Deerhunter @ Black Cat

Although it seemed that Deerhunter’s confidence and energy level had taken some hits, the music itself suffered little if any blows. After opening the show with two unreleased tracks, the group started to retread familiar territory, playing the title track from Cryptograms, as well as highlights from that album such as “Strange Lights” and the majority of this year’s stellar EP Fluorescent Grey. Cox was not as mobile since he took over Mee’s guitar duties, but Cox’s reverb-drenched vocals and ambient noisy guitar still prompted a few freak-outs from the fans in the front row.

More interesting though was Deerhunter’s encore, which provided the most telling glimpse into the true character of the over-scrutinized frontman. Cox took the stage alone, saying that although the rest of the band was too tired, that he wanted to play a cover. After rejecting audience requests for Nirvana and Atlas (his solo project,) Cox obliged a request for The Germs and brought up two members of the audience and their opener Clockcleaner’s abrasive frontman, John Sharkey. Sharkey had been making enemies every time he’d opened his mouth and continued to do so as he finished the cover of “Forming” by thanking “the fat chick” for breaking the band’s tambourine. Nonetheless, it was a cool spontaneous moment that turned out surprisingly well.

This wasn’t the insane Deerhunter that had previously ravaged The Rock and Roll Hotel. The version on the mainstage at the Black Cat was shakier, more subdued and forced to fall back upon the music. But whereas any band with a less impressive catalog might have suffered mightily at such setbacks, Deerhunter’s brilliant song craftsmanship and ability to improvise allowed them to make it through a difficult show without too much visible suffering.