The Sounds That Pick Your Brain
Brooklyn’s Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah have successfully become known as the do-it-without-a-record-label musician guys. Their goofy musical personality is layered with fresh pops and surprises and topped off with whiney yet attractive vocals.
CYHASY played the seconded date of the first Treasure Island Music Festival on September 16 and were quite titillated by the fact that there was water all around them and possibly a bit afraid of sharks.
As keyboardist, Robbie Guertin, said, “I wasn’t really sure of the concept until we got here, but it’s pretty cool now that I’m here.”
Though the band members mentioned that they thought perhaps people would be better off being on the beach “instead of being caged in watching music on an island,” they warmed up to the idea after arriving and seeing the festivals overall set up. “I love it. I love the ocean and the boats, I also love the puppets that our outside right now-they’re fantastic,” said drummer Sean Greenhalgh after Guertin mentioned the beach idea.
Posted on the Treasure Island Music Festival website is an article about the islands history. The event has people thinking about what the island is and it seemed like the festival was not just promoting itself but the island as well, “I went on the website and it shows the history of the island being build, it’s pretty interesting how it was made. It just use to be this little mound of dirt and now it’s a whole island,” said Guertin.
The dangers of the having a large event on the island would be that during earthquakes, fires or other natural disasters a quick evacuation would be virtually impossible. Though, Guerin remained optimistic about the turnout of the event. “If there was an earthquake, would the whole island just open up? I would start screaming. Well, I would just go for a swim.”
CYHASY are going to be touring in California and are hitting up the Independent in SF on September 25th and 26th, “We have ten days to sell it out. You’re the only place we’re announcing this, we need your help.”
In addition to selling out three L.A. shows in the end of September CYHASY are soon to be featured for their film debut alongside John Malkovich and Tom Hanks.
Uncut Interview:
Hi, I’m Tyler and I play bass in the band.
Hi I’m Robbie and I um, carry things in the band. Heavy things.
LIKE ANY INSTRUMENTS?
Sometimes-Robbie
SO WHAT DID YOU FIRST THINK OF THE FESTIVAL BEING ON AN ISLAND? DID YOU FIND THAT ODD?
ROBBIE- I wasn’t really sure of the concept until we got here, Oh Sean Greenhalgh joining us for the interview! Sean what do you think about the Treasure Island Festival?
SEAN-I love it. I love the ocean and the boats, also I love the puppets that our outside right now- they’re fantastic.
Robbie-Sean what do you think about the idea of perhaps people would be better off being on the beach in the sun instead of being caged in watching music at a festival like this?
SEAN-I would have to agree 100% with that statement.
ROBBIE-Sean is a bit of a beach person. We can’t see the ocean, well we can see it a bit from stage so that’s pretty good.
SO THEN THE ISLAND IDEA WAS A GOOD THING?
ROBBIE-“Yeah, I didn’t know this was on an Island until we got here. I went on a website and it shows the history of the Island being build it’s pretty interesting. How it was made and it just use to be this little mound of dirt and now it’s a whole island.”
YEAH SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE?
Robbie-Would the whole island open up?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Robbie- I would start screaming. I would just go for a swim.
HOW DID YOU GET ONTO THE ISLAND TODAY?
Tyler-We took a helicopter
WELL THERE YOU GO! SO ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ISLAND OR THE POSSIBLE HASARDS HERE TODAY?
Robbie- We have a show in SF at the Independent. We have ten days to sell it out. You’re the only place we’re announcing this.
Robbie's lost in his own world as he plays the Treasure Island Music Fest stage on Sun. Sept. 16th. Photos by Contessa Abono.
C'Mon, Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah
By Contessa Abono
and Nadine Caouette
Lead singer, Alec Ounsworth, has one of those voices you could call whiney in a good way. Here he is at the Treasure Island Music fest Sun. Sept. 16th.
