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Posted in CMJ | music | pictures | tour dates on October 23, 2007
Yeasayer @ R Bar, NYC (BV CMJ) + more Tour Dates
DOWNLOAD: Yeasayer - 2080 (MP3)
Yeasayer @ R Bar, NYC (BV CMJ) - Oct 19, 2007 (CRED - Rebecca Smeyne)
If you've read any reviews of my Friday show at R Bar, you know three things for sure: the Black Kids played, R Bar has stripper poles, and R Bar was packed.
Every place Black Kids played during the 2007 CMJ Music Marathon was mobbed. That’s not bad for a band that is still giving away its four recorded songs on its MySpace page, myspace.com/blackkidsrock. Black Kids were, it’s true, playing small places like the R Bar on the Bowery, where they shared the stage with a pair of stripper poles, and the Annex, where an amp gave out during their first song. [NY Times]Most of those reviewers weren't there at noon when iLiKETRAiNS went on of course - at that time it was not packed (maybe 30 people?) (which is too bad because the UK band is really good live). For Brooklyn's Yeasayer though, it was also PACKED. This had in part to do with the fact that people were there to see Yeasayer...
One of the primary reasons I went to the BV party was to see Yeasayer, who my pals at Pitchfork had been talking up all week, with weird allusions to Vampire Weekend and 4AD; you could absolutely say I was intrigued. [17dots],and this in part had to do with the fact that Yeasayer went on right before Black Kids. Regardless, Yeasayer rocked the house.....
As much as I want to despise them, however, I don't. Songs like "2080" and "Sunrise" are kind of undeniable singles, they nail the harmonies (sometimes four-part) and the band are engaging performers." [Sound Bites]He wants to hate them because he says they are hippies. HOAS adds,
There's both something legitimately good about this band, and a legitimate hesitancy to go nuts over them. The Fleetwood Mac + World Music thing is a good starting-point blurb, but the way the band incorporates its World rhythms and riffs is less appropriative than explorative; the songs where they go New Wave over (electronic) Native American beats keep the thing from settling into overthought mush. [heartonastick]This band obviously has a lot of influences....
Wow. I’m not even sure how to describe their sound except to say that at one or many points throughout their 5-song set I heard the following elements: Men at Work, Annie Lennox, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Joy Division, AND for some reason that only makes sense in my head and I know I will get crucified for this…wait for it…an inconceivably tasteful Nickelback in the hook for “Final Path.” And I LOVED it. Yeesh. [Ear Farm]Nickelback....maybe. Let's just all agree that they don't sound like grunge...
Yeasayer don't sound anything remotely like grunge; their epic, cavernous sound relies too much on slippery crystalline guitar-lines and huge, thunking offbeats. More than anything else, their haunted keyboards and vague but fully integrated African influences recall Peter Gabriel by way of TV on the Radio, but their cascading thrum really doesn't sound like anything else I've heard. Still, I like the grunge parallel, if only because this band evinces the sort of all-consuming seriousness and desperation that those first-wave grunge bands had. [Village Voice]Or to put it another way...
in short, though, yeasayer were fucking fantastic. [mr mammoth]Check out an interview with the band at KEXP, and live videos (also from CMJ) at KEXP too. Download some live MP3s at Daytrotter.
Yeasayer are having a record release "dance party" at Glasslands in Brooklyn tonight (Oct 23, 2007), but according to everyone in the comments (and someone from the band), they are not actually playing.
They also have an upcoming Bowery Ballroom show that they mentioned at their last Cake Shop show, but it's still not listed on their tour dates, which are below....
Yeasayer outside R Bar, NYC (BV CMJ) - Oct 19, 2007 (CRED)
Yeasayer - 2007 Tour Dates
Oct 23 - YEASAYER RECORD RELEASE Party at Glasslands!! Brooklyn (NOT A LIVE SHOW)
Oct 24 - Rock ’n Roll Hotel w/ CELEBRATION DC, Washington DC
Oct 28 - Crown Point Festival at Abrons Art Center New York, New York
Nov 7 - Barfly Brighton
Nov 8 - Tuned @ Rock City Nottingham
Nov 9 - Xposure @ Barfly London
Nov 10 - NME @ The Hub Exeter
Nov 11 - SWN Fest @ Buffalo Bar Cardiff
Nov 12 - Barfly Liverpool
Nov 13 - Jabez Clegg Manchester
Nov 14 - The Hive Edinburgh
Nov 15 - Cockpit Leeds
Nov 16 - Bar Academy Bristol
Nov 18 - Bar Academy Birmingham
Nov 19 - Rough Trade Instore London
Nov 22 - Paradiso Amsterdam
Nov 24 - Gebaude 9 Koln
Nov 29 - Koko London
Previously
* BrooklynVegan does CMJ 2007
* Yeasayer played Cake Shop
* Yeasayer - MP3s & 2007 Tour Dates
Posted on October 23, 2007 12:09 PM
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Comments (22)
I think they said they're not actually playing tonight, just chillin' and jammin'.
