The Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000

Starfucker

by on Oct.29, 2008, under Music, Washington DC

Starfucker in DCStarfucker live at The Red & The Black. Washington DC.
October 17, 2008.

Several weeks ago I was in Washington DC on a house hunting trip. Coincidentally, Portland electro-pop-rockers, Starfucker, were also in town. Starfucker, one of the best band names ever, is touring the country right now in support of their self-titled debut record, Starfucker. Fortunately for everyone, Starfucker’s music is just as (if not more) fun than saying the name of their band (Starfucker).

The Red & The BlackThe Red & The Black. Washington DC.


I hopped in a cab on Friday night and took off for The Red & The Black. I told the cabbie to take me to H and 12th. Several minutes later we arrived at the heart of downtown DC. All I saw were tall buildings and fancy hotels. Not exactly where I thought a band like Starfucker would be playing. Oops—forgot to the tell the cabbie it was in the NE part of town. We were on a NW block. After consulting the BlueBerry, I advised the driver of the correct address. He responded, “are you sure, son?” Several blocks later I realized why he asked if I was sure. We were certainly heading into an “up and coming” neighborhood heavy on “charm.” I was not uncomfortable, but I doubt this driver picks up many fares at the Dupont Circle Embassy Suites and then heads to this part of town. Regardless, I made my way inside and immediately ordered a beer. The patrons at The Red & The Black could have easily been a crowd at Neumos—just like home, yall!

I-5: Starfucker sets up in Washington DCRepresenting the West Coast in DC.


Watching Starfucker setup was almost as interesting as watching them play. These guys had suitcases full of gear. Among the tangle of cords and wires were vintage electronics, tape decks, peddles, keyboards, power strips and two drum kits. The band simultaneously sound checked as they connected everything. The beginning of their show almost came as a surprise—Josh Hodges hit some kind of button on some sort of sampling device and started looping keyboard noise. The rest of the band was still plugging things in and tuning up. Josh kept layering the samples and suddenly the band all came in on a track from their record. And just like that, the show began.

StarfuckerStarfucker: Shawn Glassford, Ryan Bjornstad & Josh Hodges.


They played material from their new record, the aforementioned Starfucker. The album contains a lot of nuanced and carefully orchestrated tones, buzzes and pops. Starfucker cook their heavily textured sound from a vast array of musical and electronic instruments. It would be easy for a band to strip down such a carefully produced record for live performances. Much to my enjoyment, Starfucker’s live performance includes many of the signature low-fi apparatuses used on the record. They remain true to the tone of the record, yet are still able to inject a palpable amount of raw energy. Each band member skillfully switched between three or more instruments, usually during the same song too. Imagine three well-choreographed Dan Deacons fussing with knobs, switches, turn tables and instruments. And oh yeah—no fucking laptops. Watching Starfucker perform is like witnessing a live chemistry experiment with unknown ingredients. It is tough to keep track of what is going into the concoction, but the complexity only makes you appreciate the sweet result even more.

StarfuckerRyan Bjornstad.


I asked the guys after the show how they got such great sound. It is one thing to churn out an excellent performance, which Starfucker did; but if the mix is off, the whole show suffers. They told me they mix everything on-stage, and then just throw a line to the house PA. Larger venues with complex boards get a little trickier, but in places like The Red & The Black they are able to manipulate everything themselves.

Tape DeckShawn Glassford.


Personal highlights for me were “Pop Song” (of course) and “Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second.” The drum duet between Shawn and Josh toward the end of “Rawnald” was particularly powerful.

StarfuckerShawn Glassford.


Starfucker are still playing a few more dates this month. Catch them in Seattle at the Vera Project on Saturday, November 1. They are at The Hemlock in San Francisco on November 7, and Spaceland in LA on November 8. Check their MySpace to see their other West Coast dates. If you cannot see them live, be sure to pick up the record. I’ve been playing it for my friends over the last month. Whether driving home after a concert or just chilling on a Saturday night, it has been getting great reviews. Play it for your buddies and someone will undoubtedly say, “hey, I like this… who is it?”

Yep, then you get to say it.

“Starfucker.”

StarfuckerJosh Hodges.


Starfucker

Lots of GearLots of Gear.


Old School, Low-fi Mic

StarfuckerRyan Bjornstad.

StarfuckerJosh Hodges.

StarfuckerRyan Bjornstad.

StarfuckerShawn Glassford.

“Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” by Starfucker. From Pitchfork.tv.
Make sure to put this one on full screen.

//////////OPENING BAND COVERAGE//////////

Alpha CentauriThe Alpha Centauri.

The Alpha Centauri, of Minneapolis, were the first band on the bill. They played a tight, focussed set. It reminded me of what Radiohead should have sounded like, but instead they made Kid A and wasted a decade being weird (In Rainbows, phew).

Lance Conrad of Alpha CentauriLance Conrad of The Alpha Centauri.


//////////BONUS: RIDICULOUS MTV VIDEO ABOUT PORTLAND//////////

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