deerblog | creative director - deer god productions | recording | mixing | engineering | filming | video editing | live sound

CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | JOHNNY MARR

2/26/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

i know that JOHNNY MARR is an internationally beloved INDIE ROCK "god-like genius" whose work with THE SMITHS has made him an icon to millions. he has likewise also experienced an amazing career as a journeyman collaborator who has performed and recorded with everyone from THE THE, BERNARD SUMNER (of NEW ORDER), KIRSTY MACCOLL, OASIS, MODEST MOUSE, THE TALKING HEADS, BRYAN FERRY, THE CRIBS, JOHN FRUSCIANTE, THE PRETENDERS to even the noted film composer HANS ZIMMER.

i think what gets lost in that extended discography is the creative streak he has been on with his solo career for the past decade. if you havent done so already, definitely check out and investigate the man's solo work. then again we are talking about JOHNNY MARR here, it was already ordained to be great.

can't believe this actually happened but THANK YOU so much to JOHNNY MARR for reposting us on twitter. it is definitely the coolest thing ever and we appreciate it.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | ROYAL BLOOD

2/19/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

there has been a number of bands over the years that have been influenced by the sonic minimalism of THE WHITE STRIPES and the two person setup they popularized. i'm not saying they invented that format, but there is no doubt that other artists like DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979, THE BLACK KEYS and ROYAL BLOOD definitely took notice.

ROYAL BLOOD to my ears sound like a more polished version of the aforementioned (and previously profiled HERE) DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 with a similar BASS/DRUM/VOICE triumvirate of sonic assault as opposed to the GUITAR/DRUM/VOICE of THE WHITE STRIPES and THE BLACK KEYS.

who knew a bass guitar with an octave pedal and cave man drumming sounded so HUUUUUUGE. definitely worth checking out.

SPOTLIGHT | SONG EXPLODER

2/17/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

because the experiential nature of music is such an ephemeral and almost primitive phenomena, there is a tendency for listeners to pretty much take it for granted. as if music was always there. unlike filmmaking, the process of MUSIC PRODCTION is a bit of a mystery to the layperson, an almost alchemical process.

when i began consciously listening to PODCASTS almost ten years ago on a regular basis, the ones i was drawn to had a sense of playfulness with the platform itself. the sound design on something like NPR's RADIOLAB is so palpable and convincing that it is easy to be swept away into an alternate reality where you are swimming with red blood cells or strata of light waves.

likewise the ongoing PODCAST SONG EXPLODER is another podcast with incredible sound design. it is a meta in that it is a podcast about sound, specifically how songs are constructed. podcaster HRISHIKESH HIRWAY basically deconstructs songs with the help of the artist down to their base elements and explains how the piece fit together. you get a real, visceral sense of the artistry and technical wizardry involved with modern music production and how such has enabled songwriters. its incredibly informative and because of its well-sequenced and thoughtful presentation, SONG EXPLODER makes you appreciate the process on a deep intuitive level.

its is quite the experience and i recommend listening to the podcast for anyone interested in music production or with an interest in art. recently SONG EXPLODER expanded into a NETFLIX show but my preference is still the podcast.

"DEER GOD RADIO 114: GREG KURSTIN PRODUCTION" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

2/14/2021

paradies by nacrowe

join us TONIGHT at 8PM EST for an all new episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC focused on the incredibly successful music production career of GREG KURSTIN.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

SPOTLIGHT | MOOG SOUND LAB

2/3/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

at the moment we are living in an age where amazing live performance series, past and present, are all becoming newly available on YOUTUBE. its pretty cool.

MOOG SOUND LAB is a discontinued live performance series based around, you guessed it, the analog synthesized wizardry of ROBERT MOOG's machines and features various artists from the world of INDIE ROCK, ALTERNATIVE HIP HOP and AVANT-GARDE POP. in essence it serves as sonic evidence of the wide-range of moods and sounds available through the gear.

definitely worth watching if you have an interest in analog synths and their unique multitude of sonic applications.

"DEER GOD RADIO 113: 2000s ROCK REVIVAL" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

1/31/2021

parodies by nacrowe

join us TONIGHT at 8PM EST for an all new episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC focused on the ROCK REVIVAL of the early aughts.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | OSEES

1/29/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

OSEES (or is it THEE OH SEES or OHSEES or even THE OHSEES?) is just a great, ever-evolving, balls-to-the-wall ROCK N ROLL band well worth checking out. noisey, lo-fi, fuzzed-out glorious experimental abandon straight out of the BAY AREA.

youre welcome.

