You shouldn’t go to a Dan Deacon show if you don’t want to hold hands with your neighbor. You also shouldn’t go to a Dan Deacon show if you are too inhibited to partake in a little group interpretive dancing. I would also recommend you not attend a Dan Deacon show if the promise of a wild dance party does not appeal to you. If all of these things sound like a good time then Dan is the guy you want to see live, it will be an unforgettable experience.
While traveling in Japan I happened upon an opportunity to see Dan in Osaka and knew it would be crazy not to jump at the chance to see him live. The show was at Unagidani Sunsui, a hole-in-the-wall venue on the underground floor of a building in the vibrant downtown area of Osaka. The venue is small so you are easily pulled towards the stage to take in every note and the beer is only 500 yen, not a bad price considering I was in one of the most expensive countries in the world.
The opening musicians are an eclectic mix of quirky electronic music. It’s during this time I am able to get few words in with the man I came to see, Dan Deacon. He is both impressed by the talent exhibited by the local artists and humbled by the experience of performing in Japan. I’m surprised to learn this is his first time ever being in Asia, especially since I feel his music seems to be something people in this part of the world would revere. Once the show begins the crowd that has been so reserved for much of the night quickly comes to life, relishing in the new sounds flooding their eardrums and becoming enraptured by every word Dan says, even if they don’t know any English.
Staying true to style, Dan performed down on the floor, the audience surrounding him. Intrigued by the seemingly non-sensical assortment of mixers, keyboards, pedals and knobs, people crowded in closer to see how these things translated into the music pouring out of the speakers. Ultimately though it doesn’t matter how he does it, the important thing is he does. Before long people are running in circles around the room and crawling through human tunnels, asked to think about the greatest trouble in their life and then told to let it all go. The room acts collectively, totally committed to whatever instructions Dan delivers, which is the best approach to take.
Click to see footage from the show:
Dan Deacon in Osaka, Japan
I spent the entire set completely engaged in whatever Dan threw my way, thoroughly disappointed when the encore ended and the lights came on. So don’t go to a Dan Deacon show if you don’t want to be a participant, because there’s really no other way to do it.
