Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Lose Two of Their Members

BY Alex HudsonPublished Jul 6, 2012

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah became a blog sensation with their outstanding self-titled debut from 2005, but the Brooklyn indie rock outfit have since failed to recapture their initial success. Now, two of the band's core members are calling it a day and moving on to other projects.

Tomorrow night (July 7), multi-instrumentalist Robbie Guertin and bassist Tyler Sargent will play their last show with CYHSY at New York's CBGB Festival in Times Square. The musicians announced their departure in two separate posts on the band's website.

Guertin wrote on Tuesday (July 3):

Dear Clap Your Hands Say Yeah fans and friends,

I'm writing to let you know that our upcoming New York show will be my last with the band. Being a member of Clap has been an incredible experience, but I have decided to move on and see what's next. I will continue to make music with my other band, Radical Dads, pursue miscellaneous artistic endeavors, and also grow some vegetables. I am excited to see what else might come my way. Maybe some tomatoes?

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and wish them all the best as they continue on without me. Thank you to everyone who listened and came to shows and supported us -- you are truly the coolest!

If you want to say hi/bye, or let me know about any get-rich-quick schemes and/or legitimate employment opportunities, please write to robbie.guertin@clapyourhandssayyeah.com

Thanks again for an amazing bunch of years! If you're in town on Saturday, come out to the (free) show!

xo

~robbie


Sargent's message followed today (July 6):

Hey everyone,

Just writing to let you know that Saturday's show is going to be my last one with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

I am very proud of what this band has accomplished over the past eight years, and I will miss playing with such talented musicians. I wish Alec, Sean and Lee the best of luck with whatever CYHSY does in the future. I wish Robbie the best of luck with his musical and horticultural endeavors. As for me, I am currently in the process of forming a presidential exploratory committee for 2016.

I hope to see you on Saturday. Expect an epic bass solo.

Tyler


Judging by these messages, it seems that the rest of Clap Your Hands will continue on, presumably with some new recruits to flesh out the lineup. To date, frontman Alec Ounsworth has composed nearly all of the band's material, so don't expect their sound to change too dramatically.

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