On a cold day, a concert at Berbati’s Pan means being shocked by the heat. But enter the Pan on the verge of a heatwave, and you're asking for a scorcher. Even with my front-stage real estate, I knew that everyone was going to leave dehydrated once the final band left the stage.
Southeast Engine were up first. They were a crew of four (with one dressed in a taupe corduroy suit) and carried with them a good sound to begin the night. The crowd's applause after the first few songs was stronger than most openers, and it was cool to see the band recognize them for it. The songs were twangy and upbeat, with some organ to keep it real.
Southeast Engine sang about wives and rolling hills; The Donkeys, the next in line, had a similar sound but different geography. Hailing from San Diego, the quartet opened with a pretty rad instrumental that featured a sitar. But then we never heard from the sitar again! Talk about sitar tease. The Donkeys have that rock-Americana sound and a keyboardist that pounds the living hell out of each song. This is the guy you want if you ever need CPR. And while the lack of ventilation was exhausting, the crowd was driven on by the band’s energy. The Donkeys engaged us with their banter, chatting in between a set of songs that felt heavier than what the Engine had brought us. A song dedicated to their hometown with the chorus ‘no need for oxygen,’ seamlessly transported me to the SoCal smog.
Both openers were pretty vocal about being excited for Deerhoof, and as the final band set up, the crowd was ready for them. The two dudes next to me made a crack about there being a small drum set and no high-hat. Less than two songs later, I glanced over at to see the guys slack-jawed. Clearly they didn’t know that when Greg Saunier (with his neon green shoes) plays a 3-piece like a 12-piece drumset. In fact, everyone in Deerhoof seemed to have a great time playing their balls off. This includes pint-sized singer and bassist Satomi Matsuzaki, who pogos around the stage while he plays and sings. The sound was so much thicker and richer than what 99% of other bands produce. Could be the two 12-string guitars, those neon shoes, the layers of sound thick as frosting, Satomi’s butterfly of a voice, or a combination all of those elements. Despite some pedal issues (the crowd was witness to the fastest destruction of a new piece of equipment) the band was tight and loud enough that I had to turn the TV up the afternoon after.
Walking out after the show along with everyone else in the Deerhoof-fugue, I realized the name is a perfect fit. A smaller than average drum set, a pair of 12-strings and cute girl to sing is an equation that can easily lead someone to doubt their power and heart as a band. But if you know anything about deer, (which I happen to, from growing up in the woods) you know those sharp hooves can kill when they kick. And with the show they put on at Berbati’s, it is clear to see that they are playing for keeps.
