In a beautiful start to the concert season at Huntington Bank Pavilion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs graced Chicago’s lakefront with a show for the ages. Despite lighting effects, eyeball-shaped balloons, and flamboyant costumes, Karen O. and company proved they’re still those garage punk kids who revolutionized the music scene. The show exuded euphoria, from the opening act SASAMI to the final chaotic notes of “Date With the Night.” Made better by the impeccable outdoor vibes and accompanying steady Lake Michigan breeze, the show was one to behold.
Opening act SASAMI started off the night. The singer put on a captivating performance, wielding a black and white guitar looking as if she was ready to shred like a metalhead. SASAMI and her mesh-dressed ensemble, flirted with metal, pop, and indie, showcasing their eclectic discography. She commanded the stage with grace and humor, from constantly giving her all just to hit the right notes or joking about creating a new song on the spot called “Chicago Ate My Asshole.” Accompanying this performance was wonderfully terrifying art on a screen behind the band. The strangest chrome and fiery creations loomed behind them, giving the performance an extra edge. All of this noise and beautiful singing perfectly set up the wonderful performance to come.
At about 9:30 p.m., the lights go down, and upstarts the percussive opening to “Spitting Off the Edge of the World.”
Suddenly, out comes Karen O, wearing sparkling red fringe gloves, shades, a sparkly black cape, and a colorful jumpsuit. Already smiling and laughing, Karen O begins the song, queuing that dreamy synth to a whole different level of epic. Each member of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are extremely talented but it is almost impossible to not stay fixated on Karen O. Whether she’s spinning around in her cape or spitting water all over herself, she is a sight to behold. Not only that, but her uniquely distinct voice is just as captivating live as it is on a record. She looked as if she was having the time of her life on stage.
Despite omitting songs from their 2013 album Mosquito, the setlist felt like it’s own greatest hits collection. It’s Blitz! deep cut “Shame and Fortune” and Show Your Bones song “Turn Into” were welcome surprises. Hits like “Heads Will Roll” and “Maps” are always welcome and always get the crowd singing. Even new songs like “Burning” kept the crowd engaged.
During “Zero,” Karen O revealed she was recovering from being sick and that her voice might not be 100%. In all honesty, had she not mentioned it, any trouble with her voice would have been hard to point out. It’s wonderful to see “Poor Song” being played live, even if the second half became acapella due to Karen O having trouble staying in tune with the rest of the band.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs have such a special stage presence. Even though they are playing in big venues, the set really felt like kids playing in garages.
The little mistake made and the overpowering joy they were exuding showed just how much fun they were having. Karen O’s infectious smile overshadowed any tiny mistakes made that night. The loose, relaxed vibe the group gave off made the show more enjoyable.
It is worth mentioning the amazing stage production. It seemed as if every color imaginable was used in the lighting. Also, the giant eyeball balloons that were thrown into the crowd during “Zero” made the climax so much more lively. The band’s good energy was finally brought to words during a lengthy speech before “Maps”.
Karen O dedicated the song to all the lovers in Chicago and the start of pride month, professing “queer love is fucking love!”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are currently celebrating 20 years of their legendary album Fever to Tell. To close it out, they played three songs off that album: “Poor Song,” “Y Control,” and “Date With the Night.” During “Y Control,” pictures of the band from that era flashed across the giant screen behind them. By the time the band got to “Date With the Night,” the chaotic energy from that era was in full effect.
The crowd was jumping and dancing as Karen O kept screaming “Choke, choke, choke, choke, choke!” In their final moments on stage, the noise from their instruments rang aloud as Karen O threw her microphone around in an attempt to destroy it. Never has destroying equipment and reckless guitar noise looked like so much fun! After twenty years, the group has never forgotten where they came from.
Photography by Oscar De Leon
