Photo by Valerie Paschall

Deerhunter has grown up a lot in the past three years. Since emerging in 2007, they’ve gone from upstart psych-rockers with the barest semblance of control to established compatriots of current indie rock greats who consistently put out top quality material. Tuesday night was their first real opportunity in D.C. to demonstrate this development — they’ve previously only made it to the 9:30 Club as openers, and their last time headlining a major room came on the same night as something just a wee bit more important.

As such, the bulk of their set came from this year’s Halcyon Digest. Halcyon Digest has neither the sinister edge of 2007’s Cryptograms, nor much of the melancholia that continues on 2008’s Microcastle — but it is a very strong and solid album full of excellent musicianship with the hazy dream-like overtones that has always defined the band. Their set was similarly strong and solid, highlighting their new-found strengths, rather than the awkward dialogue or out-of-control antics that had previously defined their shows.