Deerhunter

As a newer fan of Deerhunter I was worried the show might not be worth the ticket and the drive into town. As it turned out I was worried for nothing. The first opener wasn't bad, the second opener rocked out in an upbeat but mellow fashion, then the kings of mellow rock (Deerhunter) got on stage and failed to disappoint. Bradford Cox and company brought it on with a ton of tracks from their newest record Halcyon Digest, while mixing it up with older tracks from Microcastle and Cryptograms. Deerhunter was very interactive with audience, they made jokes and were very entertaining in between songs. Super cool band, they sound awesome live, check em out!

I've been a fan of this band for a while so I had very high expectations going into it, and they surpassed all of my expectations. They had a great mix of songs and had an awesome balance of playing songs the audience wants to hear and throwing in their own flair with improv. Bradford Cox is so funny and charming in person too!

This performance was actually epic. Can't beat that.

The night had moments of greatness, but the venue is just awful. Wiltern has terrible sight lines, the sound was muffled, it was too hot (turn on the AC for Christ sakes!), and beers are $16! I will definitely think twice about seeing at show at the Wiltern from now on. Aside from Bradford Cox, the Deerhunter band members seemed disinterested, and disengaged.

I like Deerhunter and Deerhunter LOVES their delay peddles. The overlapping echoes from the guitars and vocals got in the way of their amazing songs. Also, the crowd was dead.

The playlist may have been solid but the sound was terrible. Definitely too loud with awful sound mixing and strong echoes which didn't help the already terrible concert. Deerhunter has some really beautiful and intimate songs but this night's depictions were overly aggressive, distorted and violent. It was an audio assault from a band who's (albums) I know and love. All in all very disappointing - I highly recommend their albums, but definitely not their live performances.

I loved the Deerhunter album. But hated their performance. They seemed to have no awareness nor respect for their audience. They only played for themselves. They took the stage well over an hour after the previous artist. No apologies. A short set. Their obligatory encore was almost as long and it didn't appear as if anyone wanted them to come back. I will continue to get their albums but will never pay to see them live again.

Unbelievably great. Fluorescent Grey and Nothing Ever Happened were particularly intense as well.

So I thought the opening bands wouldn't be too bad, I thought wrong! Casino vs. Japan, ugh.. the first thing the guy said (and this is only 1 guy by himself) was to not look at him. He said we should close our eyes or look at the floor. Then it was like an earthquake simulator. Just dumb beats, no melody, no lyrics, no nothing, Then High Places. I saw they had instruments, therefore I thought they had a lil bit of talent, again, I thought wrong! Every song was just about the same with some obnoxious beats on the side. FINALLY Deerhunter. THey were amazing, stupendous, magnificent! THey had actual musicians, lyrics, melodies. They were the only good part of the concert. If you can stand the 2 first bands, then it may have been worth it.

Deerhunter is an amazing act unbelievably talented

Their music was so great live! They rocked harder live then on their CD s\u2026fantastic show!

this band has got it's finger on the pulse of something new and exciting. haven't felt this way about music in a while. the set was flawless and seamless. love how they'd transition songs into each other. great mix of older and new tunes...need i say more. if you weren't there, then you weren't a part of that history, now were you?

i've seen deerhunter bout 3 times and this was my favorite... they were ON IT! hearing the new material off halcyon digest mixed with the rest of their catalog how it flows how it fits in with everything else just makes ya realize how amazing this band is...BRAVO!

I have mixed feelings about this venue. I've been to shows here that have sounded pretty damn good (Blind Pilot, Mountain Goats) but have also been to shows where the sound was just murky, with details totally buried in the mix (Doves, Swervedriver). This was probably the problem Brandon Cox was having as after about three murky sounding songs he laid into the sound tech and threw a rather lengthy tantrum about the sound. The sound did improve somewhat for the rest of the show but there were still some songs that just didn't sound all that great. The band puts on a great show, though, they were very tight, and Cox has an amazing voice. His quirky stage persona coupled with his prima donna ways do make for a compelling performance overall. Too bad about the sound, though, and I'm sure he'd agree.

