Underground Railroad, Deerhoof/ULU/03/12/08

Before we can be hit with some wonderfully bizarre mix of Japanese and American pop tonight ATP are presenting the ULU’s sold out crowd with Underground Railroad who are a three piece currently residing in London via Paris which suggests the effortless cool the three piece positively ooze on stage tonight. The band tear through a collection of songs sounding like Sonic Youth covering The Velvet Underground with weird and noisy elements of bands like Liars and Deerhunter making choice appearances throughout. They perform with vigor and passion yet underneath their messy, dirty sound the trio stay remarkably tight throughout the show. The band deliver a set which is short enough to leave you intrigued but long enough to suggest that they’re sitting on a substantial body of pretty exciting material. To end, the trio break down into a whirl of filthy and furious playing which, for ten minutes, completely consumes the venue with a sound that is unbelievably created by just three people. Underground Railroad show themselves to be a massive and chaotic live experience and an truly exciting band on record.

Following on from the scuzzy rocky sound of Underground Railroad is the shiny, pristine sounds of tonight’s main attraction, Deerhoof. The four piece, who currently call San Francisco home, swiftly take to the stage and each member is illuminated in their own spotlight. Without any pleasantries with the audience the band immediately launch into a song and the impeccably clear sound rings through the room, which despite being a university union has proven it’s worth as a music venue tonight. All is takes is a few moments and the die hard Deerhoof fans taking up the front of the crowd are happily in their element dancing and singing along to the band’s unique brand of experimental pop and a few songs in with single ‘The Perfect Me’ the band have the audience following their lead turning the gig into what feels like an office christmas party from another planet.

Although the set spans the band’s wide recording career the majority of tracks are taken from their last two releases which gives the show a smooth flow and makes it more audience friendly as these certainly contain the band’s most well known material. The four piece play together with cheerful enthusiasm making their live show complete the happy and playful image their music evokes. Deerhoof’s live performance is perhaps not as strange as their recordings may suggest but tonight’s show, with it’s rolling performance, dancing and lights, most certainly had their mark all over it.

Underground Railroad-Myspace

Deerhoof-Myspace