Only on the rarest of occasions am I lured out to a bar on a Monday night. But, on this particular Monday eve, 90’s indie-rock noise band Deerhoof’s beckon was one not to be ignored. Promoting their new album ‘Breakup Song’, with two of Canberra’s most talented indie rock acts TV Colours and Golden Blond as supporting acts, Deerhoof made going out on this school-night totally valid.
All the way from the USA, being described as one of the most influential indie bands from the mid-90’s, Deerhoof succeeded in bringing to Canberra that quintessential and nostalgic 90s state of mind. And as the awesomely awkward 90s movement creeps back into Canberra’s fashion palette, Deerhoof’s grungy beats arrived at Transit Bar not a moment too soon.
As I planted myself into one of Transit Bar’s comfy ten-metre-long couches and local indie-rock group and super talents TV Colours started their set, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate band to open up the night. With a unique and achingly cool sound, TV Colour’s heavy drums and passionate vocals, reminding me of those of indie punk band Eddy Current Suppression Ring, were all that and a bag of chips (90s speak for ‘good’).
Curious, as Golden Blonde set up their electro equipment, as I was unfamiliar with their sound, I wasn’t surprised when the room welcomed the futuristic hymns of this band, whose profound beats and smooth vocals echoed those of alternative rock kings, Radiohead.
Then, being named by The New York Times as “one of the most original rock bands to have come along in the last decade”, I could see why by nine-thirty, Deerhoof’s keen audience were ready to kick some air and dance like it was 1995.
Mixing up soft pop-like vocals of the ‘uber-cool’ lead singer Satomi Matsuzaki with heavy drum and guitar intermissions, the band’s disjointed arrangements somehow made sense, along with making me want to flip my head around like Willow Smith.
With a sound difficult to sort into any decipherable genre, it was refreshing to hear a band whose distinctive and influential tunes resinate in so many of my favourite alternative rock bands such as The Flaming Lips and Sleigh Bells.
By some means, managing to stick to my ‘no head-banging on a Monday’ rule, I enjoyed every minute of the evening. As well as being wowed by Canberra’s local acts, I was excited to see the quality and calibre of international acts drifting through Canberra’s underground music venues is so strong. Keep up the good work, Canberra!
