POP TARTS SUCK TOASTED BLOG

The Deathset @ Piano's 10/16 (CMJ '07 Day Two)

Whether it was spilled on the floor or injested by their insane fans, red bull and vodka seemed to be a theme that hung over The Deathset's performance at Piano's this afternoon. The beverage seemed to be on everyone's breath, permeating the atmosphere and delivering jolts of energy to everyone in the room.

With their set-up in the middle of the floor The Deathset lived up to every bit of anticipation I had in waiting to see them here. Last time I saw the band they were on the big stage at the South Street Seaport, and though it was a great performance it was certainly lacking something. As it turns out that something was intimacy.

Standing directly next to Johnny Siera the entire set the band played a shit load of their songs, with their synths playing on a non-stop tape player while the drummer and the two actual members of The Deathset did their best to demolish the wall between music and noise. The crowd was frantic, slipping and sliding on the spilled drinks, lifting the band into the air, and flailing about like a bunch of drunken 10-year olds on pogo sticks. It was an insane performance that rarely paused to take a breath, and will certainly be one of the most talked about performances of the week.

At one point a fan yelled out to the band "You sound fucking awesome!" to which Johnny replied, "No we don't, we're the fucking Deathset!", truer words may never have been spoken. It's hard to hear bits and pieces of the bands music live, the vocals are screamed through mostly broken and useless microphones, the guitars are wailing and loaded with so much feedback it could make Sonic Youth complain, and the sampled sounds sound awful coming through the beat up old player they use. But with the pounding rhythms of a drummer and all the amps turned up as high as they go the band make up for their lack of live musicianship with an energy that cannot be topped.

Knowing the words to the band's fast-paced, over the top songs may help you navigate your way through the craziness of their live show, as people are screaming them at the top of their lungs throughout, but the best bet is to just go with the flow. Lose yourself in the beat, dance around like a maniac, and enjoy the simplicity of the muical noise, and you are sure to have a fucking awesome time seeing this band.