Yīn Yīn turn Band on the Wall into a funk-fuelled machine
Words/Photos: Amelia Millward
★★★★☆
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Dutch quartet Yīn Yīn transformed Band on the Wall into a groove-heavy, late-night escape that never tried too hard to impress, but ended up doing exactly that. Leaning fully into rhythm and repetition, letting the music slowly take over the room in a way that felt natural and unforced. For fans of Khruangbin, Altın Gün or Can, this was an easy one to sink into.
Photos: Amelia Millward
The atmosphere locked in early with ‘In Search of Yang’, setting a slow, hypnotic tone that shaped the rest of the night. ‘Spirit Adapter’ and ‘Elma’ followed without breaking that flow, each track building patiently rather than rushing toward impact. It created a sense of immersion that felt natural rather than forced, as if the room gradually adjusted to the band’s pace.
Mid-set, the energy shifted. ‘Lecker Song’ and ‘Pingpxng’ tightened the grooves, giving the crowd something more immediate to move to, before ‘Golden Lion’ and ‘Pattaya Wrangler’ pushed things into a funkier, more danceable space. By the time ‘One Inch Punch’ arrived, stretched and looping far beyond its recorded version, the whole room was locked in. Newer material like ‘Yata Yata’ slotted in seamlessly, adding a slightly more polished edge without disrupting the overall feel.
Band on the Wall proved to be the perfect setting. The intimate space made everything hit harder, from the low-end basslines to the crisp percussion. It was a properly funky, groove-heavy night and the crowd matched that energy completely. There was no standing around, just constant movement and a shared sense of momentum that carried through to the encore.
What stands out most is how confident Yīn Yīn feel as a live band right now. They are tight without being rigid, controlled without losing warmth. There is a clear sense of growth in how they pace a set and blend new material with older tracks. It makes their live show easy to fall into and hard to forget. The kind of performance that sends you home wanting to hear it all again. If you get the chance, catch them live, it is the only way it really lands.