When you go on tour and the opening band is generating mad monkey indie rock buzz, what’s a band to do? That’s what’s going on right now with the current tour of headliners The National with openers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the press the tour is getting and see what is being covered. Now, the National might have received reviews in these publications on a different tour, but I wanted to see how things were shaping up for Right Now.
Here’s just a few stops on the tour and some of the related press.
9/08: Northampton, MA
Valley Advocate‘s preview is mostly about the National, but this review of the show tells the story of the entire crowd leaving after CYHSY, while the National plays to a hand full of people.
9/10: Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Weekly‘s show preview is all about the openers, with a small merciful mention to the National at the end.
9/19: Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Scene interviews CYHSY.
9/20: Columbus, OH
Columbus Alive interviews CYHSY.
That’s what happened when Van Halen opened for Journey in the late 70’s. After Van Halen handed those cheesedicks their dicks, Roth would slam a Jack bottle up Steve Perry’s pooper.
The National are the new Journey. But don’t even think that The Clap is On Your Hands is the new VH.
man, that is total shite. the national owns that other band with the horrible name. i have tickets to the show in austin and will be arriving late just to catch the national.
The National can do no wrong in my eyes, song for song I think they whoop ass!
The National is getting a lot press down here in Cincy for their Wednesday show, but a lot that has to do that the band is made up of Cincinnati natives.
Rumor around town (los angeles) is that Clap is actually taking over the headlining slot for the two Troubadour shows. I can’t confirm that.
Makes me really sad though, but what can you do when the opener has sold literally twice as many records in half as many months?
Like those poor guys in the national didn’t have it bad enough already.
Is it me or do they (Clap Your Hands) kinda have a strong talking heads thing going? It’s Nick Cave vrs. David Byrne ha ha.
The story would be better if Matt roughed up the lead singer of Clap Yer Hands a bit after a show.
For the record I think Clap Your Hands sounds pretty cool, I think both deserve their place at the table, but some pushing and shoving backstage would make it even more entertaining. “hey Matt I heard that lead singer from Clap Your Hands said you are a dick” It’s worth a try.
there’s always that risk. that’s what happened when arcade fire was touring with hidden cameras… and eventually arcade fire became the headliners… a bit of a snub to hidden cameras but they took it well.