There’s hot, and then there’s “450 sweaty teenagers and aging hipsters crowded into a church basement with broken fans” hot. That was the kind of hot that greeted Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Grand Buffet and The Magnolia Electric Company on Wednesday night at The First Unitarian Church in Philly.
Usually when the opening act goes on stage, the place is still filling up, and lots of folks are socializing instead of getting a position to see the first band. Not on a night when the “opening act” is the most talked about new band in the indie rock circles, recipients of glowing reviews from all the usual suspects, and sporting a curious name like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. By the time the band had assembled on stage, the place was packed, and continued to fill as they began to progress through their self-titled, self-released debut album’s tracks.
The band sounded fantastic on stage. For a venue as empirically shitty as The First Unitarian Church, the music sounded good, even if the logistics don’t allow for much in the way of any type of discernable stage show. Lead singer and Philly native Alec Ounsworth was not much for talking between songs, which was greatly appreciated since they had limited time and a great album to play for us. Ounsworth’s unique vocal style (imagine David Byrne being strangled), doesn’t do much for understanding lyrics at a live show, but I can’t really understand them on the album either, so no big deal.
The band is technically very strong, with tight, full melodies that employ lots of head bobbing off beats to accentuate the tunes. Gaudy synth lines were used at the right times, and the band seemed very focused on nailing the songs, as opposed to overly playing to the crowd. No problem for me. I don’t need an elaborate stage show. Play great rock music. Nothing more is needed.
Article comments
1 - Jason Evans
Were we at the same show? CYHSY played sort-of tight, predictable, Franz Ferdinand meets Polyphonic Spree meets Devendra Banhart sprinkled with a little Talking heads rock. That's what they looked like they were going to play and that's what they played. Their show was uninspiring, save for a few moments of unexpected melody, and they sound just like every other band right now. Grand Buffet was amazing and Magnolia played well -- both to a crowd that had thinned out, thankfully, of all the people that wish they could buy In the Aeroplane Over the Sea over and over again with a different name.
2 - Matt
Sorry Jason, but you lost me at Franz Ferdinand. There is absolutely no discernable comparison between CYHSY and FF. That's not to say I don't like FF, but you're way off base. I can't comment on Grand Buffet. I needed a breather. It was fucking hot. As for MEC, I thought they played an uninspired set if anyone did. The Church doesn't make for the best venue for any band.
And stop making it out like anyone who likes CYHSY must be some unworthy hipster wannabe because they like a band who may sound something like another band. Every band is a derivation of something else. Find me one band with a completely original sound that doesn't ape off of their influences.