[Photo courtesy of Deafheaven]
Going to a Deafheaven show is a pretty extra experience. There’s something about the combination of post-rock and metal that really brings out the drama in a crowd. The post-rock aspect of Deafheaven brings a certain type of fan, and the metal aspect brings a whole different type. Add into the mix some dudes who just want to mosh, and you’ve got a potentially dangerous combination, similar to the one fans encountered during the band’s show at Neumos on March 26th, 2017.
The first opener of the night was singer Emma Ruth Rundle. Her style of ambient music, fused with folk overtones, was a pretty relaxing start to the show. Emma Ruth Rundle has a sweet, droning voice that shines in contrast with the bleak background of her guitar melodies. During the show, Emma Ruth Rundle switched guitars and tuned ‘em three times, showcasing her ability to play in a variety of musical sounds without losing her signature tone. She had a hard time keeping the attention of some of the Deafheaven fans who came specifically to mosh, which was a shame because her music was, albeit perhaps not appropriate for the show, truly sweet.
Another interesting choice for an opener, This Will Destroy You played a set consisting of solely instrumentals, with layers upon layers of lush guitar melodies. This Will Destroy has a sound similar to Deafheaven, but it’s just a little quieter, and, well, no one is yelling over the music. Although amazing, their set seemed a little counterproductive to the show, as everyone was lost in a contemplative trace by the end. That being said, it was a smart pick, because even some of the rowdier Deafheaven fans quieted down for the set that successfully captivated us all.
Here we were, contemplating life and love after This Will Destroy You’s set, looking at some good music-memes on our phones to pass the time, when Deafheaven lead singer and personality extraordinaire George Clark walks out. Clark walked right over to those of us standing next to the stage, squatted down to our eye level, and said “Give it your all” before going back to sound check. It was a good prediction of what was to come. Deafheaven played through a good range of discography, especially considering their songs tend to be fairly long. The band notably played off their early Roads to Judah record a few times. The set picked up considerably when the band played “Sunbather” from their 2013 release of the same name. At this point, George Clark starting yelling, “Every one of you who knows this song: get up front,” and gestured with anger in his eyes.
After this, there was madness, and clearly some people came just because they knew there would be a mosh. That being said, there were multiple fights in the pit, someone passed out, and another person was just going around grabbing people by the throat. Meanwhile, shirtless dudes were plummeting off the stage in rapid succession, with a fair number of them falling to the ground because the crowd couldn’t keep up. In all of this there were probably about three females, and as a small female, I was often shepherded to the front, or asked, “Do you want to stand behind me?” Short answer: no, I do not. I can handle myself, thanks. Long answer: I can hardly blame Clark’s persona or the rest of Deafheaven for their audience, as they did make an effort to keep the crowd respectful, but having to struggle with the “hero boy” fan was frustrating and insulting. Luckily, a few steps back and to my right were respectful fans who were there to enjoy the music, and to rally to the closing song of the night, “The Pecan Tree.”
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JULIA OLSON | HEY NOW | KXSU Head Reporter