Young Americans Challenging High Technology, known as YACHT, has consistently pushed boundaries with their music and their Grammy nominated album, Chain Tripping, sees their most powerful push to date. The sound bending trio constructed this album with the help of an Artificial intelligence program that helped shape the different sounds and lyrics showcased throughout the album. Combine that with the fact I’ve loved YACHT since my early teens, I was incredibly excited for this show.

The night opened with Juiceboxxx who really gave the audience energy and quite literally woke everyone up. Straight out of the gate, he and his band kick out the fan favorites. Imagine a charismatic guy rapping over rock and roll beats with the intensity and chaotic energies of Suicide and the stage presence of Iggy Pop. Jumping on tables, rolling around on the floor, and throwing microphones at audience members was how he ended the set. 

YACHT came out shortly after and started off with the last track on Chain Tripping, “Little Instant”; which has the total opposite energy attached to it. They played the entire album backwards ending with the bass heavy “Downtown Dancing”, reminiscent of an In Flagranti song. Jona Bechtholt and Bobby Birdman take turns playing different bass parts or hitting the bands distinctive cowbell throughout the night. Claire Evans, the lead singer, was moving and grooving the entire night. Her voice and singing style is robotic and algorithmic, in the best way possible, and intertwines seamlessly with the different synth patterns throughout the album. The sounds reminded me a lot of Brian Eno’s Another Green World.

YACHT has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album. Their album also doesn’t come in a CD or LP format, which came as a surprise to me. Their visual album is available on Blu Ray and features 10 videos created by the band. The videos feature neural photography, the world’s first AI typography lyrics videos. The album is available for purchase at DFA records online store!