YEASAYER live in Vancouver, pics by Kris Krüg


Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Chris Keating from Yeasayer couldn’t stop telling the Vancouver crowd how much he loves the place. “The women are beautiful, the men are beautiful…okay, maybe not down on [downtrodden] East Hastings, but…”. He laughs. The crowd laughs. One-third of the way into a three-weeky tour, and Keating looked relaxed. The band looked relaxed. Not as road weary as when I last saw ’em. More fluid. Funky as all get out.

In other words, Yeasayer RULED.

Chris fiddled knobs, bounced around in his cool trainers and traded vocals with Anand Wilder (much more chilled out this time) while my imaginary boyfriend Ira Wolf Tuton (whom I fell for earlier in the day at our brief photoshoot) on bass, Jason Trammell on drums and the ultra-rad Ahmed Gallab (Born Ruffians, Sinkane Tell ‘Em, Caribou) on percussion formed a ridiculously sexygroovy backline. Mmmm, delicious music. And Yeasayer, I wanna eat you.

The songs you’d expect to sound epic, did. “Madder Red”, “O.N.E” (caused the floor of the not-sold-out Commodore Ballroom to bounce) “Rome”, “Wait for Summer” “Sunrise” and “Ambling Alp” were stunners. New track “The Devil and the Deed” was joyous. The fatheaded security guard in the front row, clapped along and asked me what album he should pick up.

But it was “2080”, the last track of the night which followed a new song (huh? Who puts new songs in the encore?) that had me, utterly, entirely. You know that moment at a gig when everything comes together and you’re grinning, dancing, arms flailing and singing out loud? Yeah. That was that moment. Thanks Yeasayer, you were a mighty fine birthday present. \m/

All Yeasayer photos by Kris Krüg, exclusively for BackstageRider. Visit StaticPhotography.com or kriskrug.com for more info.

Chris Keating, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Ira Wolf Tuton, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Anand Wilder, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Chris and Ira, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Anand Wilder, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Chris Keating, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Chris Keating, Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg

Yeasayer, pic by Kris Krüg


One response to “YEASAYER live in Vancouver, pics by Kris Krüg”

  1. What beautiful photographs! Glad you had a very rocktacular birthday – and who wouldn’t at a show like this (other than my grandmother, of course :^)

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