"Now they are child stars, child stars, child stars, child stars, child stars...With the sex and the drugs and the rock and rock and rock and rock and roll Hey!" Yeah, it was stuck in my head before hand and it is ensconced now. And with good reason. After canceling their Australian tour last year Clap Your Hands Say Yeah triumphed and thrilled at the Enmore Theatre last night. Trust me, this band is no fad, they are not going away anytime soon. It seems that most everyone loved their first album and that their recent second release has been met with mixed reviews. I however love both and whilst I believe that their debut has the more obvious, catchy songs, "Some Loud Thunder" shows a band evolving and developing more complex songs. So it proved last night that the earlier songs were probably better received but I was satisfied with everything they played.

It was however a slightly subdued start. Even though I love "Over And Over Again" it didn't start the night with a bang and the next song "Mama...." is my favourite song off the new album. However it's a real slow burner and might have been perfect later in the set as a come down song. Also the sound seemed a bit muffled early on. However the rest of the set list was almost perfect in its order. "Some Loud Thunder" sounded so much better live then on record and "Satan Said Dance" was predictably popular. However after hearing the rest of the set it strikes me that this song is really quite lightweight compared to their others. Perhaps in time they will drop it. It was on the next song that things started soaring. "Is This Love?" took the roof off, Alec Ounsworth's vocals were superb as the irresistible chorus excited everyone. There was no let up after this, everything just flowed perfectly. "In This Home On Ice" was perfect, "Yankee Go Home" was thrilling. The extended jam on "Goodbye To The Mother And The Cove" was awe inspiring and developed even further when Alec pulled out the megaphone. Everyone was then jumping and clapping with delight during "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth". If this didn't make you dance, well, nothing will. Then the show stopper, "Details of The War". Such a beautiful song, delivered with grace and beauty (and harmonica, go Alec). Then "...Young Blood" closed, all yelps and cries, it was a joy to end with. A 3 song encore rounded off things nicely with a majestic "Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away" and a storming "Heavy Metal". The band was focused and tight throughout. Not much chatter, just letting the songs speak for themselves. Alec Ounsworth is just incredibly intense on stage. He lives the songs and his voice has quite an impressive range actually. When he reaches deep down he really finds something. Shouldn't we celebrate a voice that is so unique and can express itself in so many ways. If we need cardboard cut out voices there is always 2DAY FM to listen to. A great night, one of the best shows of the year in a year of many live highlights.

Btw, I don't have photos as the band made a request for no photography at the show.

Set List
Over And Over Again (Lost And Found)
Mama, Won't You Keep Those Castles In The Air & Burning?
Some Loud Thunder
Satan Said Dance
Is This Love?
Gimmie Some Salt
In This Home On Ice
Yankee Go Home
Goodbye To The Mother & The Cove
The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth
Details Of The War
Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood - MP3

Clap Your Hands!
Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away
Heavy Metal