photography by beth stirnaman

Check out live photos of the show

Back in 1994, the “good ‘ol days” of alternative music if you will, a little-known duo dubbed Deerhoof managed to rock the socks off the folks at Kill Rock Stars.  Fifteen years and ten studio albums later, this indie rock band has managed not only to keep music fans interested, but to keep them on their toes. When one thinks of seeing a live Deerhoof performance, a playful and twisted musical rollercoaster might come to mind. People trying to dig a little deeper to find a decent description of Deerhoof’s sound have come up with adjectives like “melodically skewed” and “bombastically schizophrenic.” Impervious to the limitations of monikers, their DIY sonic aura has set them apart from most current bands. And that is exactly what Deerhoof fans witnessed Friday, July 31st, at the Echoplex in Los Angeles.

From Satomi Matsuzaki’s perfectly subtle vocals and Greg Saunier’s mesmerizing beats to the dynamic presence of guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez, the elements weaved un-relentlessly through songs from their most recent release, Offend Maggie, as well as from their seemingly endless catalog of material. Something about seeing Deerhoof live intensifies the complexities of their music. The combined energy of the musicians and fans experiencing the music together creates an entirely new way to enjoy the band’s impressive and unique arrangement of sounds.

—Taylor Loftin