Proton Proton/Busdriver Busdriver/Deerhoof Deerhoof

So I recently (give or take a month) attended a Deerhoof show at the lovely Irving Plaza in New York. In fact, it was my second time seeing them, since I saw `em open for the Flaming Lips at their now legendary Hammerstein Lazer Pointer Experiment show. So, I saw them twice out of my own free will! How many people can say that?

Indeed, the show rocked my face off (seriously, I needed surgery). However, if you don't mind, I'd like to discuss the very special and unique openers that I witnessed on that fateful night.



After a healthy amount of creepy animation showing, Proton Proton took the stage (I wonder if their fans regularly refer to them as Bi-Proton...?). Proton Proton is a delicious new trio from Brooklyn, formed in 2005. As their myspace describes it:

proton proton began during long spontaneous sessions in a dark carpet-lined room on the mediterranean coast.
aron from a band called hominid.
paul from his solo thing.
gass is a bass and a guitar.


Anyway, I dug this immensely-talented group so much, I was moved to purchase one of the self-titled EPs from their site, but I wouldn't hesitate to say they were better live. Noisy guitars, unusual poly-rhythms, and psychedelic lights swirled around in a intensely melodic stew, underneath a singer who looks like a caveman and sounds a bit like David Byrne on crack. A very high, moaning voice, yet strangely compelling. The most easily-recognizable influences in the music include everything from CAN to Fugazi to the Talking Heads (duh!).

One of my favorites is "Plates": A bleeping guitar leads the beat-driven song, as the singer describes "Sitting around, just to watch plants grow", with a noisy frenzy of a chorus. Then there's "Sand", a blissfully creative show-opener, somehow balancing booming tom-tom drums (a recurring theme) with a xylophone ting.

"Chinese Dancer", however, may be the most memorable number of the set. Beginning with a simple bass riff, singer Paul Fuster lays out the honest and poignant lyrics:

"I wanna be a chinese dancer,
A chinese dancer
I wanna be...a Chinese Dancer
Dancer....Dancer"

(Cue noisy, freak-out frenzy, singer runs around stage wildly with a tambourine)

"I want to see you naked
I wanna see you naked
I want to see you naked
Naked....naked...."

(Lather, rinse, repeat)

(Random xylophone solo, "I love you!", off-kilter bridge)

Yeah, these guys kinda rule in that can't-quite-describe-it-but-instinctively-really-like-it way. I highly suggest listening to the tracks on their Myspace, and perhaps purchasing the EP from there. Or, if it better suits you, check out this lovely video performance of "Aloha" (good song, as well) from the show:



Alright, next up was opener number two: Busdriver.

Anyway, having been completely unfamiliar with Busdriver prior to this performance (I knew he was a rapper, towards the bizarre side of the spectrum, which is what I told the polite young man next to me, who inquired), I can safely say the bloke was a complete trip, an experience to savior. Mr. Busdriver, clad in a Run DMC shirt and christmas lights (!!) managed to rhyme "fender bender" with "chicken tender", sample the Super Furry Animals, and lead the crowd in a chant of "Kill Your Employer!" (seemingly his most popular song), all within the constraints of a 40-60 minutes set. Yeah, I'll stop it with the parantheses. Not really.

While I have little interest in seeking out an album (it just wouldn't be the same), the guy makes Public Enemy sound like Kenny G. Beyond description. A flow the speed of light. Spastic movements. One of my favorite songs feautured the chorus (paraphrased) "I am the first black astronaut...in a hot air balloon." Whoop-de-doo!

`driver interacted with the crowd wonderfully, and really satisfied my quest for insanity. Here's a video for "Imaginary Places", to give you taste:



DDEEEEERRRRRHHOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFF


At some point, San Francisco's own Deerhoof took the stage, promoting their fantastic new album, "Friend Oppurtunity" (seriously, buy it, get it, steal it!). If you're unfamiliar, these guys (and gal) tread the line between soft `n cuddly, and satanically noisy. Deerhoof feautures the Elmo-like vocal presence (and cute dance motions!) of Satomi Matsuzaki, the screechingly-loud guitar manhandling of John Dieterich and the incredibly powerful drum shredding of Greg Saunier (possibly the best drummer since the mighty Drozd). Since early this millenium, this trio has churned out the most consistently unique sounds and melodies to make you grin until your face hurts. I recommend "The Runners Four" as a starting point, though it's hard to go wrong.

Anyway, they came out amid much cheering and performed a triumphant version of "Reveille"'s lovely pop ditty, "The Eyebright Bugler". In fact, 2002's "Reveille" was feautured surprisingly often in the mind-melting tracklist - I was also treated to the wordless bliss of "Our Angel's Ululu", the noisy 1:18 groove of "Holy Night Fever", and, at some point, "This Magnificent Bird Will Rise", I think. I was amazed by the catchiness and intensity to these lil snippets of pop songs.

Throughout the setlist (aboot 20 songs), Greg Saunier broke his bass drum at least twice, most notably during the intro to "Milk Man" (which drew my attention away from this couple near me, doing this bizarre dance movement to the opening guitar chords). Mr. Saunier is a complete animal on the drums, stealing the show, and causing at least half the crowd to shit their pants in indescribable intensity.

Other highlights:
Of course, I'd be remiss not to mention the one-word ectasy of "Flower" (like a nursery school singalong on crack). And how could I possibly attempt to describe the experience of about 2,000 people singing along with the lyrics "Panda panda panda! Panda panda pan...panda!"? Or the raw grooves of "Twin Killers" and "Wrong Time Capsule", making me move in spastic, unpredictable motions that almost, but not quite qualify as dancing...

And I haven't even mentioned the new album tracks, which were truly fine additions to the already orgasmic setlist. They played "Kidz Are So Small", which sounds like a companion piece of sorts to "Dog on the Sidewalk" (actually lyrics: "If I were a man, and you a dog / I'd throw a stick for you!") I love how the guitar replaces the lovely horn riff in newest single, "+81", all leading to a brilliant chorus of "choo choo choo choo, beep bepp!"

"Believe E.S.P" deserves its own paragraph. You think I use phrases like "sick groove!" and "woof! cowbell!" for my own amusement? Easily one of the best songs to ever come out of the warped minds of these three individuals. Deerhoof on a funk kick. No full sentences here. This song. Hot. Hot. Lalala lalalalalalalala...crossing the line....". So good.

The encore included a mesmerizing rendition of 11:45 closer "Look Away". Gooey, noisy Deerhoof goodness. I highly suggest you revisit this show when the time machine appears on your doorstep. However, for now, videos videos videos. Let `em rock your balls off, too:







Dog on the sidewalk! Dog on the sidewalk! Dog on the sidewalk! I saw! I saw!

Good day.

(Copyright 2007 for Hilbert_Cheesecake productions)