Clap Your Hands Say Yeah unveils The Tourist at Johnny Brenda’s

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah | photo by Ben Wong for WXPN | brotherlylost.com

Hometown heroes Clap Your Hands Say Yeah erupted onto the Johnny Brenda’s stage this past Thursday, March 2nd. This was actually the first night of two that the band performed at JBs — the second night being sold out well in advance — and also the first day of their nationwide tour, followed by another four weeks in Europe.

Getting to be the first ones to see a live tour is a big deal for concert-goers, especially when it’s in the city of Philadelphia which remained the stomping grounds for CYHSY for a good portion of their career. Seeing any band perform their first show on tour in comparison to their last is two completely different experiences. Fans get to watch as the band learns to ride a bike again and go through any opening night hiccups as well as experience all the energy and initial excitement to play new material.

For the band, it’s an equally great experience because for CYHSY, they’re essentially a new band. Aside from front man Alec Ounsworth, all of the former members of the band have been replaced throughout the CYHSY lifespan. Their newest release, The Tourist, was produced with Ounsworth as the sole remaining member of the original band while he worked on the album with singer-guitarist Nick Krill of The Spinto Band and Teen Men.

Debuting their tour alongside Steady Holiday as the opener, CYHSY brought out all the goodies. Ironically, they opened with “Better Off,” the newest single off their latest release, and then followed with “Is This Love?,” which was actually their first single from their self-titled first album in 2005. From there the set list turned into a gripping game of roulette as they gave those yet unfamiliar with the new stuff a chance to enjoy favorites across their now five album discography. Songs like “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” “Maniac,” and “Some Loud Thunder” had the entire room participating.

In an era where obscurity has become the common goal for indie music, CYHSY has stayed ahead of the curve. Their sound is still very simple yet completely unique, mixing synthesizers with harmonicas and adding emotional and sometimes-dark wordplay overtop maraca’s and heartening guitar playing. What might seem like contrasting imagery by any other band, works effortlessly for Ounsworth and his new troupe.

For the once virtually unknown local commodity, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has continued to improve and grow into pseudo-mega stars that never let their fame oversee their roots. Some might be surprised to see them playing at a smaller venue like Johnny Brenda’s; this move not only shows that they aren’t just concerned with ticket sales and big productions, but that the quaint intimacy and ambiance of a local bar in Fishtown represents the simplicity of their image. As they closed out the encore with a personal favorite, “Heavy Metal” they exclaimed, “We will be back!” most likely in reference to the show the following day, but hopefully as a reminder of where they’re home is.