Posted by gs | October 23, 2007 12:30 PM
From what I heard the singer say at your thing and at the Fader show, tonight's thing is a record release party -- he called it "just a big, crazy dance party" -- don't think they're actually playing.
Posted by bill p | October 23, 2007 12:30 PM
I saw Yeasayer on Friday. I never heard of them before, but I stopped by for the free show. I liked their sound, it was unique, not your typical indie-rock, but I felt it quite wasn't there. Great concept, poor execution. They have potential. Besides, the place wasn't that packed. I was able to go to the bar and back without any issues during their set. Never been to R Bar either, but it was a nice place. One picture of Debbie Harry was incredibly sexy!
I didn't stick around for the Black Kids.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 12:34 PM
Saw this band at the Cake Shop and thought they were awful. To each his/her own though...
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 12:34 PM
they aren't playing. it's a dance party.
Posted by ko | October 23, 2007 12:37 PM
"they aren't playing. it's a dance party. "
seems to be the consensus. updating.
Posted by brooklynvegan | October 23, 2007 12:41 PM
you can stream their podcast over at KEXP blog for a listen of their live sets...or daytrotter sessions. i HIGHLY recommend both. they were my favorite discovery of the week besides Eagel Seagull.
Posted by sheryl | October 23, 2007 12:42 PM
still patiently awaiting a HEALTH post.. they played right before yesayer at R bar and right after yesayer later that night at cake shop. HEALTH was numero uno of the whole week. yesayers not far behind though..
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 12:52 PM
can two (three if possible) more people confirm that this is indeed a dance party and not a performance.
i opted to not try to fight to see them at cmj cause i figured i could see them tonight.
if its true they arent playing, that would disappoint me, but i guess they'll be playing more shows in the future.
unless they blow up all big like vampire weekend and play terminal 5 next time around.
thanks guys!
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 12:54 PM
"can two (three if possible) more people confirm that this is indeed a dance party and not a performance."
this is directly from their manager:
"Its a party only. They are resting up after their blitzkrieg last week!"
Posted by brooklynvegan | October 23, 2007 1:00 PM
Good to see the drummer from the Spin Doctors has found work.
Posted by May I Please Have One Of Your Onion Rings? Thank You, That Was Delicious. | October 23, 2007 1:00 PM
unfortunately they could be playing terminal 5 before you know it. i really, really love this band, but i hope they don't turn into vampire weekend. but, if they do - good for them. mo money.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 1:13 PM
more specific info from Glasslands about tonight:
---------
Celebrate the release of Yeasayer's Debut Album, "All Hour Cymbals," out now on We*Are*Free Records!!!
When: Tuesday, Oct. 23rd
Where: The Glasslands Gallery
289 Kent Ave (S. 1st/S. 2nd)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
ONLY $2 at the door 21+
The Dance begins at 10 PM
Free Miller High Life between 10 and 11!!
with
Special Performances by:
Comedian Eric Andre
Rapper Duo Butch and Bellie
and Late Night DJ set by Emily Rabbit
Plus Contests, Raffles, Giveaways, and a grand Sing-a-long to wile the night away!!
-------------
Posted by brooklynvegan | October 23, 2007 1:13 PM
They are actually playing Mercury Lounge on 12/15 with Team Robespierre for the Friction party that Crackers United present. Tickets onsale tomorrow according to mercury website.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 1:21 PM
Thanks BV! I just wanted to make sure. Most of the comments on this site are pretty useful, but once again, I just wanted to be positive.
And here's the link to their Friction show at mercury lounge. Thanks for pointing that out 1:21pm, Crackers United always put on some really good shows.
http://mercuryloungenyc.com/calendar/show/912/
Thanks again everyone!
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 1:31 PM
awesome. it's about time there was a nickelback reference.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 1:47 PM
I caught their set at R-Bar and was fucking sold on this band. Just finished listening to the new album, actually. It's definitely worth picking up, even if it isn't quite on the same level as the live show.
To whoever said it wasn't packed: wtf? I got there right at the start of their set and had to stand on the steps to the backroom until enough space opened up to wiggle in. Unless you were bulldozing through people, I don't really see how you could have moved about freely in there.
Seriously, a fire would have fucked that place up. It would have been like the Yo La Tengo fire, but with massive blogger casualties instead of dead record store clerks.
Posted by feedbacker | October 23, 2007 2:05 PM
kill all hippies
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 3:08 PM
pics from their fader show.
http://lifesbathroom.blogspot.com/
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 5:15 PM
"To whoever said it wasn't packed: wtf?"
I definitely was full, but I wouldn't label it as packed. I was standing by the back stripper poles before the band even started, and during their set I went out and grabbed three beers (wished the back bar was open). I am really tall, so I just held the beers over most peoples head on the way back. No problems.
Great to hear bands that are not straight up guitar or keyboards.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 5:48 PM
man, they sound like wang chung to me.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 7:09 PM
After watching those videos, I'm thinking Rusted Root minus girl. But for whatever reason, I still like it.
Posted by Allison | October 24, 2007 11:48 AM