New Artist Monday: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

by Sammi Dittloff on July 30th, 2007

There’s just something about this band. I can’t get enough of them. I present to you, my New Artist Monday entry for one of my favorite bands, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

If you’d like to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah represented in a way you’d never think they would be before, give Chris Cullari’s blog a look. It’s said best by his title: “Clap Your Hands Say Vacuum.” Take a look.

Name of Band: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Sound: This I’ve been struggling to describe. There’s something so foreign about CYHSY’s sound, and yet,there’s something familiar in there as well. What I love is that when you hear one of their songs, immediately you know it’s them, but their music also calls to mind other bands and artists that I’ve listened to recently and in the past. I’m not even going to try to describe it here, except that it’s one of the best new sounds in indie and is worth checking out and loving.
Location(s): Founded in Connecticut, now centered in Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
Website: www.clapyourhandssayyeah.com
Band Members: Alec Ounsworth, Tyler Sargent, Robbie Guertin, Lee Sargent, Sean Greenhalgh
You May Remember Them From Such Songs As…: Well, truth be told, these guys haven’t gotten a mess of radio play yet. Their fame has really stemmed from internet popularity, and tons of indie critics love them. As far as the general public goes, they’re still relatively under the radar. Click here for their MySpace, and then those songs can be the ones you remember them from, I suppose.
Next Performance: Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 4th. (It’s sad how many times I had to look to make sure I spelled “Lollapalooza” right).

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, or CYHSY, is definitely the up-and-coming band in the world of indie music. Their sound is completely their own, they took the internet by storm, and their concert attendees have included greats like David Bowie an David Byrne. This is the band that is making music critics take notice. So, how did they get started, you might ask? Maybe you didn’t ask that, I have no way of knowing, but here’s their humble history for those who want to know.

CYHSY formed in New London, Connecticut, where all the members met at Connecticut College. Manhattan was the band’s first main venue, playing weekly shows at Pianos. Between this and Pitchfork Media donning the title of “Best New Band” to the group, they were forced to repress their CD, due to the massive demand. In Rolling Stone, they were named the “Hot New Band” for 2005, and on October 3, 2005, they were signed in the UK to Wichita Recordings.

All the members of the band live in Brooklyn, with the exception of Ounsworth, who lives in Philadelphia.

Truth be told, I haven’t found much on the internet for CYHSY. What I’m hoping is that their popularity will grow by album three, but only time will tell. For now, I feel special as if I know about a hidden gem that the average audience doesn’t, and now, I’m giving you an inside scoop. If there’s anything else you’ve found about the band, please comment here or email during the week! Peace and love, guys.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fluzo/884358094/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the700level/351254565/