It’s no surprise the House of Blues was sold out for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs last night. Singer, Karen O and the boys have been playing Cleveland for years, first at the Beachland Tavern, then slowly building up to the Beachland Ballroom, then there was the show at the Agora to promote 2006’s ‘Show Your Bones’ album, and now, the House of Blues to promote 2009’s ‘It’s Blitz’. With each subsequent album and tour, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have graduated to a more radio friendly sound, and fan base (so I thought, while standing next to the upper middle aged female crowd), while still maintaining their creative integrity and veteran fans.
Known for their wild shows, Karen O in 2009 than on past tours; sighting wear and tear on not only her elaborate and unique stage outfits, that, after several days reeked of booze; outfits personally created for her by designer Christian Joy; but also her body. You can’t blame anybody for that. Years of traveling and putting on insane rock shows day in and day out must get old eventually. Replacing the days of beer throwing, microphone eating and microphone tossing is an extra touring musician, more synths and bass, one very large blow-up eyeball (trademark icon of ‘It’s Blitz’), and an all around fun, streamlined show.
However, not all the glitz (hey! that rhymes with blitz!), glam is lost on their current tour. This band does not disappoint. They still know how to put on one spectacular show. Now, it’s a spectacular show that doesn’t lead to destruction. Karen O walked on stage last night looking oh-so-very confident wearing a red zipped up romper, printed leggings, converse hi-tops and a scarf covering her head. Throughout the opening song ‘Runaway’ Karen O dragged and waved the scarf around her head and neck to the amble beated ‘Runaway’ and ‘Phenomenon’. It was eventually tossed off, and thrown aside as the band broke into ‘Black Tongue’ off of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ debut album “Fever to Tell” whilst K.O. launched little red ‘Y’ confetti packs into the air.
Karen O. one of the top woman of indie rock, holds the attention of the audience well. Pacing back and forth on stage like a lion in a cage, flexing and stretching in almost acrobatic poses, K.O. looks like she’s ready to pounce into the crowd at any moment. And the crowd equally would be glad she did.
Songs and highlights of the night included ‘Dull Life’ a slow starting song that blasts into an all out dance jam. “Skeletons” by far one of the softest tempoed songs in their discography, and crowd pleaser/the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ‘love song’, “Maps” was a unique acoustic version that fit well into the night’s set and had the entire building singing along.
Other songs included two singles from ‘It’s Blitz’; “Zero” which found Karen O running off stage and quickly back on donning the studded ‘K.O.’ initialed leather jacket from the song’s music video and “Heads will Roll” where K.O. wears a full facemask of lights which was just way too cool for school and ‘Date with a Night’ a quick and danceable song to close out the night.
1 comment:
agreed with everything said!
the show was spectacular, and karen o is godly.
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