The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – The Armory – Minneapolis MN – June 3rd 2023

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Perfume Genius – The Armory – Minneapolis, MN June 3^rd, 2023

Review and photos by Kate Klaus

Having been 10 years since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs performed in Minneapolis, the sold-out crowd at the Armory was buzzing with anticipation for their return performance.   Seattle based artist Perfume Genius was a perfect pairing to open the night.  This musical project, led by Mike Hadreas, is known for its emotional intensity and Hadreas’s powerful vocals.  With the backdrop of a vibrant colorscape, the music was equally ethereal and expressive, oscillating between light, playful moments and deeper and more emotionally charged melodic deliveries.  Their set was quietly beautiful, brooding, animated, and a warm-up to the charged performance to come from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Opening their set with “Spitting Off the Edge of the World”, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs exploded onto the stage with color and bright sounds and immense energy. Welcoming Perfume Genius back to the stage for a duet, the energy was infectious, and their harmonies were enchanting.  Throughout the set, vibrant colors and tones were the predominant theme, with a large screen backdrop displaying everything from fiery embers to waves to static and comic characters.  Karen O complemented this with multiple outfit changes and glitzy and extravagant sparkles and designs.

Their set was an equally dynamic musical journey, including songs from each of their studio albums, including staples ike “Heads Will Roll”, but also less known and infrequently played tracks such as “Phenomena”.  The entire night was a magical display of musicality and flair that was well worth the 10-year wait for the lucky crowd in Minneapolis.