Yeah Yeah Yeahs at All Points West (07/31/09)
Photos: Paul Crispin Quitoriano
But the only band to bring true festival drama before headliner Jay-Z was the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The first act to bring out props “” a giant inflatable eyeball “” they were also the first band to truly mesmerize the crowd, thanks to Karen O’s body contortions and vocal acrobatics. Karen was always on the go: flopping around on the stage, running backstage for a quick wardrobe addition, playing peek-a-boo with a scarf. Like a coffee-and-art-school Gwen Stefani, Karen screeched out happy nonsense “” “New York, New York! Jersey! Yeah Yeah Yeah!” The presumable climax, “Maps,” was played for its emotional resonance, slowly strummed by Nick Zinner on an acoustic guitar like a power ballad, greeted by a sea of lighters and glowsticks. After that false ending, they soldiered through “Y Control” and “Date With the Night,” concluded with Karen destroying the microphone like she pretty much destroyed every band that played before her. [RollingStone.com]
More pictures of YYYs, Jay-Z, Q-Tip and Vampire Weekend after the jump.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at All Points West (07/31/09)
Jay-Z at All Points West (07/31/09)
Q-Tip at All Points West (07/31/09)
Vampire Weekend at All Points West (07/31/09)
