Whoever booked Clockcleaner and Deerhunter on the same bill is mentally unfit to book shows. Both are good bands in their own right, but they don't make for a logical lineup.

Clockcleaner went first, playing heavy, psychotic noise rock (think David Yow, Steve Albini). They show was awesome, though it would have been nice if the bar would have turned off the lights in the back of the room so that the strobe lights could have had their full effect. Regardless, the show was still amazing and seeing Clockcleaner really is somewhat like taking a ballpeen hammer to the side of the head.

Unfortunately, the crowd was terrible. There to see Deerhunter were a couple hundred of the worst sort of pseudo-intellectual art school freshman who all spent the afternoon shopping at Urban Outfitters, then stood around talking about whether or not they're going to switch from photojournalism (yes, he had medium sized plugs and a Fidel hat) to fine arts photography, and whether or not they'd seen the guy with the big beard at Corcoran (he's so weird).

After Clockcleaner finished, a couple of kids started in with, "oh my god, do I have to say it? That sucked. Hahaha!" I turned around, just to see who was talking, and they all got quiet and started backtracking. "I mean, it's cool if some people are into it, it's just not my thing, you know." (Everyone nods quickly.) Good grief. These kids don't even have enough substance to have an opinion.

Deerhunter came on next and an extra 200 people crammed into the tiny backstage at the Black Cat. It was miserable. The music was good. Actually, I was really impressed. They shouldn't have been on a bill with Clockcleaner, but they're still interesting. What made the show miserable was the crammed capacity that pushed the temperature up to about 109. And since bathing isn't cool, the place quickly turned rank with the smell of 19 year olds wiggling around and sweating in those ugly 80s castoffs that weren't even fashionable in the 80s. (Bright pink one-piece hotpants/tubetop made out of terrycloth? Seriously, you look stupid.)

I bailed on Deerhunter after a few songs. The music was good, but the show was unbearable. Besides, since my parents aren't paying for me to spend a few years being creative before I take the GMAT, I actually had to work this morning.

On my way out, though, I stopped and picked up some Clockcleaner merch, including an awesome t-shirt that my wife says I'm not allowed to wear anywhere. I can't wait for them to come back through town. Hopefully, they'll get to play on a friendlier bill next time. Either way, though, I'll be there.