Deerhoof Bring Dazzling Lights

The Phoenix Concert Theatre

Toronto, ON

on Mar 5 2008

Noah Love (CHARTattack)

03/07/2008 11:30am

Before we begin, here are three facts about my relationship with Deerhoof. 1. The first time I heard the band was when an uber-fan played Milk Man to a room full of hipsters and a) I was immediately ashamed I was the only person in the room who didn't know the band, which was compounded by the fact that b) I fell in love with them from the first deep bass line of that album. 2. I have, against my better judgment, passed up every previous occasion to see the group live since then. 3. Everything you've ever heard about the band's live performance is true, except they're even better than you could possibly imagine. Eye Weekly's Wednesday night Canadian Music Week showcase featured four bands, but the headliners were far and away one of the most impressive live groups I've ever seen.

Also impressive were the second group on the bill, Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains (thanks for ditching the French subheader, guys). I first saw the full band play almost a year ago at the Kool Haus, opening for Bloc Party. They were stuck with a bad mix and weren't exactly the tightest trio at the time. Now, they've expanded to a quartet, with the Meligrove Band's Andrew Scott on keyboards, and with nearly a year and a half of playing live under their belts, they finally sound ready to compete. Songs that previously sounded a bit aimless have found focus and Grainger looks a lot more comfortable with the guitar. The former Death From Above 1979 frontman is nearly set to announce the release of the band's American Names/Ways To Come Home debut, and it could be one of the better Canadian discs of 2008.

Sub Pop's No Age made their Toronto debut next, and it was a mix of great and merely OK. The good: Randy Randall and Dean Spunt's May album, Nouns, will blow Weirdo Rippers (their collection of previously released EPs) out of the water. Every song from the upcoming record had more depth and flavour than their previously recorded output. The songs from their EPs were also excellently and energetically performed, and more than a few of those in attendance danced to the jagged riffs and pounding drums. The not-so-good: The Phoenix is hardly the ideal venue for an experimental punk duo. The sound mix wasn't nearly as good as the one at the Tralf in Buffalo, NY, where I saw No Age a month ago. But it didn't seem to bother a crowd that was excited to see the group for the first time and the duo were left beaming from the reception they received.

And then came Deerhoof, the real San Francisco treat. I truly regret ever missing the band live previously. What a ballsy, mesmerizing and note-perfect display their set was. Greg Saunier's drumming and Satomi Matsuzaki's vocals alone could have floored the whole room, but the double guitar assault from John Dieterich and new member Ed Rodriguez packed an even bigger punch. Even more dazzling was their unique light propeller and the drum-powered circular strobes that dotted the stage (though, sadly, the one behind Matsuzaki didn't function, dulling their effect a little).

Even with one glaring setlist omission ("Milk Man," my first love), there was nothing I could legitimately complain about. The sound mix was crystal clear, the quartet played frantically and brilliantly, buoyed by a rabid audience, and nobody was left wanting more by the end of the two-song encore. If you've been skipping out on Deerhoof for any reason at all, shame on you (and shame on me, prior to Wednesday) — they are simply something else.