritual connotations of the band's psychedelic drones, tribal beats, incendiary chants, church-choir harmonies, and lyrics that range from transcendentalist to apocalyptic a physical manifestation.
During songs like the dystopian "2080", lead vocalist/keyboardist Chris Keating worked himself into a firebrand frenzy, while bassist Ira Wolf Tuton and percussionist Luke Fasano laid down an impressive rhythmic foundation over which Anand Wilder applied alternately intricate and explosive guitar work. Despite the intensity of the music, most audience members remained respectfully seated in the synagogue's pews for most of the set, until Keating finally exhorted them to come forth toward the stage for the conclusion of the performance. Adding interfaith diversity to their musical eclecticism, Yeasayer was scheduled to play at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia on Thursday night, before closing out their current tour with two NYC gigs this weekend.
Fang Island kicked off the evening's proceedings with a lively set of relatively straight-ahead rock, followed by a beautiful set by fellow Brooklynites, Chairlift, who remain best-known for having their song "Bruises" featured in a recent iPod Nano commercial. The band delivered that undeniably catchy tune towards the end of their set, much to the delight of the audience, but the strongest points of their set, were the darker, more brooding songs such as "Territory", during which Caroline Polachek's remarkably lush and dynamic vocals haunted the band's mix of atmospheric synth sounds, reverb-laden guitar, and hypnotic beats.
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Great Show ... nice pics ... Does anyone know if they videotaped just this performance or if they have been taping the last leg of their tour? I would love a copy of the show.
"Middle Eastern-Psych-Pop-Snap-Gospel?" See, this is what drives me nuts about the so-called "indie music scene." These guys get concert dates, and I can get anyone to listen to my "Polynesian Bible Belt Gutbucket Gangsta Nursery Throat Singing Chantey" demo tape. I mean, between the concerts at Gallaudet and the occasional bar mitzvah, I can barely afford the payments on my Bentley and my gold-plated bidet. How the hell am I supposed to afford the surgery on my parasitic twin now?
Woo! great show! I was dancing in my seat.
Monkeyrotica: you should have signed up for the International Body Music Festival in Oakland this week!
Get a hambone guy and I think you'll hit the big time.
he mentioned during the show that they were making a movie and that's what the cameras were for. so i'm assuming they've been taping for awhile now.
great show. i really liked chairlift's set as well. with the one exception of the moment immediately after "Bruises" when 'that guy' yelled, "I WANNA BUY AN IPOD!!!" Ugh. Like clockwork to the band, I'm assuming.
Anyone who was there know the song they played immediately after Bruises? That was great.
A National Geographic crew was taped Yeasayer for their 24 hour music channel, which you can't get in the states.
A National Geographic crew was taped Yeasayer for their 24 hour music channel, which you can't get in the states.
ah...if that's the case, then I guess chris was being sarcastic. i apparently didn't pick up on it. in retrospect, 5 HD cameras did seem somewhat overkill for an indie band making a movie.
i'm gonna sit down now. yeah, i think that's best.
Fenster:
I think it was Evident Utensil...
definatelyplayed evidnet utensil ... chairlift was excellent ... nat geo would make sense since they have offices in town and that was a ridiculous camera set up. Also they did not film in philly last ngiht so it must have been a dc thang. Neat
I disagree about the venue. I thought 6th & I was the absolute worst spot for Yeasayer to play. Nobody should be sitting during their show and only so many people can fit in the isles. But if one person stands at 6&I then nobody behind them can see. And of course you couldn't stand on the pew or anything, people would stare you down to death.
I disagree about the venue. I thought 6th & I was the absolute worst spot for Yeasayer to play. Nobody should be sitting during their show and only so many people can fit in the aisles. But if one person stands at 6&I then nobody behind them can see. And of course you couldn't stand on the pew or anything, people would stare you down to death.