In the 25 years since their debut record, the long-running and cherished experimental rock band Deerhoof have maintained a career that has been as rewarding and groundbreaking as it has been prolific. With the release of their excellent new album Actually, You Can, out now on Joyful Noise Records, Deerhoof have released another high-watermark in a discography with an endless amount of hidden treasures to discover.
The 18th full-length album was self-produced by the band, whose lineup consists of original drummer and composer Greg Saunier, bassist and vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki, and dual guitarists John Dietrich and Ed Rodriguez. Actually, You Can sees the band sounding as ferocious and exuberant as ever with guitarists Dietrich and Rodriguez providing ample firepower to show why they remain one of indie-rock’s most awe-inspiring guitar duos.
Dietrich and Rodriguez joined me a couple of months back to talk about reconnecting with Saunier and Matsuzaki as a tight unit to give the album it’s raw energy. If you have ever seen the band live, you know that the bond that these four musicians have with each other is unique unto itself and that connection is captured wonderfully on Actually, You Can.
In this conversation, we also discuss how both Dietrich and Rodriguez look beyond guitar as an influence on their playing, what keeps Deerhoof going, and so much more.
Previous Episodes of In Conversation:
- Bush Tetras
- Full of Hell
- Tropical Fuck Storm
- Caleb Landry Jones
- Chubby & the Gang
- Museum of Love
- Anika
- Cassandra Jenkins
- Steve Turner of Mudhoney
- Alexis Marshall of Daughters
- Current Joys
- Tom Scharpling
- Sarah Lund of Unwound
- Genghis Tron
- Ben Swank of Third Man Records
- The Men
- Rick Maguire of Pile
- Damien Jurado
- Slim Moon of Kill Rock Stars
- Caveh Zahedi