DOWNLOAD: YACHTt - Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire) (MP3)

YACHT @ Coachella - 4/15/2011

As the song says, "the Yacht is on fire" (they actually see "the Earth is on fire - see below) (download new track "Dystopia" above). YACHT, long past the days of Jona running around the stage by himself with an iPod, gave an explosive performance on Friday in Coachella's Mojave Tent. Duo Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans look and sound like pros as they trade off vocals and instruments while backed by a very able band. Jona jams on guitar and even sometimes sits on the drums as Claire keeps the front rows hypnotized with her dancing, outfit and vocals. YACHT the dance band prove that DFA ("Long Live LCD Soundsystem," Jona proclaimed from the Coachella stage) is right where they belong. Their new album Shangri-La will be released by the label on June 21st ("Dystopia" included).

UPDATE: Despite it at first sounding like like they are singing "the yacht is on fire" in "Dystopia" (lyrics sites agree), it actually says "the Earth is on fire" (as the title of the song implies it would, and now that I know that, it actually does sound like "Earth").

Meanwhile, YACHT will be out on the road through May 14th. Light Asylum joins the tour as opener on April 25th. Both bands play Webster Hall in NYC on April 27th. YACHT band member and collaborator Bobby Birdman also plays an opening set at that show. Tickets for what might be YACHT's biggest NYC headlining show yet (or maybe the Seaport was), are on sale.

UPDATE: All instances of "Yacht" in this post have been changed to "YACHT."

All tour dates and some more pictures from YACHT's set at Coachella, below...

Continue reading "YACHT 'is on fire', played Coachella, now on tour, releasing 'Shangri-La' (new MP3, pics, dates)"

photos by Zach Stern

YACHT...

Two one-person bands, MNDR and Bobby Birdman, opened up for a two-person band, YACHT, who had three more musicians backing them up, at Bowery Ballroom on March 11th.

"During their short yet spirited performance, YACHT played the majority of their recent album, See Mystery Lights. The record plays on themes of death, heaven and hell but is in no way depressing or morbid. Even when it is in poor taste, as the group chanted the lyric "Do the Kurt Cobain and blow your brains out" from "B Side Suicide," it was done with playfulness and levity. This charismatic energy was most apparent during the anthemic "Psychic City" and their show opener, "Ring the Bell." Additionally, the duo constantly interacted with the audience, from descending into the crowd to laying hands upon eager fans. If YACHT intends to create intrigue, they have certainly achieved it with their personality and music." [JAQK]

YACHT go on tour this April and May with labelmates LCD Soundsystem.

Tour dates for all the above bands and more pictures from Bowery Ballroom are below...

Continue reading "YACHT, MNDR & Bobby Birdman played Bowery Ballroom - pics & more tour dates"

YACHT @ BK Bowl's DFA CMJ Party (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

Electro-pop duo YACHT will be going on tour this February/March with Bobby Birdman. One of the only announced US dates (vs. Canada) will be at NYC's Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, March 11th with MNDR. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at noon.

YACHT's 2009 DFA album See Mystery Lights brought them on tour around the world (and to IFC's Dinner with the Band). They made video diaries of most trips - China, South Korea and Brazil are below.

On that same label are LCD Soundsystem, who are playing Coachella and working on a new album. A clip from the making of that (James Murphy is really pleased with his mansion/studio) and tour footage from YACHT's 2009 travels are below...

Continue reading "YACHT touring w/Bobby Birdman (2010 dates), NYC show w/ MNDR, LCD Soundsystem in the studio "