Going into the show, I was especially excited to see Bradford Cox on stage, and he certainly didn't disappoint. He was absolutely hilarious, and the performance itself was awesome too. They play a much more noise rock oriented set than I was expecting, it was much louder than their albums, but they pulled it off very well.

Deerhunter puts on such a great live show! Always great.

This was a fantastic show. Their energy and talent were palpable. My does the band know how to put on a good time - they have brilliant synergy, spirit, and flawless execution. If ever you are able to go to a Deerhunter show, you are in for an unforgettable experience.

Great venue for a great band such as Deerhunter! Easy access up to balcony with seating. Or you can stand by stage and there are seat rows back from stage about 35'. Plus, side platforms on main floor of theatre to stand on. Nice Atlanta folk in attendance so all was great. There is an outside smoking alley, a concession area in lobby for pizza and also a full bar. Bathrooms upstairs in back of balcony. Didn't notice main floor bathrooms. There is also a smaller limited bar upstairs.

Tittle says it all. I'm guessing because their parents were in attendance it threw of the mono. Was hoping for something akin to their much publicized performances of Helicopter ala Banaroo et al. Had to come home and play the Interface performance so my wife didn't think I'd tricked her into a noise fest (which I like and she doesn't). She doesn't understand Karen O's comment about their live performance. Have to say I'd agree with her based on what I saw. Bit of a buzzkill.

A superb Brandon Cox double-header, Atlas Sound and Deerhunter. The former's live set (Cox solo) sounded very ambient electronica, rather like Aphex Twin, with few recognizable tunes, but great throughout. Deerhunter live are superb; just wish they'd played "Monomania"!

There are lots of folks who continue to write, blog and otherwise opine that "rock" is dead. Listen to the pop stations these days and it is easy to get sucked into to that opinion. Katy Perry's "Roar" plays more like a lamb, than lion. Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke are remembered more for their "dancing" than the Marvin Gaye cover they "sang" at last months VMA's. This space continues to seek out and (hooray!) find bands who are more concerned with crafting songs, playing guitars and leaving their rabid fan base wanting more. Some, like Georgia based, but New York raised, Deerhunter, remain humbled and happy to simply play in front of an audience receptive and beyond willing to hear what they have to offer. Singer/Guitarist/Frontman Bradford Cox said as much half way through their fast paced and electric show last Thursday night. "We may be from Georgia, but in many ways we call New York City our home" he stated toward the middle of their hour and half set. Or something very similar to that. They recorded all but one of their 6 records here, including newest release Monomania. The Webster Hall show last week served as one of the final gigs of the tour. Call it a homecoming of sorts. Truth be told Cox is a mystery. What little I read of him prior to the show did not prepare me for his arrival on stage. Note, this is the second show in the past few months where the leading "man" was dressed as a woman. Laura Jane Grace played Bowery not that long ago. It should be noted that Laura is transgender and Cox has described himself as both gay and asexual. It's all good, which makes the NYC shows/audiences so freaking cool. To the many kids in attendance his dress and wig were not a big deal. What is more alarming is Cox's weight, which comes as a result of Marfan syndrome. His affliction, which is a genetic defect causing long limbs, thin fingers and an overall narrow body type, is what kept him away from the schoolyard as a kid. His introverted personality led him to a fondness for music and an outlet for all the harms and torments associated with growing up "different." It is said he related to Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands... but that could simply be Wikipedia inter-web fiction. It was four or five songs in, most likely during the eerily wonderful "Helicopter" from 2010's Halycon Digest, that Cox's health became less a concern. He was at ease and relaxed. His voice was crisp and emphatic. On stage nothing else matters. He had a packed house in front of him and a smile on his face. Deerhunter plays rock and roll music. 3 guitars, a bass and drum kit is all you are getting. Cox has a deft touch with mixing new and old. "Revival" and their newest single "Back to the Middle" could be mistaken for 1970s roots rock. "Desire Lines", the only song NOT sung by Cox that evening (handled most capably by Lockett Pundt), is a celebration of psych rock with an emphasis on guitar jamming. Cox and Pundt traded riffs for 6 or 7 minutes and it could have gone on far longer with no arguments from anyone. It is, simply put, a terrific rock song. It was all high energy and plenty of happy vibes. Do I need to see them again? Probably not. But for a moment, it was joy. Judgemental homophobia... Syrian conflicts... terrorism in Kenyan malls...UN General Assemblies... Government shut downs... to hell with all that. This week has been very difficult and writing this review has been a challenge, albeit trivial. My community is stinging from the loss of a young father (43) to the horror that is cancer. He leaves a loving wife, 4 children and the many wonders of "what if?" Plenty of people talk of "living each day like its your last." How many of us really do it? Find what you are passionate about and dive in head first. One of these days and it won't be long... it may all be over. Much love C.A.C. You will be missed. Deerhunter, Webster Hall, 9.19.13. Yeah, that is Bradford Cox in a lovely dress and wig. Deerhunter at Webster Hall, Setlist 9.19.13 Octet Neon Junkyard Don't Cry Revival Like New Desire Lines Hazel St T.H.M. Rainwater Cassette Exchange The Missing Helicopter Sleepwalking Back to the Middle Monomania Twilight at Carbon Lake Encore: Cover Me (Slowly) Agoraphobia He Would Have Laughed

