NXNE 2011: Double Feature Pt. 1: Deerhoof

Deerhoof @ The Phoenix   

NXNE 2011

   Thursday night NXNE took over The Phoenix Concert Theatre (one of Toronto's more notable venues) for a double header with fellow San Francisco natives The Dodos (more on them later). The latter performance from Deerhoof promised to be a intriguing affair, but instead seeing Deerhoof live felt, well.... disappointing.

  Deerhoof's experimental art-rock made up of choppy, chaotic guitars, quirky lyrics and singer Satomi Matsuzaki's little girl voice don't appeal to everyone. Their aesthetic is pure nerd-chic and a certain level of social awkwardness comes across, even in the witty drawn-out banter of the band's drummer as he thanked the audience.
   Give Deerhoof credit, they are a talented bunch, who've been making music and touring for years. Talent and experience as musicians aside the four-piece's interaction with the crowd was minimal and their enthusiasm to be performing was hidden behind stone faces. One couldn't help but feel like the band simply wanted to play their music and be left alone. 
   For anyone venturing to a Deerhoof gig for the first time, there was a pretentious vibe the bled from the band and audience, like they were in on some kind of joke, you weren't privy to like a clique. Many audience members cheered and hollered but in combing the room you could pick out those unfamiliar with Deerhoof's unique brand of showmanship and the company they keep. 
   Perhaps, the band at this point okay, with the fans and audience they have amassed 11 records in, but if your music is to reach as many people as possible through touring and sharing a more intimate encounter with your fans, than Deerhoof left much to be desired. Musically they are just as good as ever, but a CD at home could tell you that. 
  However, with no real relationship or dialogue with the audience it goes without saying there is something to be said for stage presence. Maybe for the awkward couple grinding like Deerhoof was playing Rihanna tunes, that's okay their only there for the music, but isn't part of the music the people performing it? If that's true then Deerhoof felt robotic and distant.