Destroyer

I am going to see Destroyer tomorrow night in Boston. Has anyone seen them in recent years? Am I in for a good show? I only saw them once about 8 years ago, and thought they were simply a side project of The New Pornographers. They were so arty and alienating to the crowd I sort of enjoyed it, but mostly laughed quietly to myself. In the meantime Dan Bejar and company have released several albums including 2 of my favorite records of all time, Kaputt and Destoyers Rubies. (Well, Kaputt is not exactly one of my all-time favorites but Rubies definitely is.)

Destroyer makes consistently interesting, often great, records. So in that sense I'm jealous.

That said, I saw Destroyer a few years ago at SXSW when Bejar was being backed by...Frog Eyes? Wolf Eyes? Wolf Parade? Some damn indie rock band. Anyway, it was a lousy performance. They were sloppy and Bejar seemed like he really didn't give a shit. But SXSW brings that out in some performers.

A couple of years later I saw Bejar play solo at Fun Fun Fun Fest. Without the color a good band provides him, he's not very interesting onstage. I left a few songs in.

I'm hoping you'll report back that's he's got a great band and it was a transcendent night. But my past experience has indicated that I should stick to the records.

I've not seen Destroyer recently - I saw them open for New Pornographers on the same tour that Nosepail probably saw them on. I did enjoy the fact that Bejar seemed like the human embodiment of Pepe le Pew for the entire show.

I somehow overlooked 2008's Trouble In Dreams when praising Destroyer's recent work. I didnt like it at first listen back when it came out, but I am brushing up today for the concert tonight. This album has some absolute A+ tunes on it: I have been listening to My Favorite Year over and over and over again today. Hope Bejar gives a shit tonight and delivers a good show.

I've never been able to get past Bejar's uncanny vocal resemblance to Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart long enough to listen to a Destroyer album all the way through. It's less of an issue for me on the Pornographers albums, but the songs he sings are the ones I like the least. Hope it's a good show though!

Hey Nose, Can you suggest a top ten Destroyer song list? I only have Kaputt and liked it. Poor in Love was one of my faves.

Sure!

Rubies (a 10 minute masterpiece!)
My Favorite Year
3000 Flowers
My Favorite Year
The Sublimation Hour
European Oils
Chinatown
Painter In My Pocket
Leave Me Alone (New Order cover)
The Bad Arts
It's Gonna Take an Airplane

And my 3 favorite of Bejar's NP songs:
Myriad Harbor
Chump Change
Jackie

Hope this helps!



Post Edited (06-20-12 19:19)

Concert was fabulous. The setlist was heavy on Kaputt and Destoyer's Rubies, which is a good thing. Those Kaputt songs sounded unbelievably lush. They have a full time saxophone/flute player along with a guy who plays heavily processed trumpet and a synth player. THose guys layed down a gorgeous bed of Maj7th chords which sounded as good as the record. The guitarist for Destroyer deserves some kind of award for creating tasty melodic licks. Song after song, album after album, he writes great lines which really make the song.

Bejar was in good vocal shape also, spitting out his talk-sung poetry with aplomb. I dont think he is contemptuous of live performance. My theory is that he has just cultivated this indolent, tortured-artist, European air for so long, that's what he is now, and it just sometimes looks like he doesnt give a shit. During instrumental breaks, he would immediately put the mic back in the stand, sit down on the stage, and take a few slugs from his Heinkens until he was required to get up and sing again. Now, there's a man who takes full advantage of his free drink coupons!

The crowd was really into it. After the show there was good business at the merch table. The numerous indie geeks there couldnt resist the $25 double LP of Destroyers Rubies which was labelled "last box of red vinyl existing - with 20 minute of additional bonus material". I was strongly tempted but settled for a more modest $15 CD of Your Blues.



Post Edited (06-21-12 15:11)

Good to hear!

I just saw Destroyer last week in Iowa City. Great show. I agree that their live sound was just huge. The two guys who played horns really made those songs come alive. Plus I scored the RSD vinyl of Rubies at the merch table....

I missed them in Seattle, AND I missed them in Colorado. Ohhh, the traveling life....