Brooklyn-based Yeasayer have managed to demonstrate with two very different albums that they have a full command of their sound. From the world-music influenced, psychedelic essence of their 2007 debut All Hour Cymbals, to the electro-pop leanings of their latest Odd Blood, they have shown us that they are versatile and have complete control over the direction of their music. In short, they’ve proven themselves as a band to listen to; after Sunday’s solid, high-energy performance at Le National, they’ve now managed to prove that they are also a band to watch. Not only does the live experience allow fans to witness firsthand the startling musical ability of each of the band’s members, but the powerful musical force that they create as an ensemble helps bridge the gap between the sounds of their two radically different albums. In short, as a live act, they give the fullest impression of who they are as a band, and, judging by Sunday’s performance, that band is an impressive one.
It would be impossible to hype up the show without first mentioning the brilliant opening act. Brooklyn duo Sleigh Bells opened the show with a short and energetic set that demonstrated their gritty, raw sound. Sleigh Bells have received a great deal of praise in the past year based on the circulation of a handful of catchy demos, and deservedly so. Singer Alexis Krauss took full control of the stage immediately with opener “Tell ‘Em,” transferring the high energy of the music onto the crowd by punctuating guitarist Derek Miller’s heavy riffs with shrieks and chaotic dance moves. Krauss’s quirky intensity almost stole the show as she reached out to the crowd and ripped off layers of clothing somewhat violently, among other stage antics, but her flawless vocals remained the most impressive element of her performance. Her occasional mild mid-set announcements (“This next song is called ‘Beach Girls.’ If you like it, you should dance.”) were amusingly unnecessary; her connection with the audience was sealed with the intensity of her performance. Their set closed with the catchy, head-banging number “Crown on the Ground,” setting the bar high for the main act that was to follow.
Yeasayer, however, managed to deliver. They opened with Odd Blood’s more experimental ‘The Children,’ and gradually paced their set toward the more melodic and popular songs. Without allowing the new material to dominate, their set consisted of an even mix of songs from both albums, played interchangeably and with the same consistent level of energy. The result was a blending of the two sounds into a brilliant live adaptation of their music. The flawless vocal harmonies and daydreamy sound of All Hour Cymbals as well as the dance-y elements of Odd Blood were present throughout their performance. Highlights naturally included hits “Wait for the Summer,” “2080,” “ONE,” and “Ambling Alp,” the latter closing the set before the encore. New, highly danceable numbers such as “Mondegreen,” and “Rome” were also significant crowd favourites, along with an emotional rendition of “I Remember,” which had the audience belting out its haunting chorus in unison.
But the 5-piece band on stage had more to offer than mere entertainment value: as individuals, each member showed a remarkable level of skill and musicianship (kudos to bassist Ira Wolf Tuton in particular). While not much in the way of communication with the audience, vocalists Anand Wilder and Chris Keating shine in their own way by delivering the songs’ deeply beautiful lyrics with a corresponding amount of passion. And while many things may have helped make the show a crowd-pleaser – the relatively intimate venue, the colourful lights spectacle that accompanied the performance, and even the band’s wardrobe choices, to name a few – what makes Yeasayer such great performers is their delivery of the music. Their songs may tend to be complex, but they were fully capable of handling every separate element of the music and rendering it whole and approachable. Ultimately they’ve sold themselves as a live act, and potentially a lasting one at that.
Photos via Meet you at the Show.
Sleigh Bells – A/B Machine (Demo)
Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix) – Yeasayer
Rome – Yeasayer