Deerhunter is freaking amazing live. Go see them. 100% worth it.

I can say a lot of stuff about how good this band is live, but you should just go see them.

Deerhunter continues to be a great live act and with the straight ahead rock of Monomania the set has a lot of compelling changes of pace.

Bradford Cox is quite the showman, with a great band to back him up.

Deer hunter was amazing, unfortunately we missed the opening act Crystal Stilts & part of Deer Hunter set because they went on way earlier than the night before. Bought the tickets for Crystal Stilts. Fortunately Deer Hunter didn't dissapoint. It would be nice if set times were released in advance so you can plan when to get there.

Albums=AWESOME! Live= UNFORGETTABLE! amazing show!

I give the performance from Deerhunter an A grade. They were really high energy, sounded great and got the crowd involved (which in my experience is less hit than miss in New York). They also, refreshingly, played a really balanced mix of songs from all four of their albums rather than playing primarily from their new album. Overall they were great. Only reason for the four stars is the opening band, Crystal Stilts, who I had expectations for and is a pretty well known and regarded band. Dude...come on. The singer doesn't play an instrument AND sings really poorly. I mean like bad. That was kind of a bummer but Deerhunter definitely made the show worthwhile.

one of the best live bands around - i can count this one as my top two shows of the year and i've seen at least 35 bands so far

Great venue. Deerhunter played a quality show but does it need to start at 11:00 on a Tuesday.

Deerhunter is one of my fav bands and they played amazing songs from their current and previous albums at Royale.

The venue was great, and Deerhunter put on a good show, but it was ruined by the sound being so poorly done. I don't just mean that it was loud or had a lot of feedback, but the distortion was excessive to the point where the songs were unrecognizable. I think the opening acts used the venue's sound person, and they sounded okay, but Deerhunter's sound guy was horrible.

I thought I was seeing The Dear Hunter ( the color spectrum guys from RI). My bad. The opening band and these guys made a good night out, just a little disappointed I didn't see The Dear Hunter ( who would have thought there are two bands with such simillar names.

I love Deerhunters Halcyon Digest album - was expecting to hear a bit more from that but unfortunately didn't!

