This is my first post of 2008 for the ReleBlog, and it’s appropriately concerned with a great band to listen to in a new year. For those who love the tribal trippyness of Animal Collective or Anathallo’s more serious songs, Yeasayer will make your day. Timpani, fretless bass, and wavering shouts of humanity glisten triumphantly on their full-length debut, All Hour Cymbals. I had the opportunity to have the band’s Chris Keating share some of himself with the Music Blog:
Dylan – What’s your favorite CD as of today?
Chris – I’ve been listening to Big Audio Dynamite for the last few days. Very underrated post-Clash Mick Jones. I’d heard their music but never fully investigated the albums. It’s groundbreaking stuff.
Dylan – Interesting, I’ll have to check them out a little more myself. Tell me about the best show you’ve seen recently.
Chris – Spankrock on Christmas eve. The best party band ever, hands down, period. Full sweaty Baltimore mayhem.
Dylan – Do you have a favorite memory from Yeasayer’s most recent tour?
Chris – Staying with Bernie in Manchester. We were in the middle of a difficult stretch on our tour in the UK and we met Bernie, she made us salad and gave us wine and let us stay in her beautiful house for 3 days. The generosity and kindness of strangers is what gets me though the banality of life on the road.
Dylan – Do you have a philosophical or theological thought you’d like to share with the ReleBlog?
Chris – There aren’t any I particularly feel the need to share. I’m not a philosopher and I’m definitely not a theologian.
Dylan – Are you reading anything right now? Learning anything?
Chris – I’m reading Stephen Shames’ book on the The Black Panthers. I’m learning about what went wrong and why the same people who were in control of the government then are in control now.
Dylan – And… what are you wearing right now?
Chris – Timberland boots, grey jeans, a striped shirt and a ring I got when I was in Mumbai.
Yeasayer is on tour, I’ll be at their show in Chicago to take pictures and report on how much excellence they exude while on stage:
01-16 Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage *
01-17 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 *
01-18 Atlanta, GA – The Earl *
01-19 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon *
01-20 Houston, TX – Walter’s on Washington *
01-21 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater *
01-22 Austin, TX – Emo’s Jr. *
01-24 Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room *
01-25 San Diego, CA – The Casbah *
01-26 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo *
01-28 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill *
01-30 Portland, OR – Holocene *
01-31 Seattle, WA – Neumos *
02-02 Boise, ID – Neurolux *
02-03 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court *
02-04 Denver, CO – Hi-Dive *
02-06 Omaha, NE – The Slowdown *
02-07 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry *
02-08 Chicago, IL – Schubas *
02-09 Toronto, Ontario – El Mocambo *
02-10 Montreal, Quebec – La Sala Rossa *
02-12 Allston, MA – Great Scott *
02-14 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg *
02-15 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s *
02-19 Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosie
02-20 Brussels, Belgium – AB
02-21 Paris, France – Nouveau Casino
02-22 St. Malo, France – Omnibus
02-23 Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz
02-25 Cologne, Germany – Gebaude 9
02-26 Berlin, Germany – Lido
02-27 Gothenburg, Sweden – Pusterviksbaren
02-28 Olso, Norway – John Dee
02-29 Stockholm, Sweden – Klubb Spark at Debaser Medis
03-01 Malmo, Sweden – Debaser
03-05 Birmingham, England – Bar Academy
03-06 London, England – ICA
03-08 Glasgow, Scotland – King Tuts
03-09 Manchester, England – Night & Day
03-10 London, England – TBA
03-11 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
05-09-11 Camber, England – Camber Sands Holiday Centre (ATP vs. Pitchfork) #
* with MGMT
until then…
“It’s a New Year,
I’m glad to be here
It’s a fresh spring,
So let’s sing.”
