Yeah Yeah Yeahs To Tour West Coast

While all the other publications are debating as to whether or not the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' fiery front, Karen O, is truly sexy, we here at Neumu can focus on what really matters: their white-hot sound and the fact they're taking it on the road for seven nights down the West Coast (plus one East Coast date).

In mid-September, the trash-rock trio will hit Seattle, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. For all but the San Francisco dates, the band will be opening for the White Stripes. They'll also do a night at Boston's Suffolk Downs on August 31.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their major-label debut, Fever to Tell (Interscope), to critical acclaim in April. While the album found the band exposing a mushier side, the Yeahs' live set is as intense and consuming as ever.

O may evoke heated seduction onstage but it is the ragged, vicious and all-out original songs that engage the crowd. Drummer Brian Chase's masterful skills behind the kit and guitarist Nick Zinner's heavy, huge and gritty playing next to O's impressive persona make for a memorable live set you'll someday tell the grandkids about.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs first ignited their buzz with a self-titled five-song EP, originally released on the group's own Shifty Records label in 2001, then re-released by Touch and Go about a year ago. They followed the EP, also known as Bang, with the three-song single Machine last fall. — Jenny Tatone [Tuesday, July 22, 2003]

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Tour Dates

August 31; Boston; Suffolk Downs
Sept. 16; Seattle; Stadium Exhibition Center
Sept. 17; Portland, Ore.; Keller Auditorium
Sept. 19; San Francisco; venue TBD
Sept. 20; San Francisco; venue TBD
Sept. 22; Los Angeles; Greek Theatre
Sept. 23; Los Angeles; Greek Theatre
Sept. 25; San Diego; venue TBD