"Y△CHT" Review
Tue, July 13, 2010 Y△CHT
Review of June 6th Performance at Do Division Fest, Wicker Park, Chicago, IL
Kudos to Cadillac! First they use the hit “1901” by Phoenix in their Cadillac SRX commercial, and now they are featuring “Psychic City” by Yacht. Whatever hipster-music-finder they have working there is one cool dude.
This upbeat electronic pop duo are a unique mix of 80’s (think Ah-ha) and modern techno beats (think Postal Service). Their impulsive energetic sounds seems to whip up dance party chaos wherever they perform. The particular crowd at the Do Division street festival in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago on the evening of June 6th are no exception. The concert goers ranged from preppies to hipsters to blue collar working class folk. One particular flannel clad dancer actually jumped up on stage with Yacht’s Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans and did a sort of arm throwing, head swinging dance between the two of them.
“That takes a certain kind of courage,” Evans said as security dragged the spastic dancer off stage once the song ended.
With the lead male singer’s Jona Bechtolt’s stark white suite and lead female singer Claire L. Evans’ black short jumper the duo channeled the 80’s, complete with a thick white microphone. The other band members wore tuxes with bow ties. They performed top hits like “Summer Song,” “I’m in Love with a Ripper,” and my personal favorite, “Psychic City.” Their performance also included lively hand motions and body gyrations, which completed the inspired art funk fest taking place on stage.
According to the band’s website, Yacht’s evolution of what it is today was completed in 2009 when they released the album See Mystery Lights. Y.A.C.H.T. was originally formed in 2002 to stand for “Young Americans Challenging High Technology.” They describe themselves as a band, a belief system, and a business. The bands’ website also claims that “The YACHT Performance is expressly designed to provide groups of people with catharsis and purification.” Hmm? Okay.
If the thought of Talking Heads and Yeah Yeah Yeahs with LCD Soundsystem throwing a dance party sounds like a good time, this is your band. For a new kind of feel good electronic pop dance music, tune into Yacht. It’s perfect for the summer… whether you are on a yacht or dreaming of a yacht, you will be pleased.
And in that sweaty heat, you’ll look cooler too.
-Laura Pollina