Gig review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Apollo, Manchester (From Blackpool Citizen)

Gig review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Apollo, Manchester

12:59pm Wednesday 16th December 2009

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SPITTING water over herself with a punk energy that reverberates throughout Manchester Apollo, Karen O kick starts a vibrant and energetic set.

Runaway is the perfect opener for the three-piece with a gentle introduction building pace towards a thundering crescendo.

Theatrics here are big. Three huge pink ‘Y’s drop down from the ceiling. Red glitter is spit out onto the audience. A large pulsating eyeball oversees the entire performance.

But despite the glitz the Yeah Yeah Yeahs remain an art punk band.

The catchy sing-a-long disco brilliance of Zero and Heads Will Roll might attract a poppier audience but songs such as Art Star and Phenomena embed the YYY’s as a niche indie act.

The new disco sound suits them well and though referential in style, its sentiment and tone create a truly modern sound.

Despite being the coolest thing to come out of New York since Debbie Harry, Karen O gives way to an unbridled geeky glee which surfaces and blows her cover.

At one point singing from under a towel, she has a knowing silliness that distances the YYYs from pretentious leanings.

Nick Zinner and Brian Chase’s all black outfits place them firmly in the background, but their technical accomplishment and energy drag them kicking and screaming to the forefront.

Chase’s familiar thumping steady drums set the pace while Zinner’s supersonic guitar teeters just on the edge of control.

This music sounds great.

Art Star sees O literally bend over backwards to please the voracious audience, attempting to swallow a microphone before bursting into bouncy arm-waving.

A versatile performer, she is able to switch easily from the punky anger of Date With The Night to fragile renditions of Maps and Hysteric.

Donning no less than three outfits throughout the night - including a Beetlejuice style jester outfit, a hat made entirely of hands and a patterned sheet dress - this fashion darling is a true original.

Tonight the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have shown maturity - both technically and artistically - after reaching a new level of accomplishment with their latest album It’s Blitz.

They are at the top of their game and this joyful performance proved to be one of the best gigs of the year.

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