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July 13, 2007

Behind The Music: Deerhunter

How could we have missed Deerhunter's Wednesday night set at Bowery? Village Voice makes it sound positively historic:

Pretty sure what I saw last night when Deerhunter headlined the Bowery Ballroom is going to be in a book or a documentary somewhere, sometime, somehow. Thought that whole bro job nonsense was memorable, but this, well, this was . . . one of those moments you see wrinkly faces recalling in Behind the Music.

Show was tremendous, despite some technical problems, but after the encore was the awesome insanity. Frontman Bradford Cox basically stayed onstage for at least 20 minutes and talked to the audience frankly, like we were his shrinks. About how he didn't want to be remembered for trying to frighten people, but for being kind. About childhood. About wearing dresses. About how his psyche was like one "big, gaping vag" and inviting us all to "fist it."

People got uncomfortable. His drummer politely walked out and tried to talk him into shutting up. His response: "I asked you to learn more songs." He just kept talking. People left—psychological honesty looks glamorous on TV, but not so much up close.

Why is this not on YouTube? Anyway, they're shitty bloggers, yes, but there is no chance we'll miss 'em at Pitchfork Music Festival on Sunday.

Pic via flickr.com/photos/jverne/.

Posted at 10:23 AM
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25 Comments

I've not yet listened to Deerhunter. However, the continued coverage given to them by both Stereogum and Pitchfork leaves me with the same reaction I have to horrible car accidents and crime scene photos - they sound interesting, but the reality is a bit too much for me to handle.

First thing is, this Cox kid needs an ED intervention pronto.

Posted by: mrs at 07/13/07 10:54 AM | Reply
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this guy is fucked up

Posted by: hello at 07/13/07 11:01 AM | Reply
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believe it or not, someone at MTV posted a detailed review.

http://yourhereblog.mtv.com/2007/07/12/deerhunter-deliver-unforgettable-night-of-music-monologues-and-aaliyah-covers/#more-158

and ps - the singer has a medical condition so let's try and keep the "eat a sandwich" jokes to a minimum.

Posted by: rmascus at 07/13/07 11:05 AM | Reply
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It was historic indeed.

Posted by: Eduardo at 07/13/07 11:10 AM | Reply
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The show last night at the ICA in Boston was amazing!!! Everyone seemed to enjoyed Bradford Cox's banter. Actually he was quite funny. But the music....wow.

Posted by: windupbird at 07/13/07 11:15 AM | Reply
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Rmascus, if you're referring to me, I'm not kidding. If the medical condition is an ED, hopefully he's getting help for it. If it's a biological medical condition, same thing.

Posted by: mrs at 07/13/07 11:17 AM | Reply
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He has MARFAN SYNDROME... there is no help for it.

Gawsh. Same disease as Lincoln purportedly had.

Posted by: jason at 07/13/07 11:23 AM | Reply
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sorry mrs - wasn't about you. just wanted to put that out there early in the thread to curb any potential "woah! that guy's anorexic!" comments i'm sick of reading. and i got a slight whiff of that in the mtv recap.

Posted by: rmascus at 07/13/07 11:27 AM | Reply
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mrs: The only medical condition that comes to my mind when I see "ED" is erectile dysfunction. Is that what you mean?

Posted by: V. Agra at 07/13/07 12:31 PM | Reply
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V. Agra - Way to pimp yourself, lol. Or should it be Vi?
This ED would be "eating disorder".

Posted by: mrs at 07/13/07 2:37 PM | Reply
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is this guy anorexic or something? eat a sandwich for fuck's sake!

Posted by: skinnyslim at 07/13/07 3:22 PM | Reply
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HEY MAN KEEP THOSE JOKES TO A MINIMUM

Posted by: grover at 07/13/07 6:07 PM | Reply
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i wonder if his band hates him?

Posted by: alvysinger at 07/13/07 6:18 PM | Reply
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I wonder if his band hates melody

Posted by: Eddison at 07/13/07 6:54 PM | Reply
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If only he ATE his band members

Posted by: james at 07/13/07 8:04 PM | Reply
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Damnit I want to see this band playing live right now, sandwich jokes or not.. Europe awaits you, Deerhunter..

Posted by: rICHIE at 07/13/07 8:56 PM | Reply
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the write-up and picture scream "downward spiral" or "slow, dark descent", or any cliche you could cull from Behind the Music.

Posted by: Christopher at 07/14/07 12:28 AM | Reply
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once again i can't believe how many idiots clog the message boards when Deerhunter come up. i was at the show, it was musically amazing and Bradford's end-of-set banter was funny and honest.

like SOOO many people said before the assholes started with the eating disorder crap - HE HAS MARFAN'S SYNDROME, look it up, learn something and then go back to jerking off about Editors or some other crap band

Posted by: Brendan at 07/14/07 1:25 AM | Reply
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i saw deerhunter at the echo a few months back........my ears will still not forgive me.

Posted by: Vinny at 07/14/07 3:02 PM | Reply
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Why do I dream so often of his body when his body will decay?
His flesh will be fluorescent grey

how beautiful is that?

Posted by: matt P at 07/14/07 8:25 PM | Reply
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How do you people like this fucking garbage ? JESUS. Indie rock snobs need a shit filter.

Posted by: 226 at 07/14/07 8:38 PM | Reply
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your mom needs a shit filter!

..

..... ZING!!

Posted by: matt P at 07/14/07 9:37 PM | Reply
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He doesn't have an eating disorder he has marfan's syndrome. I like the songs on the album but the atmospheric songs are just too blah for me. Cryptograms the song is top notch. I really wish I'd seen this show. All this mess lately is actually pretty interesting. You don't see this kind of drama with most bands and to me this is rock n roll.

Posted by: LiquidHeaven at 07/17/07 1:22 PM | Reply
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I saw them in San Francisco, they opened for the Ponys.

during the whole show, the bassist was ramming the head of his guitar into the other players, seemed that he was annoying them...they ended the show by falling all over each other.

despite some sound issues, the singer's mic wasn't quite loud enough...it was a good set.

psych meltdown and droning vocal loops..

I'll certainly see them again.

Posted by: Gary at 07/18/07 5:30 PM | Reply
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I was told that Deerhunter and ILAD were planning unannounced Southeast shows for September. Is it true that there were shows in the works before the mugging occurred?

I saw ILAD a couple of weeks ago. Holy sh_t. Possibly underdog album of the year?

Posted by: Carlton Heston at 07/31/07 11:02 AM | Reply
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