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Deerhoof
& Seven Year Rabbit Cycle Finally getting a hang of Go's starting times - or possibly Go finally adhering to some kind of plan - I showed up at the appointed time to catch the hotastic Deerhoof (Kill Rock Stars) from NYC. Seven Year Rabbit Cycle opened and played on similar musical themes as Deerhoof, except for one difference - they are awful. The songs were spastic, arty and random - seemingly to just be as such. Besides from the guitarist, no skills were needed for the drumming, singing and bass playing. Applying the three songs and you're out rule, I went outside with the bugs and the odd chance I might get run-over. Apparently I was not alone in this decision. After a fairly quick change, the four-piece Deerhoof took the small stage to a pumped packed club. This included the oddly matching outfitted and tattooed sociology grad student that graces the UNC campus. As would become increasingly comical during their moderate-length set, tiny lead singer Satomi next to inordinately large drummer Greg was pure humor. This was accentuated when Greg would come from behind the sparse drum kit and lean down to say hello to the crowd and thank them - though this usually consisted of two sentences at most. With Satomi playing bass on most songs, guitarists John and Chris were phenomenal and excelled at playing double sections and note progressions at different octaves from each other. Moreover, their playing was extraordinarily crisp and mimicked the record's quality tightly. Though both recorded and live the immediate attraction is Satomi's vocals. At times she would do hand gestures to go along with the songs - an act that the crowd enjoyed and were mesmerized by and more of this on the part of Satomi would have added volumes to the show. Deerhoof went through their impressive song catalogue, including most of their latest album on KRS Apple O. Probably the biggest disappointment of the evening came from Satomi seemingly going through the motions on stage. It appeared for whatever reason, and there could have been many particularly the heat, that she just wanted to end the set. This impression was unfortunately supported by Deerhoof quickly ending the set and Satomi hauling off the stage in a split second.
Though this lack of intensity on Satomi's part drew away from
the show, I do believe I might have caught them on an off night.
With Satomi into the show, they have the potential to be a stellar
live act.
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