Photo c/o The Black Cat website

The last time that San Francisco art-rockers Deerhoof came through D.C., the band’s members switched instruments, covered Beck, goofed off and gave the audience one of the longest and most awkward mid-set speeches to ever grace the stage of the 9:30 Club. Also, they deftly played high-energy and dissonant songs amidst all the silliness. However, it was the silliness that made us want to interview drummer (and giver of aforementioned long, awkward speech) Greg Saunier.

Because interviews are so passé, we opted, in Warholian fashion, to outsource the job of inquisitor to Jess Matthews of opener America Hearts. We hoped for the best when we asked Matthews and Saunier to ask each other five questions and we got—well, let’s just say art-punk slapstick is a very singular niche genre.

Jess Matthews asks Greg Saunier:

There are several videos for the new album, Breakup Song, a full album video and videos from each band member; I particularly like the shot of you drumming on the ladder in time with the man using it to saw on a door on the street in Hong Kong. Is the number of breakup videos meant to highlight our ability as a society to document our travels, our cats, and our meals, but not our breakups? 

Jess, you shouldn’t have. My modesty, please. Deerhoof is never meant to be about society, as we do not actually believe in society and never have. The record documents my breakup. This interview documents my meal.

You all recently toured in Japan, Indonesia, and Australia. As a band, do you feel taller, more tanned, or do your teeth seem whiter?


Mostly we went to play concerts but now that you mention it Jess, my teeth DO seem whiter. 

I think the frenetic energy in the new record has an especially fun quality —particularly the song, “We Do Parties.” What would a “Deerhoof Party” be like?


Don’t play dumb, darlin’. Last time we did a party in D.C. you were the guest of honor all done up in a white work suit. I’m surprised that your favorite song wasn’t “Zero Seconds Pause,” because that’s the one I lifted off of Edie Sedgwick.

Last time I saw you, you lost a bet with me about the presence of black angel statues on the street in Lille, France. Are you able to wager again or is it still too soon?
 

Kiddo, that bet was about Prague, not Lille. I’ll bet you if you care to make it more interesting. [Tonight] can’t come soon enough. I’ll bet you my Danelectro guitar against your Danelectro guitar.

Are you prepared to bring it on Wednesday night? What should we expect?
 
Total and utter preparedness, seven new songs, three new old songs, 13 old old songs, and the best chips and salsa in any D.C. rock club.

Greg Saunier asks Jess Matthews:

When I bet you my Danelectro vs your Danelectro, do you actually have a Danelectro? Perhaps it was a Silvertone. Only a total guitar geek would know the difference, and I am but a partial guitar geek. What do you say we go credits to navy beans instead?

I have a Silvertone. Because I play a plastic guitar that was sold in Sears catalogs in the ’60s, I have a better grasp of your Star Trek references than your distinguishing guitar questions.  
 
When you interviewed me for your blog, why did you edit out every single one of my laughs? 

The idea of Hear is Why is to capture moments of inspiration—when there is no song and then suddenly there is an idea and then a group of people working together. So, I like to have the song’s author just telling the story of those moments with no outside “interviewer” element. 

Because I was on the phone with you, there is a sort of interesting overheard quality to yours. I wasn’t able to contain the power of all of your laughs, but I thought that minimizing them made the story sound more inspiring/less sinister.  
 
More importantly, when you interviewed me for your blog why did you edit every single one of your laughs?

That was more straightforward. 
 
To what extent are you aware that I still have Chantal’s email address written on my shoe?

Do you mean Carla [Elliott, of Edie Sedgwick]? You have impressive shoe hygiene, but your freestyle Roledexing skills will, I think, continue to grow.  
 
I am from Columbia, Md.?

Unclear. Do you know Dave Grohl? I bet that you do. 

America Hearts and Dope Body open for Deerhoof tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW). Tickets $15.