A lot of my friends loathe Deerhoof. They’re definitely the kind of band that splits opinion- yelping vocals, time signatures irregular to the point of non-existent and a thoroughly avant-garde approach to genre and song structure. But on the evidence of this rare London show, it’s clear my friends are wrong. Really wrong. Redolent of a genteel, less combative relative of Melt-Banana, the intensely bouncy four-piece delivered an eclectic and demented mix of traditional rock and glitchy Battles-esque percussive experimentalism. And like that aforementioned Brooklyn quartet, their technical skills are awe-inspiring to behold - all members of the band acquit themselves superbly, but it’s the virtuoso display of technical drumming by Julian Rhind-Tutt lookalike Greg Saunier (whose shares a conspicuously similar surname to Our Lord and Saviour John Stanier) that truly dazzles. Keeping it short and sweet with a set lasting just over an hour, they don’t outstay their welcome and though I’m not convinced their unusual charms work nearly as well on record, as a live band they’re a minor revelation.
(Photo: Alan Bee (Flickr))
2 comments:
Oh shit sticks :( I wanted to go see Deerhoof but opted to see Liam Finn instead, got to love battling two bands together to see who you'd put your money on to go see :p
There was so much on that night- I'd have liked to have seen Beach House and Abe Vigoda too! Oh, the trials of being a Londoner eh?
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