Starfucker + We All Have Hooks… + Deelay Ceelay - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR; Sept. 4, 2009)

The Doug Fir Lounge is usually not an all ages venue. Renowned for picking some of the best lineups in Portland and booking all those bands you love right before the get big, their swanky basement stage is generally confined to the over 21 demographic. Fortunately, for all the kids, they made an exception for a special early show with Starfucker, a Portland favorite among the younger generation.

Despite the fact that the music started around 5 p.m., there was a pretty decent turn out for openers Deelay Ceelay. The electronic/drumming duo injected their usual wordless energy into the shadowy cellar, throwing some toe-tapping, body-moving covers of T.I., the Beach Boys and a Jay-Z/Knife mash up in with their original work. Chris Lael Larson’s stunning video work perfectly complimented the bands music, adding an additional sensory layer to their set.

South Dakota outfit We All Have Hooks for Hands followed next. The music began well enough, but once their lead singer (Eli Show?) opened his mouth, things quickly went south. When other members of the band harmonized with him, it didn’t sound quite as bad, and their popish blend of folky rock ‘n roll was very tolerable. As Hooks continued to play, it became clear that the “dueling” drummers - two guys whose sets were set up facing each other so that they shared a kick drum - were the most interesting aspect of the band. It was only between these two that any kind of awareness between the band members was apparent. The rest of the band seemed to be lost in their own little worlds, or too busy concentrating on strumming out the correct guitar rift.

Starfucker ended the show and, by far, drew the largest crowd. The Portland quartet possessed a new kind of energy that had been less apparent at previous gigs. Their show seemed messier and less predictable, a welcome departure from some of the more tired feeling performances they’ve put on in the past. Starfucker clearly have some serious swagger on stage when they feel like it, and have a knack for working their audience into a frenzy. Members of the band bounced around on different instruments throughout the set, with Josh Hodges, Shawn Glassford and Keil Corcoran all drumming at once, while lead singer Ryan Biornstad toyed around with some turn tables and synths. Bionrstad also decided it would be an excellent idea to take a crowd dive at one point, much to the delight of sweaty teenagers moshing below. They closed out their set with an encore performance of “German Love,” off their self-titled debut, leaving a room full of amped up kids and sweaty parents on the sidelines.

DOWNLOAD: Starfucker - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (MP3) or Follow us for more Starfucker MP3s (Twitter)

Starfucker review to your liking? You'll sweat:

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Cut Off Your Hands - Waterloo Park (SXSW 2009; March 21)

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