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CONCERT REVIEW: Destroyer @ Union Transfer, 6/17
Dan Bejar and co. played a 12-song set that consisted of an eclectic mix of material from the last five Destroyer albums.
CONCERT REVIEW: Destroyer @ Union Transfer, 6/17
Dan Bejar chants the words “I write poetry for myself, I write poetry for myself” on the second track of the most recent Destroyer album. This mantra offers the clearest insight into what makes the band such a singular force in the indie rock world. For over 15 years, Bejar has made a living bucking cultural trends and appropriating canonical lyrics for his own songs. He experimented with MIDI in 2004’s Your Blues and delved into soft jazz territory with the recently released Kaputt. In fact, the only consistent feature in the nine full lengths that make up the Destroyer catalog is Bejar's convention-shirking tendencies. It was immediately apparent that Destroyer’s live show at Union Transfer was going to be on the singer's terms as well.
Early into the set, Bejar sat beside a mic stand that stood less than three feet from the ground. He spent most of the evening from this location, swigging beer bottles and sipping what could only be vodka on the rocks. When it came time to sing, Bejar stood up, casually crooned his lines and sat back down.
What the singer lacked in energy was compensated by his touring band — a seven-member outfit that included a trumpeter and saxophonist. They played a 12-song set that consisted of an eclectic mix of material from the last five Destroyer albums. The energy and proficiency with which the band played made Bejar seem less like a rock star slacking off than a man who wants the spotlight to illuminate other deserving band members. The show’s dynamic was a reminder that Bejar may be the brains behind Destroyer, but his supporting musicians are the backbone.
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