Classic & Current Contemporary Non-Schlock-Rock Metropolitan Music

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Chapel Hill March 9, 2006

Clap's Captivating Charisma at Carrboro's Cat's Cradle March 9, 2005

by Julie Joyce

(Deaconlight.com) - - March 11, 2006 - - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's show at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC, Thursday was simply amazing. Dr. Dog, another New York-area band, were the kinetic opening act and they were quite adept at warming up the crowd for the main event as they flew around the stage doing some very nice old-school jams.

Clap Your Hands took the stage with one of my personal favorites, "Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away." While listening to their CD over and over again (which is what I am once again doing) you get the idea that these guys are absolutely brilliant musicians, but seeing them live put a completely different perspective on things.

Since I can't even walk and talk on the phone at the same time I was flabbergasted at the way lead singer Alec Ounsworth could play guitar and harmonica and sing without seeming to get confused at all about it. These guys aren't just amazing musicians. They have that rare incredible stage presence that you can't categorize - - the kind where you can't take your eyes off of them.

Just as an aside they are also the most adorable group of boys I have seen in years, not that I notice things like that or anything.

The Cat's Cradle is a great venue for a band like this. Seeing them walk to the bar through the crowd is something to remember since from all predictions, they're going to be huge very, very soon.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah played a set of about an hour, which was way too short since I could have listened and watched them all night. A few new tracks were played, all of which lived up to the quality of the album. The show was sold out but the Cat's Cradle has a good amount of space for a crowd that size so visibility was good from almost anywhere.

I was one of fewer than ten people who actually danced, which is always slightly odd but when you get a few drinks in you things happen. The music makes you want to move, as my friend Gene said. How you can hear these guys and remain still is beyond my understanding. The band was coaxed back onstage for an encore of a few songs and my friend Melinda would like to take credit for this since her stomping was obviously what got them back out there.

Here's to hoping Clap Your Hands comes back here, soon. They put on one amazing show.