Industrial/noise band the Ex Models followed with a set that seemed to contain songs that had no beginning, end, or middle. I am not familiar with their music but it was pounding, heavy, noisy, full of distortion and with minimal vocals. Two drummers provided a throbbing backbeat to the screach of the lead and throb of the bass, but honestly, although their musicianship was excellent, their music itself just didn't didn't do much for me, at least not live.

By the time the Yeah Yeah Yeahs hit the stage at 10 pm, the audience was primed to go, and go they did. I don't think I have seen Stubb's so packed since the Pretenders show at SXSW. It was going to be hard for me to get any good shots as the photographers did not have access to the pit area in front of the stage. Apparently there was a spotlight set up right at the edge and they didn't want any of us tripping over the cables and yanking it off unexpectedly. I figured my best opportunity for pictures would be the VIP balcony overlooking the stage, right. A small deck packed with all the special guests, photographers are allowed access for only three songs, and judging by the number of VIPs, three would be pressing it. Making my way up before the band hit the stage, I managed to wrangle a favor out of a couple at the edge of the grating, promising them that if they let me have the first song I would disappear after that. Thankfully they allowed me to slip in.

Then Karen O, the tall sultry lead singer, and the rest of the band hit the stage bathed in a blue 60s psychadelia light show, and the crowd just ate it up. I started snapping away and before I knew it, the song was over. I thanked my benefactors and headed off in hope of finding someplace that I could take some more shots before my three songs were up. Down the stairs and out the door, I just about plowed over another photographer changing lenses next to the stage. Behind him, a security guard, and beyond that more photographers. I queued up and midway through the second song they let me move up as they tapped another photgrapher out. I was able to take a few more shots and the song ended. Glancing over my shoulder I noticed more photgraphers waiting their turn. Not wanting to seem greedy, I took a couple more and tapped myself out, hoping to get a few shots from the audience.

Wading back through the packed crowd I noted that this was an exceedingly tall crowd, at least from my standpoint. I was able to view the stage but only just. Karen O was well into the third song of the set before I could find a good angle. It appears she had put on either a red mask or was covering her face with a scarf, even from the pictures it was hard to tell.

As the third song ended I capped my lense and headed over to grab something to drink. I listened to six or seven more songs and they were really wound up. I like the raw grinding sound of garage rock, with all the fuzz and distortion, and topping it off with Karen O's voice just seemed to tie it all together. They played a lot off their first and second albums but I couldn't get a look at the set list to tell you what order they were in. This was a great show and the audience sure got their money's worth. If the Yeah Yeah Yeahs can keep this level of energy going at all their shows and keep putting it into their recordings as well, I will look forward to seeing them again and again.

I want to thank the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and their management for supplying me with a photo pass for this show.