Yeah Yeah Yeahs ditch the chaos for a quiet, powerful night in San Francisco
Yet on Monday, July 14, for the first of two back-to-back San Francisco concerts at Davies Symphony Hall, a centerstage stool for O hinted at what was to come: 90 minutes of lead singer O, guitarist Nick Zinner and drummer Brian Chase purposefully shaving off serrated edges and slowing down tempos, revealing the beauty at each song's core.
'We've been working on this very different Yeah Yeah Yeahs show. It's very vulnerable,' O explained, early on. 'Nothing's more 'punk rock' than being vulnerable.'
After 25 years of creating catharsis from chaos, the New York art-punk trio was reimagining their catalog with fresh arrangements and textures. The intent was to counter the outside world's current doom spiral with an expression of clarity and community through their music. To meet the moment, they were joined by guitarist and longtime collaborator Imaad Wasif, a string quartet and a conductor who doubled as stand up bassist.
The setting was the tony home of the San Francisco Symphony, part of the band's 18-date Hidden in Piece tour, designed for smaller — and in the case of Davies, more ornate — acoustically pure theaters.
Shannon Shaw of Oakland indie faves Shannon and the Clams opened the evening with a set of torchy roots-rock that bridged vintage Americana, Motown pop and DIY punk. Shaw was joined by fiddler Sivan Lioncub and keyboardist Joel Robinow, all sounding great in the classy environment (Shaw's click-clack footsteps were audible in the upper tier).
As for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 'Cheated Hearts' and ' Skeletons ' benefited the most from this reconfiguration, the string section sawing away with verve, and drummer Brian Chase using timpani mallets to build 'Skeletons' to a triumphant close.
'Y Control' and 'Gold Lion' were similarly reconstructed but retained their lean sinew, while 'Despair' was a rousing halftime speech to elevate the masses. 'We're all on the edge, there's nothing to fear inside,' sang O. 'Through the darkness and the light, some sun has got to shine.'
Still, there were moments of dissonance. Casual fans expecting to hear Zinner's epic guitar breakdown on the band's biggest hit, 2003's 'Maps,' had to settle for an unplugged take that whispered with gentle intimacy. This more subdued version begs to be used during opening credits on 'The Bear.'
A cover of Björk's 'Hyper-Ballad' — a song Zinner and O noodled with when the band first formed in 2000 — was cooked down to its acoustic guitar-vocal essence. For YYY stans this might have been epic, but for YYY fans who know and/or revere Björk's original, the contrast was too much to process.
Dressed in a red Christian Joy jumpsuit, Karen O was typically commanding, mostly ignoring the stool. During 'Spitting Off the Edge of the World,' she jumped up and down and two-stepped like an excited auntie at a wedding reception. Occasionally she brought out her old tricks, whipping the mic cord while posing and preening. But despite her approval of the audience standing up and dancing in their rows, many chose to enjoy the show seated. With early YYY fans who roughed it in the pit now reaching their 40s and 50s, this was an understandable compromise.
As extra treats for its day-ones, the group dusted off a couple rarities: 'Our Time' from the band's self-titled 2001 EP, and a resplendent 'Warrior,' which was introduced with a bit of 'Isis.'
A great Yeah Yeah Yeahs song has the power to propel you to the top of the world. These new versions make you feel like you're floating in an alternate universe, a zoom-out that allows for even deeper examination and introspection.
Blacktop
Our Time
Gold Lion
Hyper-Ballad (Bjork cover)
Cheated Hearts
Isis/Warrior
Despair
Skeletons
Spitting Off the Edge of the World
Maps
Turn Into
Y Control
Zero
Todd Inoue is a freelance writer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
A fan paid Paul Simon $20 to play this song — and it worked
Paul Simon may not take requests, but for $20, he'll make an exception. During the final night of his five-show run at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday, July 16, the legendary singer-songwriter paused his acoustic set when a fan shouted out a request for 'Kodachrome,' the beloved 1973 track he hadn't performed live since 2019. 'I don't take requests,' Simon quipped from the stage. 'But I'll do some of it for 20 bucks.' The fan, unfettered, produced a $20 bill and offered it up. Simon, 83, walked over, took the cash, and delivered on his promise — strumming through the first verse and chorus of the nostalgic tune to cheers and laughter from the audience. The spontaneous moment was captured by concertgoers and quickly spread across social media. One fan posted, 'Holy smokes I can't believe that just happened,' alongside video of the interaction. The performance marked a lighthearted interlude in a series of otherwise intimate and contemplative shows. Simon's current tour — his first major outing in seven years — follows recent surgery for severe back pain and comes amid ongoing struggles with hearing loss. According to a Los Angeles Times review, his voice, guitar work and lyrical precision remain striking, particularly in performances of material from his 2023 album 'Seven Psalms.' Simon is scheduled to bring his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour to San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall on July 19 and 21-22, before wrapping the tour in Vancouver and Seattle. The singer rose to fame in the 1960s as co-founder of the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, with hits such as 'Mrs. Robinson' and 'The Sound of Silence,' before launching his solo career in the '70s. Simon's recent tour came as a surprise to many, after the musician indicated in 2018 that he was retiring from touring due to hearing loss. A year later, however, he performed a headlining set at San Francisco's Outside Lands festival. To assist with live performances, Simon has worked with his production team and Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to adapt his stage setup with moving monitors to ensure optimal acoustics. For those hoping to hear a favorite deep cut, it seems a $20 bill might help. July 16, 2025 Set 1 'The Lord' 'Love Is Like a Braid' 'My Professional Opinion' 'Your Forgiveness' 'Trail of Volcanoes' 'The Sacred Harp' (with Edie Brickell) 'Wait' (with Edie Brickell) Set 2 'Graceland' 'Slip Slidin' Away' 'Train in the Distance' 'Homeward Bound' (Simon & Garfunkel) 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' 'St. Judy's Comet' 'Under African Skies' (with Edie Brickell) 'Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War' 'Rewrite' 'Spirit Voices' 'The Cool, Cool River' 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' (with Edie Brickell) Encore 'Kodachrome' (abridged) 'Father and Daughter' '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' 'The Boxer' (Simon & Garfunkel)
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
20 Of The Flyest Coats From Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter World Tour
Beyoncé, as usual, is turning heads while on the road for her Cowboy Carter World Tour. With stunning outfits taking over our timelines every time she hits a new city, it's almost overwhelming how much work she and stylists Shiona Turini, Karen Langley, and Ty Hunter have put into the trek. With themes of Americana running throughout, fans have been treated to countless looks highlighting Bey's all-American roots, as well as her usual staples of form-fitting bodysuits and plenty of sequins. This time around, however, the singer's coats have grasped the fans' attention more than any other specific look. The coats add drama to the performer's already high-energy show, providing even more umph to 'fits that stand strong on their own. One coat in particular, designed by Burberry and featuring a large American Eagle emblem on the back, seems to be Bey's favorite, as she's worn it multiple times compared to others that — thus far — have been one and done. All of them, however, are striking in design and perfect for making a lasting impression from the front row to the cheap seats, affectionately known as the 'II Hands II Heaven' section. Check out 20 of Bey's best coats from the Cowboy Carter tour below, and keep an eye out for our ranking of every single look after the tour wraps up in Las Vegas on July 26. More from Beyoncé Shouts Out Viral "Husband/Cousin" Fan at Cowboy Carter Show Country Star Gavin Adcock Slams Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' For Charting Ahead Of His LP: "That Sh*t Ain't Country Music" Beyoncé Was "Sittin' Sidewayz" After Flying Car Malfunction At Houston Show Best of 10 Rap Albums Snubbed Of The Grammys' Album Of The Year Award 21 Black Entertainers Who Are Almost EGOT Winners 11 Black-Owned Games To Play At The Next Function Or Kick Back Solve the daily Crossword
Hypebeast
9 hours ago
- Hypebeast
For the Youth, By the Youth: Myles Henrik Hall Unveils DIARY 1999
Summary Myles Henrik Hall, a 26-year-old multidisciplinary creative and long-time protégé ofMatthew M. Williams, is stepping into his own spotlight with the launch of his new personal project,DIARY 1999. This brand is built on a clear ethos: for the youth, by the youth — reflecting a deep connection to his community across music, clothing and photography, all grounded in Americana and the authentic style of his peers in Harlem. Looking at the way he and his peers dress on a daily basis, DIARY 1999 is casual, wearable and focuses on an array of outerwear, jerseys and Japanese denims for its debut collection. This endeavor isn't just a new label, it's an accumulation of his experiences from a young age, distilling decades of observation and immersion into a cohesive vision. Hall's journey in fashion and visual arts has been remarkable. At just 14, he began working under Matthew M. Williams, steadily becoming his right hand, absorbing invaluable lessons in creative direction. Later, at 18, Hall spent three years in London with legendary image-maker Nick Knight, honing his skills in fashion film, image-making, and creative direction. These experiences have allowed him to build a strong global community, spanning America, Japan, Paris, and London. Speaking exclusively toHypebeast, Hall recounted his lifelong knack for anticipating trends, an intuitive sense that has propelled his journey. He reminisced about being among the first to queue for iconic releases, citing the moment he stood in line for the revered Kate Moss Supreme shirt. Hall toldHypebeasthe was obsessed with being part of the culture and developed his inherent eye for trends by cultivating different perspectives from his youth. Hall's observation of street culture and subcultures has been a driving force, preparing him to launch a brand that resonates with his generation's pulse. In a joint conversation withHypebeast,Williams shared that following two decades in the industry, he wants to give back to young designers and is doing so step-by-step and by backing new fashion brands like this one from Hall. The inaugural DIARY 1999 collection is a testament to Hall's unique perspective. It features a strong lineup of jersey pieces, adorned with details and prints inspired by the visual lexicon of Americana and the clothing codes he grew up with. A key focus is innovative outerwear, particularly a zip-detailed pillow neck that offers a twist on the classic hooded jacket. The collection also includes hand-made jeans crafted from Japanese denim, reflecting his admiration and deep respect for the nation's artisanal quality. Beyond clothing, Hall's photography practice has fostered strong connections within the new generation of American musicians, including artists like Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Playboi Carti, who are part of Carti's Opium collective. This interdisciplinary approach—weaving together music, fashion and visual art is what truly defines DIARY 1999. Not just a brand, it's a reflection of a vibrant, interconnected culture poised to shape the future of fashion.