I love this band and their music. Perfect setlist - loved their jamming. One issue - the sound was so over mixed and soooo loud that it was distorted beyond recognition. I don't expect to hear CD perfect reproduction at a live show but this noise level would have been nice for an outdoor venue not the tiny Webster Hall. When I asked the head sound tech about it (the loudness to the point of total distortion) he said, "they're a loud fucking band - it's kind of the point". I disagree. On their records some of their most beautiful songs are not loud noise rock. Anyway...I'm an old guy so maybe it was me - though my 24-year-old son agreed with me. Would love to see them again and will return to Webster.

After reading a few of the LA show reviews I felt compelled to write my own review and hope that the LA concert goers give this band another try. I have seen thousands of shows in my time and this was probably top 5. I saw them just a few nights ago and I would say that it is still taking some time to fully set in. They opened with the song "Florescent Grey" and did a much darker, longer, incredible version of the song. It sort of opened abruptly by turning your entire body and mind into mush. The band is sort of more "mainstream," if that is the proper word for it, on the album Halcyon Digest, a bit softer, mellow, brighter (esp on songs like Helicopter). They kept with a darker, older, theme and took it to a place I never expected and never thought I would hope for from these gents. The singer channeled Ian Curtis for sure and at times I felt like I was listening to the opening of a Black Angels show. His stage presence was impressive for such a frail man and I will never judge a book by its cover. All I can say is a melange of Florescent Grey, Earthquake, White Ink, and a darkness that they can't delineate on any of their albums, this is a band DEFINITELY worth seeing live.

What a disappointment. Their album, Halcyon Days is an incredible effort, but they're simply not able to replicate it live. Their playing was loose, inconsistent and uninspired. After opening the show with 4 songs no one in the audience had ever heard - which consisted of screaming and off tempo playing - they lost me for the remainder of the show. Bottom line - they suck live.

Webster Hall is one of my favorite venues for bands like this. Bradford Cox and Deerhunter put on a superb show. They went from tune to tune without breaking sound at all. One after another was fired out of the PA system with such spectacular precision, I was captivated the entire hour and a half that they played. I was spellbound by the sound reverberating through the Hall. I didn't want them to stop. Everyone was feeling it and grooving almost like one big hypnotized monster. I can't wait to see them again.

Bradford Cox is my man crush. He is awesome. His stage presence is undeniable. The songs were awesome. They just dragged a few songs out a little too long without doing much to them. That's why only 4 stars. Still a concert not to miss if you love bradford.

My brother, who has seen Deerhunter 2 or 3 times before, was right that they provide a great live performance. I've never listened that much to Deerhunter, but after seeing them at Webster Hall, I have a whole new respect for them and enjoyment of their music. And I thank the management of Webster for allowing me to sit on the speakers near the front of the stage.

The show was awesome. Although the sound at times wasn't always key at the venue but not the band's fault. They were supposed to come on at 10:00pm but didn't come on until 10:30pm. The crowd was a little anxious.

Deerhunter will take you to Deerhunter Heaven and your life will never be the same again ! !! If You must, sell your first born to see this guys, you will not regret it.

Incredible show but I only gave it 4 stars because the Monday show was a 5 star affair.

just sorry i didn't have a ticket for their second show at webster hall last night - had a great time and the music was what i expected - Bradford Cox is a gentle giant and he and the band were terrific

Deerhunter.......well what can I say. I was really excited about attending the show, I think Halycyon Digest is one of, if not the best album of the year. However things got off to a rocky start when the band decided to make everybody wait almost an hour before they took the stage! How arrogant and self indulgent can a band be? The stage was cleared 10 minutes after opening act the Dunes played their last song. So why make your own fans wait an hour?! The show itself was OK, pacing was labored at best. Lot's of 7 minute+ exercises in feedback. Don't get me wrong Deerhunter are a definite up and coming band, their songs are great. The band played well, and the band definitely have the charisma to be spectacular. However someone needs to tell them they are not there yet. So don't act like it.