The sound of 10 hands clapping

Behold the power of Internet! One day you’re an unknown New York art rock band with an alleged Talking Heads fixation (sorry, was that redundant?) and no record label. The next, you’ve got a glowing review on a famous indie hipster website and you’re selling out clubs three weeks in advance on your international tour (but still no record label). Such is the case with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Yes, there is something of David Byrne’s quaver in singer Alec Ounsworth’s own voice - it's a bit "cracked," which worked well for their encore of Neil Young’s Helpless.



Sean Greenhalgh’s stripped down style made me think of Joy Division (I'd just watched 24 Hour Party People, so that may have played a role, too). Not shown: His habit of sticking his tongue out while he plays ...



Guitarist and keyboardist Robbie Guertin filled the role of stage livewire, bopping furiously in both positions while grinning amiably.



Lee Sargent, at left, plays both guitar and keyboard and was a more stalwart presence.



His twin brother, bassist Tyler.

.

Singalong fun!



I liked them, though there was a feeling of being slightly underwhelmed - not the band's fault, just a case of too much advance praise.

• Reviewers showered praise on The Mohawk Lodge's debut album (Bill Callahan and Will Oldham were mentioned), so you might want to head down to Zaphod's, where they perform with Precious Fathers, another Vancouver band.