Yeah Yeah Yeahs In San Francisco 2007 – Concert Review

August 28th, 2007

San Francisco adores the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. No other town loves this band more except maybe New York City. Witnessing a Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert in SF is almost a religious experience. I can feel how much the music means to each person in the crowd: music that reached them in their darkest hour; lyrics that spoke to them directly; or simply a celebration of life and the sparkle that Karen O brings to the room. Whatever the reason, everyone in the room is affected by the music. Tuesday night, August 21, 2007 at the Fillmore in San Francisco was no exception. The floor bowed deeply under the rhythmic jumping of the devoted congregation, and a sea of arms reached out to catch the melodies mid-air. The YYYs have earned this response from the audience with their relentless delivery of stellar shows. Their music and their stage presence isn’t contained on the stage, it imbibes everyone in the room until it feels like we’re actually dancing on stage with the band. If there is one thing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs do well, it’s connecting with each and everyone of their fans in a personal way.

Click on little photos to view the full sized photo in a new window:

They’re at the top of their game right now. They’ve grown comfortable and confident with their music and with being on stage. So comfortable in fact, that they have more room now for improvising in various directions. We’ve watched them grow over the last five years, and one can clearly see that the original trio are more relaxed in their onstage roles. Nick and Brian seem to play from their body consciousness rather than their minds – feeling the music and letting their bodies play without needing to think about each note, each step, and each progression. (Brian seemed especially pleased when I mentioned this to him after the show. He seemed relieved that this was noticeable from the crowd. No doubt it is especially difficult for a drummer to reach this level, since they, more than anyone, need to concentrate on keeping the whole band together rhythmically.) Reaching this state of being while on stage has led them to experiment more; which in turn created a more developed and refined sound.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Are The Musical Heroes Of Our Generation

Brian was on FIRE this night, with drumming like I had never heard before! The toms pounded out tribal rhythms, and the kick elevated the energy instantly – like a shot of adrenaline directly into your heart! But the cymbals were something special. He performed sweeps and oscillations with the cymbals, improvising like a jazz player, but not like a typical drummer. He was playing his instrument like a saxophone, or a synthesizer. I dare say – and I don’t say this lightly:

Brian Chase could easily be our generation’s Max Roach.

He is pioneering all new territory in drumming! A true virtuoso. It seemed he turned every rule of rhythm on its head and it sounded flawless instead of wrong…

Meanwhile, Nick was doing similar things on guitar. He’s played most of these songs so many times now, it so many venues across the globe, that he no longer has to think about where his fingers go and can instead figure out where his feet should go. As a result he thrashes, he spins he plays guitar behind his head and he never loses the melody.

Karen, as always, knows what will get the crowd off and gives it to them with gorgeous style. She teases, she tempts, she giggles, and she focuses all the attention on every single adoring fan. Every time she says “Wait,” the audience pauses mid-sway, waiting for her to continue; when she hears the audience singing louder than her, she holds the microphone out to amplify them; she dedicates everything to the people in the room with her. How can anyone not love a band so authentically raw and untamed, so devoted to their craft and their fans, so humble and sweet?

An Art Star Encore

You would think that after a performance like this, the band would be ready to pack up and relax. But as we know by now, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a hard time walking away from their fans at the end of the night. An encore was delivered with equal energy and enthusiasm. I was so ecstatic to hear the audience begging for “Art Star” – the harshest, noisiest, wildest song the band has performed thus far, as well as one of my two favorite YYY songs. To me, this was proof that the crowd that I had been a part of all night, was not just their new fans, or people who had been turned on to their music during its most mainstream success. These were people who would have adored them in their earliest days; when their music bordered more on punk and Nick’s guitars were more often fed to a ravenous distortion pedal. And of course, the Triple Ys delivered with chaotic enthusiasm…

I only wish I had good audio to share with you, to provide examples of what I have described here. Unfortunately, I have hardly any video at all, but here are 2 -very short- clips from the show with lots of screaming from the crowd:

You Won’t Meet Nicer Rock Stars On This Planet

I expected that they would be drained after the show, ready to sink deeply into a chair and rest. Backstage, after the show, Karen seemed high on life, still brash and smiling as she greeted friends and business acquaintances alike. Brian seemed as if he were still in the zone, still moving with body consciousness. It takes a while to come down from a performance high, and I suspect Brian entered the afterparty before he was “back to baseline.” We connected for a moment when he absorbed my comment on the performance and seemed very grateful, humbly grateful. No matter how much success these guys attain, Brian doesn’t seem phased by any of it. After a short while, Nick joined us and seemed as if he had just walked out of his Brooklyn flat. Totally calm and collected, with a sparkle in his eye upon seeing old friends. He sat down and it was obvious that he was high from the performance, and high from the success of their recent release Is Is. When we spoke of the album he seemed almost surprised at how well it was doing and how well the band has been able to sustain their huge success. If there is one thing this band projects with authenticity, it’s a humble gratitude for giving them a reason to rock out regularly. They seem truly awed and appreciative that they have such adoring and supportive fans. And they couldn’t be more deserving of this support. Karen, Brian and Nick are not only the nicest people you will ever meet, they are the hardest working band in the biz. Don’t let their sense of comfort and silliness fool you, these three have worked their arses off to be where they are, and they haven’t slowed down one bit…

Epilogue

I apologize for not mentioning the YYYs’ newest member, guitarist Imaad Wasif. To be honest, he doesn’t project a whole lots of personality; he seems content to fill in what needs filled in without trying to make his mark on the band or the sound. I have utmost respect for that. Many long-time fans may have had trouble accepting him if he were otherwise. On top of that, I was on the opposite side of the stage from him, so I could barely get him into a photograph. So, I apologize that my review of the concert has the same angle I had from my position in the crowd – closest to Nick and Brian.
To Imaad – you played a fantastic set, and you did a fantastic job filling out this epic band! Congrats!
To Nick, Brian and Karen – amazing set, you continue to deliver the best live shows ever, keep the FIRE! It was a beautiful night, my mate and I practically skipped home, totally high from being around you! THANK YOU!!! [Kisses!]xOxO