photo courtesy of INTERSCOPE RECORDS Just because The Yeah Yeah Yeahs had a mediocre Grammy experience, doesn't mean their all-ages Club Congress show has to suck. You can lend them a hand Tuesday night as they rock Congress for all it's worth.

There is no alternate dimension or trapdoor in the subconscious that would place Hugh Hefner and his seven Playboy girlfriends in the same conceptual place and time as indie rockers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Except maybe the 2004 Grammy Awards.

Like a bad acid trip, the Yeahs had the distinction of trailing Hefner and his golden bunnies down the showbiz media gauntlet known as the red carpet.

Except this carpet was not red.

"The red carpet was actually green because Heineken was sponsoring the event. So that was a nice touch of class right there," Yeahs' drummer Brian Chase said.

Surprisingly, the band, which plays Club Congress Tuesday, had a rather underwhelming first Grammy experience.

After losing in the Best Alternative Album category to the White Stripes in an untelevised ceremony four hours before the "big event," the Yeahs had the pleasure of witnessing groundbreaking performances from the very best the music world has to offer.

"Watching Sting play a crappy Beatles cover," Chase said. "Stuff like that kind of blows."

Chase did give the opening BeyoncŽ and Prince collaboration a rave review and was glad to meet Emmylou Harris, No Doubt, Mike Patton, Hefner and get a picture with "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Although not quite the musical surprise they were looking for, the Yeahs got a shock when they were told after the show that they had been seated next to California rock legends The Eagles the entire time without realizing it.

"We were surrounded by a lot of old people, so I guess they just kind of blended in," Chase said.

After sitting through the three-plus hours of gorgeous pop melodies from Christina Aguilera, Sean Paul, Justin Timberlake and Celine Dion, it was definitely time to get wasted.

Hell, OutKast owes the entire Grammy audience a drink after performing those same two damn songs again, right?

"We got a whole list of parties that were going on. And the OutKast one was listed, and it said, ÎDon't even attempt to check it out if you don't have an invitation,'" he said.

Don't get it twisted, however. Chase said the Yeahs were honored just to have been nominated, and the whole process leading up to the event was very exciting.

Even if the glitzy affair did leave a less-than-genuine feel.

"That whole world ÷ it can't see outside of itself," he said.

Yeah, but would the band do it again?

"We're not sure," he said.

"Probably."

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs play an all-ages show at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress, Tuesday night at 8. Tickets are $10 in advance/$12 day of show.