Tuesday night’s Boris/SunnO)) show was underwhelming-ish; Boris was eager and infectious, but not what I expected — I was won over by their drone-rock vs. Melvins excursions, when I’d figured their boogie-MC5-Motorhead impressions would be the scratch for my itch. Either the sound was lousy, or the drummer was marching to a different bassist. Whoever mixes their albums should be considered a fourth member. But oh, she of lead guitar: what tone and composition for a metallic person. And, of course, you can’t go wrong if you have a gong that your drummer continuously threatens to hit with a mallet – but doesn’t, not until he has your allegiance, first, by making you shout for it.

SunnO)) came out in their hooded robes, but they didn’t say ‘ebn owbn glebin globin,” which would have been funnier than their weakly ironic devil-horn gestures. Four guitarists, Boris drummer on gong, an electronic keyboard, and one half-note clanged over and over at cochlea-destroying volume. Without compostions (songs are a foregone conlcusion for them) it goes nowhere after about 20 minutes, and seems maybe a joke, less than it seems a deconstruction of metal tropes, which could be great. It’s certainly not as funny or brave as the time the Frogs came out in blackface at the Cooler, after the Rapture opened for them, and responded to a stunned and angry crowd by saying “what? what?”

That’s metal.

Deerhoof again. I know, I know, but this is too good to pass up. In celebration/honor of a member leaving, they’ve posted a free EP. Some covers included, a special three making me love them more. Give these a listen even if you hate Deerhoof. You’ll come around.

Deerhoof — There’s a Kind of Hush (Herman’s Hermits)

Deerhoof– Lose My Breath (My Bloody Valentine)

Deerhoof – The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill (Beatles)

Love that last one. As my kid says each morning, “Hey Bulldog!”