Robbers On High Street, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mercury Lounge, Friday: There were long lines in two directions down the street for this buzzed bill. Even though both local bands play in the city quite a bit, out of towners packed the house to hear what all the commotion was about (for CYHSY mainly). Robbers never dissappoint and it sounded like they were feeding off the crowd during their tight set. After making the crowd wait just until the point of restlessness, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah kicked off a potent set of new new wave. Singer Alec Ounsworth could have been mixed a little higher but at least he was drowning out all the people around me who kept wanting to chat about them possibly getting signed. "Hey did you hear they got offered 3 million dollars?" someone asked me. Actually, I couldn't care less. I just hope this hyped band (who are tremendous when they click on all gears as they did on "Home On Ice") don't get backlashed too hard in the next few months. Alec may remind people a bit of David Byrne (his lean, jerky stage manner and voice to match), but there's just as much Julian Cope and Michael Stipe in there too. Let's leave the overhyping and then rapid tearing down to the UK press. This band is just finding its way. From this sweaty often exhilerating set, it's clear that it's more fun to watch than to predict what will happen next. If all goes well, they'll still be vital when their New Years Eve show at Irving Plaza rolls around. - Steve Ciabattoni, Editor-In-Chief CMJ New Music Monthly
