Not only did Yeasayer sell me on their entire album (which I will be purchasing with my next paycheck), but they wiped out my entire future bank account balance by selling me on an entire festival season. I can't imagine a more perfect atmosphere to take their tunes in live, plus there'd be room to dance so why not go buck wild and instead of seeing them only at their inevitable Glastonbury slot, why not traipse across the globe (or at least Europe) seeing them time and time again at fests like Roskilde in Denmark, Quart in Norway, Lowlands in Holland and then wind it down back in the UK in August at Reading. Given I'm planning for a big move come September, I'm not so sure on how long I'll be able to afford to be in the EU for this summer for festies, but rest assured I now know who my number one act to see at each will be. Besides Jay-Z and all.
I got there with no time to spare - they'd already taken to the stage and began their set when I made it to Holocene a little past 10:30. I assumed I'd be catching the tail-end of MGMT's set, but when I got there I noticed on a sheet of paper that Yeasayer were before them on the bill! How was that even possible!?! "It's a co-headlining tour," explained Holocene's Jacob. I swear, co-headlining tours with be the death of me! Last time I saw one was the No Doubt/Blink 182 split bill in 2004. Given No Doubt's strong NW ties, I wrongly assumed they'd be the headliner of the night and didn't arrive until it was time for the last band to take the stage. And that band was Blink 182. I missed No Doubt! I'm not the hugest solo-Gwen Stefani fan, but No Doubt reserved a spot in my heart when they infiltrated my eardrums via the airwaves in the 90's and they do put on one hella good show. Anyway, now is as good of time as ever to again commend the Teenagers' song "Homecoming." If not for anything else, then for the Blink 182 name-check in the chorus!
I love Yeasayer. I've said "on air" that they're a better Fleetwood Mac (last item). I then asked myself if that was true and the jury of my mind is still out on that, but I totally have Yannis from the Oxford band Foals to thank for turning me on Yeasayer's track "2080" in early summer. That song is very very good and pretty accurately represents my outlook on life. God - I am resisting the urge to go into all the reasons, but I especially enjoy that in pretty much all their songs, they can look an impending apocalypse in the eye with the knowledge there is likely nothing they can do to deter that ending and decide to celebrate the here-and-now. Listen to the lyrics and read their Pitchfork interview for a better explanation.
"I can't sleep when I think about the times we're living in."
"I can't sleep when I think about the future I was born in to."
but "It's a new year and I'm glad to be here, so let's sing..." can still find it's way into the same song! Love it! I also love the clarinet! It's such a lyrically and instrumentally beautiful song. Not a lyrically and instrumentally good song, but beyond that - beautiful.
I also identify with the lyric about Monday calling, well at least my personal interpretation of it. As I'm very vocal about and a good portion of the people I know are too, I don't believe people should have to work 5 days a week. I find the concept insane. While there are many many hardships abound, I still feel an unbending forty hour work week is too taxing. That's not saying I refuse to. But I hate that life is largely dictated by job commitments - such as Monday's calling and life outside a job is over. Two days to do what you want outside of a job is unbalanced. Someone in Seattle agrees. Though I'm more a "fuck jobs", "yay work" type of gal. There is a big difference.
Anyway, moving along to the actual show, the way "2080" came to life in the live atmosphere was superb too! The guitar chords were different and drum beats took the track into dance record territory. You could REALLY get down to it! Everyone's excitement for the track as they began was apparent, but there wasn't that much singing along. I'm thinking there will be at festival grounds.
And it was almost distracting, but how much does Yeasayer's lead singer resemble Scissor Sister's frontman Jake Shears ?!?!
Lyrics from "Final Path" a song I grew to like even more when performed live:
"Nothing's gonna stop the sky from falling,
nothing gonna stop the water rising..."
But let's dance! We're not ignoring it, but let's acknowledge it and move onto celebration that we're at least here now.
Their set was saturated with drunks - especially one yelling that "2080" be played again. While the band didn't indulge the demand, frontman Chris Keating did dole out a handshake to the lad and then a couple songs later again extended his arm for another handshake. Yeasayer were very amused. But seriously, my oh my were there a lot of drunk people. One that screamed about Chris' tattoo being a tarantula (it is in fact a crab in an ode to Baltimore) and some girl yelling about Californians in relation to an onstage comment that actually had nothing to do with Californians.
The night was very obviously sold out - crammed at entrances to the main room, but rather actually breathable once inside in terms of space between concert-goers.
"2080" Yeasayer MP3
So I left before MGMT took to the stage. When I got outside I found out I'd missed my bus by literally one minute so there were 30 minutes to wait. Go back inside and spend it taking in MGMT? "I'll pass," I said, staying outside even though the wind was whipping around the plexi-glass bus top and drunks were tumbling out of the strip-club a few yards away. I got MGMT's song "Time to Pretend" as a free track on itunes and was throughly underwhelmed especially given my general allergic reaction to most music that includes guitars. The music really has to grab me and theirs turned me off. Very unlike the guitar reliant new track "Dog Years" by garage-rock super group Ghetto Cross. I can't get enough of it!
(there was a lot of wild horses action and stocking feet going on on part of Yeasayer. Somehow, it rather accurately reflected the music)
Alright, so the mix up with the headliner sucked major balls, as it nearly ruined my night as well. That being said, MGMT, who I also believe is, well, just not that incredible, did manage to play a decent show and did make me change my plans of burning down the Holocene in disgust. Give the guys a break, the lead singer was obviously fucked up on some kind of drug and they rocked out a couple of the last tunes, so next time, stay for show.
Posted by: Aaron Colter | February 12, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways. I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out: If anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do—just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt: they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
Posted by: coach sale | July 16, 2010 at 08:37 PM