Monday, May 9th, 2011
YACHT w/ Light Asylum, Bobby Birdman and Bad Weather California @ The Bluebird Theater, Doors 7:00 PM, $18
YACHT is more than a band. YACHT began as Jona Bechtolt, formerly of The Blow, making beats on his computer. It has grown into much more with the addition of Claire Evans. She was featured on a few tracks on the album I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real. and is now a permanent member of the band. When Evans joined the band, YACHT was able to produce full sounding electro-pop/rock tracks that showed their roots in Bechtolt's experimental home-made beats and progressed smoothly from that point into the now. Their latest album, See Mystery Lights (2009), is the culmination of YACHT's beginnings and Evans' contribution. The show tonight at the Bluebird Theater will be an interesting one. YACHT is known for being showy and on their myspace they state their own genre as "visual". YACHT stands for "Young Americans Challenging High Technology", which, considering their electronic, computerized start seems contradictory. Tonight I will get to see them in person and after watching their show, how they perform live and with what instruments, I will hopefully come to a fuller understanding of the acronym in a musical sense. The acronym has more meaning when reading the band's website and their mission- yes they have a YACHT Mission. They strive to understand life- terrestrial, extraterrestrial and spiritual- and its significance or insignificance, through constant transformation by way of creative processes. YACHT's website even says after their U.S. tour, they will be going to Europe, then Australia, then Outer Space and finally The Afterlife. Needless to say, those present tonight are in for more than a great show, they may indeed come to an epiphany about the meaning of life. The answer of all answers in only hours away people!!
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
Yelle w/ French Horn Rebellion and DJ Mike Deez @ The Bluebird Theater, Doors 7:00 PM, $20
J'taime Yelle. She is cute, stylish, French and of course makes great dance tunes with her producer friends and bandmates GrandMariner and Tepr. The lyrics that go along with these electro beats are pretty provocative once translated into English, but until my French improves, I will continue to make up my own happy translations. The provocative lyrics do not take away from the upbeat sounds of the music, they just make the front woman look more badass. She would definitely kick any guys ass if need be. Every song on their first album Pop Up can put me in a better mood instantly. They songs are electronic but not quite techno, ensuring that you'll be tapping your feet and dancing but that your brain won't be tapping against your skull later that night. Yelle's second album, Safari Disco Club, was released earlier this year and the band is doing a tour to go along with the album release. As the band is obviously French, this is most likely not an opportunity that will present itself again anytime soon. For this reason, this show is worth the money. And it will definitely be a fun dance party with an appearance by the French street dance, Tecktonik, which involves lots of arm flailing and bending the knees like a ragdoll. Check out the Yelle video for a remix of "A Cause Des Garcons" for a preview of the French craziness. It would also be wise to just go ahead and learn the dance yourself as tomorrow night will be one big dance battle.
