Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Nearly a decade may have passed since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs reunited in the studio, but the indie/alternative/garage/punk/synthesizer-spiked rockers picked up precisely where they left off throughout 2022’s “Cool It Down.”

Though last year’s Riot Fest already experienced a riveting sample, there was nothing better than seeing front woman Karen O, guitarist/keyboardist Nick Zinner and drummer Brian Chase on their full-fledged tour, especially when it came to opening night for Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island.

The trio commanded attention from the earliest notes of “Spitting Off The Edge Of The World,” alongside a visual torrent of smoke and strobes that created quite a striking scene along the otherwise lovely lakefront.

Fans continued to be transported into an alternate galaxy thanks to the sonic experimentation, theatrical presentation and arty sights saturating “Cheated Hearts,” “Shame And Fortune” and “Burning,” amongst others throughout 90 minutes.

“Zero” fired up the dance floor as a pair of enormous inflatable eyeballs bounced their way towards the packed stands, while “Wolf” cast a further spell upon the already hypnotized crowd and “Lovebomb” was dedicated to the entire queer community.

“Maps” and “Gold Lion” were additional examples of textbook Yeah Yeah Yeahs tunes that thrilled and enthralled, though it all reached a pinnacle come a wildly wonderful “Heads Will Roll.”

An extensive encore of “Fever To Tell” touchstones ranked right up there in terms of attitude and aggression, pointing to the players’ renewed chemistry and offering up hopes this momentum will keep them permanently together.

Opening singer/songwriter/guitarist Sasami may be a relative newcomer by comparison, but possessed a similar ethos as she rotated between heavy metal and industrial rhythms, captivating with charisma while reeling in the masses.

For additional information on Yeah Yeah Yeahs, visit YeahYeahYeahs.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island include Two Friends (Jun. 2); Barenaked Ladies (Jun. 6); Dermot Kennedy (Jun. 7); Heatwave Music Festival (Jun. 10-11); Louis Tomlinson (Jun. 15); Quinn XCII (Jun. 16); Billy Strings (Jun. 17); Young The Giant and Milky Chance (Jun. 23); Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage (Jun. 27); Dave Matthews Band (Jul. 7-8); Yellowcard (Jul. 16); Sad Summer Fest (Jul. 21); Slightly Stoopid and Sublime With Rome (Jul. 28); Q101 Piqniq (Jul. 30); Ghost (Aug. 15); Goo Goo Dolls (Aug. 22); 5 Seconds Of Summer (Aug. 23); Beck and Phoenix (Aug. 31); Duran Duran (Sept. 1) and Hozier (Sept. 12). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

Related Articles

Florence + The Machine: “High As Hope” Tour at Huntington Bank Pavilion The Head And The Heart wrap an extended HBP season with folk and indie rock stompers A daring David Gray climbs the entire “White Ladder,” mounds more on Northerly Island Dave Matthews Band: “30” Tour at Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island Huntington Bank Pavilion season starts with the sold out metallic attack of Deftones, Gojira A jazzy Norah Jones revisits “Come Away With Me,” gospel great Mavis Staples surprises Huntington Bank Pavilion re-opens with DMB joyously crashing into Northerly Island Florence + The Machine nourish Northerly Island with “Dance Fever” and baroque theatrics