[ATTENDED: May 5, 2023] Yves Tumor
Yves Tumor had been on my list of artists I wanted to see live. So when they announced a show at Franklin Music Hall, I grabbed a ticket pretty quickly. I didn’t think it would sell out. In fact I thought that Franklin Music Hall would be too big a venue for them. I mean, had anyone even heard about them?
When I arrived (much earlier than I expected, thank you light traffic), there was hardly anyone in the parking areas that are usually packed. And the entrance was pretty swift. But when I got to the floor, it was surprisingly crowded. Not jam packed or anything, but I couldn’t get anywhere near the stage.
I also realized that this crowd was YOUNG. I’m usually one of the older people at a show, but this time the gap felt pretty large. That doesn’t bother me, because usually, the young hyperactive folks rush to the front and I hang out in the middle. But in this crowd everyone was jumping and bouncing and carrying on.
I’m still not sure how people have heard about Yves Tumor. My kids hadn’t and they have fingers on various pulses. I know them from NPR Music, which I think of as a slightly older crowd. But by the time Yves came on, the crowd was pretty packed in and ready to party.
I had heard that Yves Tumor’s show were must-see. Their earlier releases were challenging with samples and loops and unexpected diversions. The songs were spare with Tumor’s voice being one of the things that really held them together.
But on the newest record (and I’m guessing the previous EP), there’s a more glam rock feel to the album. Tumor’s vocals remain the same (which is good) but there are melodies and riffs galore.
Yves Tumor is a star. They own the stage with everyone following their every movement and step. Their microphone has some kind of cool attachment to it (I couldn’t see it from where I was, but it was like a wolf’s head facing them. They prowled the stage in leggings and short shorts. They wore a leather jacket and a shirt that simply said FUCK. Their hair was two-toned. They were beautiful.
The stage had industrial metal crates with lights permeating from the center. The lights and feel changed according to the mood and it was quite effective. The band was few in number but huge in sound. Gina Ramirez on bass and harmonious backup vocals; Yves Rothman on guitar, keyboard, and samples; Rhys Hastings on drums and lead guitarist Chris Greatti.
Greatti was a star himself, shredding like crazy and being very present as Yves walked around the stage–filling in front and center if Yves walked away and being there when Yves needed to hug someone. (more…)
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