Toronto – Touring in promotion of their latest (and probably greatest) album “It’s Blitz!”, the YYY rolled into town with two sold out dates at the Kool Haus with maximum velocity – their singles “Zero” and “Heads will Roll” are on all the mainstream rock stations here and well, its safe to say they have made it. The sold out crowd at the Kool Haus ranged from angsty teenagers to cool brookyln wannabe hipsters to grizzled rockers, all liking the band for different reasons, and all ready to bow to the Tao of Karen O.
The band went on at roughly 10:15. The stage resembled a cross of a high school prom (confetti included) and rocky picture horror show, with a big gigantic eyeball, which sadly, was not put into play during the show. I don’t even remember what song they started off with but they did cover material from all the albums, including “Machine” off their EP from way back when. Other oldies include Y-Control, Rich, Man, an acoustic version of Maps and the set closer “Date with the Night”. Maps, in particular was delightful because it induced a Kool Haus singalong, no doubt the songs inclusion in either Guitar Hero or Rock Band probably helped out a bit. Newer material like Zero (with an extended intro) and Heads will Roll got the best reactions I say (besides Maps), but I am sure the new YYY fans will look into the back catalog after the show.
I would recommend going to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to everyone. Karen O is just so awesome on stage. She poses, she dances, she twirls, she sings to all sides of the stage, she swallows the mic, she dresses in weird clothes with tassles, she jumps around.. she pretty much does everything and it all looks so cool and natural. It’s quite mesmerizing, the band is just crazy good live and they definitely know how to whip up a good show. They say they loved Toronto, and I’m pretty sure we love them too.
*EDIT*
Here is the set list, thanks to Tanisha – I also have a very bad memory, as I thought they played Rich and Man, clearly, not.
Dull Life (It’s Blitz!)
Gold Lion (Show Your Bones)
Black Tongue (Fever to Tell)
Shame and Fortune (It’s Blitz!)
Kiss Kiss (Isis [EP])
Heads Will Roll (It’s Blitz!)
Machine (Machine [EP])
Skeletons (It’s Blitz!)
Hysteric (It’s Blitz!)
Cheated Hearts (Show Your Bones)
Zero (It’s Blitz!)
Turn Into (Show Your Bones)
Y Control (Fever to Tell)
Encore:
Maps – Acoustic (Fever to Tell)
Honeybear (Show Your Bones)
Date with the Night (Fever to Tell)