Live DC: Yeasayer/MGMT @ The Cat

January 18, 2008 by Jasper  Send to a Friend

all photos and jazzy polaroids: Lexie Moreland

Maybe you all heard. MGMT and Yeasayer played the Black Cat on Wednesday. They played in this little room in the back of the Black Cat reputed to have bad sound and it was a singular little night that became bigger somehow. A singular little Wednesday that completely exceeded my foolishly high expectations.

This pairing is brilliant. This pairing owns its hype. This was the first show of a split bill and I want someone to follow them and document it, with a video camera or maybe a really good dicta-phone. I know there is this girl who takes Polaroids, maybe they could take her along. People will want to know about this later, people will ask and be shocked and sad at this bill having come and gone. Bills like this are hard to come by, and usually go up in flames. Maybe you think this one will. Maybe, I mean, maybe you can say who cares–two new acts who happen to be doing well–no one will care down the road, or next week. And then I would call bullshit; you would be wrong if you said those things. There is no reason for either of these bands to be a flash-in-the-pan. They showed themselves to be seriously talented, wholly impressive, and ready to work on the road.

I was elated, impressed, inspired. I wasn’t filled up or taken in. I was just really very happy. I won’t say much. I forgot my notes. See these bands.

I will say that I came away feeling very differently about both bands. MGMT drew off an early Bowie sound in their own harmonized way. The vocals are striking and their stage show was mature- few if any glances to each other- a practiced performance with perfect coordination and not a shred of the nervousness you might have sensed on Letterman. Their sound exceeded that of their album and this stage presence was collected and strong.

The drummer was loud and tom heavy, and he should have been. His fills were consistent and helpful, just like the seamless coordination between the two guitarists and pitch perfect harmonies. Their partnered guitars and developed electric sound was treble and thickness at once, so sparkling and loud. Simply, I was just so happy they were doing this. I had been looking for this and didn’t even know it. Their sound seemed advanced, however young they are. They have ideas, no one else is having these ideas right now, and MGMT is implementing these ideas with grace and strength. After opening with a fully captivating 9-minute opus that grew into The Handshake (if I remember correct- let me know if I am wrong) before they rolled out their single and it had the expected effect. Lots of lucky kids started to move and smile at their friends- MGMT carried this high point and lifted it higher throughout the rest of their set. Before song three some asshole yelled “make these pussies dance”, while pointing to a cadre of women in front him. MGMT responds: “we don’t know how to do that”, then played a fucking superlative set and I was sorry that ogre got in to the show and not one of you.

One day I’ll write them an email and ask them to play their entire rep., interspersed with T-Rex covers at a private party I throw on a yacht. I like this band.

Yeasayer also gets me really fucking excited about music and life. They own and earn their buzz. More rootsy than I expected, this was like the jam band I always wanted to hear

No wanking for lack of ideas, these guys couldn’t fit a more varied sound in each song. Impassioned vocals, a sharply implemented drum machine and plenty of traipsing, jungley, mystical forceful songs that pushed at the audience. I think it was making everyone daydream. At least that is what it did to me. Made me think about swimming holes in the woods and jumping out trees. Maybe that was just me. Probably.

I loved the shouts, the images of the songs, the tribal drumming and the tinny guitar picks, the energy level. They took a roots sound and twisted it up, and it came out strong. The sound in the backstage was really quite good and they were great in that space. Driven, jumping playing to the skies really. Their wandering thumping jungle sound is an exciting appearance in the landscape of new bands. Also, I loved talking to Anand’s father about how much happier his son is doing this than pursuing law. Really a nice man.

I am sorry more folks couldn’t see the show. I will say, if you are adventurous and this shit is important to you, its worth a bus ride if in Feb. for their Philly or NY dates. Partner the trip with something else, make an excuse. This is a show that will stick in my head.

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