By: David Schultz

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's second full length album, Show Your Bones, contains another helping of the proto-punk rock found on their 2003 debut Fever To Tell but surrounds it with enough pop sensibility to make it accessible to the mainstream listener. If the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' intended to widen their audience with Show Your Bones, they are accomplishing their mission. The crowd appearing for the New York trio's two night stand at New York City's Roseland Ballroom has grown since they were local club darlings. A multitude of new fans, curious over the hype of the new album, joined and possibly outnumbered those that have loyally followed the band from their inception.

The YYY's Tuesday night performance, the first of two sold-out shows, was relatively short, coming in at just under ninety minutes. What it lacked in length, it made up for in power. Opening the show with the pulsing "Phenomena," the Yeah Yeah Yeahs stormed through a tight set, failing to be as repetitive as their name while covering material from Show Your Bones and Fever To Tell. Brian Chase, drumming and looking like Max Weinberg from his E Street Band days, and guitarist Nick Zinner provided a heavy beat, matching the riveting histrionics of lead singer Karen O with their own intensity.

For whatever reason you go to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, you will walk away with Karen O indelibly imprinted into your memory. The YYY's lead singer possesses an amazing stage presence, using interpretive body language apropos of the most physical stage arts to create her own form of performance art. She couldn't continue the theatrics accompanying "Phenomena" and "Gold Lion," which she performed from behind a makeshift veil, throughout the entire show, falling back into a more reserved but still energetic lead persona. On some songs, Karen O ignored harmony and melody, screaming out the lyrics with a frenzy reminiscent of the punk rock scene from which the Yeah Yeah Yeahs sprung. Impressive in contrast, she just as easily slips into a sensitive, almost girlish voice when the song dictates.

Just before their encore opening rendition of "Maps," Karen O let everyone know that the night was special not only because of their New York homecoming but because the band's parents were in attendance. The observation might have been better noted at another time as the language used by Karen O shortly thereafter may not have been the most family-friendly.

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have built their reputation for playing sizzling live shows in small intimate venues. With Show Your Bones poised to make inroads into the mainstream, larger arenas and bigger crowds await the band. From a musical sense, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are ready for the increased exposure and Karen O's theatrics and siren-like wail will surely draw interest from all corners. If you haven't caught the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in America this spring, you may have missed your opportunity as the New York trio is set to head overseas for a late spring, early summer European tour.

Related: Interview with Yeah Yeah Yeahs drummer Brian Chase.

[Ed. Note: Photographs are linked to owner's Flickr account. Some Rights Reserved.]

Labels: Yeah Yeah Yeahs