Deerhoof/Hella/Busdriver @ El Rey, 1/242006 was a big year for Deerhoof: The band lost a member, opened dates for Radiohead, released two download-only EPs and had a Maine middle school produce a ballet version of the entire Milk Man album. And by the sound of their new album Friend Opportunity, released just yesterday, the members of Deerhoof have no intention of slowing down in '''07. Herb Alpert horns bleat all over the first single ''"+81,''" strutting classic-rock riffs morph into weirdly dissonant guitar strumming, and Japanese pixiedoll Satomi (pictured) sounds just as cuddly and alien as ever. Is it too presumptuous to declare Friend Opportunity album of the year when it'''s only January and I'''ve only heard one song? Perhaps. Totally undisputable, though, is Deerhoof'''s mastery of the art of the live show--any band that'''s been tapped to tour with Radiohead, Wilco, the Roots and Sonic Youth is gonna have its live chops down. Extra kudos to the band for tripling the weirdness quotient by inviting along Hella (former spazzoid instrumental duo-cum-spazzoid art-rock quintet with the most technically gifted drummer in the rock universe) and Busdriver (the most technically gifted rapper in L.A.), both of which are supporting new albums set for release on January 30. May the lords of vengeance smite you if you dare miss this show. (ER)
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is today's theme "how many new items can we start with some variation of '2006 was a big year for ____?'"