Deerhoof @ Gorilla, 24 August
In the world of experimental rock, where some bands seem compelled to take themselves very seriously, Deerhoof’s calling card has always been Fun.
And for whatever reason, they seem to be in a place of unprecedented giddy abandon.
Opening with Paradise Girls – a self-referential ode to “smart girls who play the bass guitar” – it's clear the stripped back, leaner approach taken on latest album La Isla Bonita has brought out the harder, thrashier, unhinged version of the band. During Exit Only, all power chords and fuzz pedals, bassist and singer Satomi Matsuzaki high kicks in time with the thrusting riffs while guitarist Ed Rodriguez seems to channel his inner metalhead, his long black hair plastered to his face with sweat, coaxing squeals from his day-glo pink guitar.
The heavier songs and displays of hard-rock prowess are also intercut with other new tracks displaying completely different moods, such as the beautiful and shimmering Mirror Monster. But what really makes Deerhoof such an extraordinary live prospect is their mind-bending ability to stretch time when improvising around their set song structures, as on audience favourite There’s That Grin. Greg Saunier seems able to cram more beats into each bar than should be possible, as the band collectively turn on a dime, switching up texture and feel, somehow arriving at the same place all together.
During the encore, Matsuzaki attempts to teach the audience refrains about pandas, bamboo and ducks, encouraging us to take risks if unsure – proving that, rather than staying aloof in their coolness, Deerhoof are never happier than when sharing the great pleasure of performance.