Playbill: Deerhoof

By Olivia Flores Alvarez Fri., Mar. 9 2007 at 5:50 AM

Categories: Playbill

Ten years ago, a maniac of a drummer named Greg Saunier talked a seemingly timid woman, whom recently moved from Japan to San Francisco into joining his band. Forming the structure of what can seem like a structure-less band at times. They've never been concerned with convention; Deerhoof's music fluctuates, changing both tempo and style before you have a chance to a take in what just happened. Their songs remain as unpredictable as ever, a point they seem to strive after, in order to keep their music evolving. It's evolved so much their 2004 effort, Milk Man, has even inspired a Maine grade school to write and perform a ballet based on the album.

It's hard to refer to singer-bassist Satomi Matsuzaki, as anything but cute. She babbles lyrics that can't be construed as anything more than childish nonsense in a sweet high pitched voice that couldn't hurt a thing. But as soon as you' ve become aw stricken with her imp-like vocals, the trio explodes; guitars come crashing through your unprepared ears. And there is no way to prepare for such extremes, Deerhoof switches pace without warning in almost every song. As if they're playing a joke with our musical emotions, switching gears back and forth. At least it 's one of those jokes we still can enjoy, even when we 're the victim of it. -- Brett Koshkin

Deerhoof performs Saturday, March 10, at Numbers, 300 Westheimer, 713-629-3700.