Firstly, Bowerbirds is returning to New York for two dates:
10-01 New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom
10-02 Brooklyn, NY - Studio B
Mark these down, because the last time they played Bowery Ballroom (video!), they were quite fabulous. Secondly, given that Dan Deacon’s shuffle iPod, which remains taped to a plastic banana, went missing during a show in London, we can assume his cousin’s friend in the State Department was able to get him a passport for his first ever trip to Europe. On his “missing beast”, he posted a MySpace bulletin saying he’s not mad, but he’d like it back.
Beth Tacular of Bowerbirds, on the other hand, claims her accordion was stolen by Gumby, and is offering a $500 reward for the Gumby, with or without the accordion.
A lot of love came Dan Deacon’s way at McCarren Pool. People offered him hugs, someone his sunglasses and another a bag of ice to keep cool (the first he warmly accepted, the last two politely declined). Most impressively, fans offered the kind of devotion that comes from being well-versed in all Deaconian traditions involving sing-alongs, chants and co-ordinated finger waves with stretched arms (whatever is the technical term for this particular move). I’m guessing it’s official: Dan Deacon is a movement!
While I was taking photos, Borchers was down in the pit:
As a 3rd tier opener for Octopus Project, Dan Deacon’s set was a fraction of what it usually is. But at about 5 feet from his signature, crowd-level table (equipped with his colorful gadgets), Deacon might as well have been a headlining act. The set was filled out by opener OCDJ, friend and fellow Baltimorite.
Oh no! Deacon’s been vulgarized. I don’t think it’s appropriate to blend winged Wham City dwellers with Khia’s top ho’ness. I’m not a fan of this mix, but Absorb the Lip Goss still rocks.
Dan Deacon will be headlining tonight’s Bikes Rock! free opening night show for The 2007 Bicycle Film Festival. Due to anticipated rain, the venue has been officially moved to Studio B. He’s also over at Pitchfork talking about the goodness of raw dairy and his favorite songs, and he’s got a new video out.
I forgot to post my favorite song last week, but absolutely buy this album! I couldn’t find a vinyl version online- Wildfire Wildfire has put it out and I bought one at the show for $12. And, of course, there are photos and videos from Saturday’s Mercury Lounge show.
Dan Deacon sets up his table in front of the stage and tapes a luminous green skull on a mic stand raised high. Amongst other things, his essential setup includes a midi controller, effects for his voice, a small collection of lights he syncs up with the music himself, a disc man he bought from Radioshack and other haphazard-looking electronics. As much as of an unorthodox musician he may appear to be, he’s got a natural way of defying awkwardness. It takes him no effort to connect with the audience and warmly welcome them into his universe as if this were his house party.