SPOTLIGHT | 2 METER SESSIONS

1/13/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

its really cool the stuff that is being released on YOUTUBE these days. since 1987 the DUTCH television live performance series 2 METER SESSIONS has been film/recording/mixing one session a week of upcoming musical talent. as you can imagine, the variety and scope of these recordings has grown immeasurably over the years and there has been a slow trickle via their YOUTUBE channel releasing the more memorable performances.

everything from BURNING SPEAR, BECK and YEASAYER to SEPULTURA, NADA SURF and even NIRVANA.

definitely look these vintage performances up if you have the inclination. definitely worth the effort.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | THE XX

1/8/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

the ENGLISH INDIE ROCK trio THE XX has always hit a sweet spot for me. i know they are celebrated on the other side of the ATLANTIC and have even won a MERCURY PRIZE, but really none of that matters much.

they just make highly affecting music which seems to be a progression on the expansive emotive soundscapes created by past bands like RADIOHEAD, THE PIXIES and MASSIVE ATTACK. definitely check them out as well as the solo work by member JAMIE xx.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | SAVAGES

12/18/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

SAVAGES is just a great straight-up ENGLISH INDIE ROCK band with angular riffage and tight song-craft in the POST PUNK tradition of groups like ELASTICA, GANG OF FOUR, THE FALL and WIRE but a bit more abrasive.

i think we are living in a golden age of POST PUNK revival with bands like this and SAVAGES as well as WARPAINT and THE XX. definitely worth checking out.

"DEER GOD RADIO 96: GREENWAY RECORDS" NOW AVAILABLE

12/13/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO dedicated to the BROOKLYN INDIE ROCK record label GREENWAY RECORDS.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

FILM REVIEW | MONTAGE OF HECK

12/8/2020

photo manipulations by nacrowe

i dont understand the reason for this film.

i do understand that since his untimely death in 1994 (when i was in elementary school) there has been a demand for material and content related to KURT COBAIN and NIRVANA as their enduring legacy continues to be that they are the last ROCK AND ROLL band of consequence of the last 30 years. the impetus for this immersive documentary, MONTAGE OF HECK (HBO FILMS, 2015) came about when COBAIN's daughter FRANCES BEAN became executor of his estate and commissioned BRETT MORGEN to direct it based on an inherited treasure trove of unreleased recordings and artwork left in the family's privately held archives.

that is not to say that the film is not visually arresting. as a constructed project, it is cleverly edited utilizing various art and nonart pieces from notebook scribblings and paintings to sculpture of his to create animations that draw home the point of his intense alienation throughout his life. it really makes the narrative come alive as his very words come alive.

but with all that being said, what was the point? what statement was this film attempting to make about COBAIN? watching this film felt uncomfortable since any NIRVANA fan knows the lengths to which COBAIN went to secure his privacy from the unforgiving, glaring eye of the media. especially post-VANITY FAIR article. this film is effectively a worst-case scenario for an artist that jealously controlled his band's public image. it doesn't seem a stretch that he would be rightly horrified by the publication of his tapes that were his sanctuary to experiment and hone his craft. as a fan, i don't need to hear it.

there was also numerous claims in the film that seemingly don't hold up to scrutiny by those who knew him at the time in Aberdeen (i.e. BUZZ OSBOURNE of THE MELVINS). key of which is the proposed sexual conquest of a mentally disabled girl by COBAIN in his late teens. the fact that such made it to print is reckless and wholly irresponsible as there is no way to corroborate such.

in my opinion, this film is an equal mistake to that of the publication of COBAIN's JOURNALS (RIVERHEAD BOOKS, 2003) which was heralded for its "transparency" with fans but in reality was just another cash grab 12 years earlier.

finally, after watching this i didn't feel like i new COBAIN any better. yest the home footage of him and COURTNEY LOVE with their infant daughter showcased their undeniable affection for one another and may be the only worthwhile inclusion in this well-produced yet innately hollow film.

i honestly wish i could unsee it. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND this from my memory. it desecrates the memory of COBAIN and feels like an uncomfortable intrusion and needless debasement of his legacy. the fact that such a project originated with his immediate family just compounds the mistake. i dont question their right to pursue such, just the rationale.

leave the man alone. let him and his memory rest in peace.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | IS TROPICAL

11/13/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

i became aware of the ENGLISH electronic INDIE ROCK outfit IS TROPICAL years ago when their insane "THE GREEKS" video came out, which still holds up with its make-believe violence and cartoon gore. reminds me of being a kid again.

their music definitely splits the difference between INDIE ROCK-inspired DANCE music that induces a carefree sense of general abandonment. definitely worth checking out.

"DEER GOD RADIO 107: RIOT GRRRL" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

11/8/2020

parodies by nacrowe

join us tonight at 8PM EST for an all new episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC where we acknowledge our current tense political moment with a retrospective playlist focused on the highly influential RIOT GRRRL movement of the 1990s and how they made good on the most progressive elements found in the HARDCORE PUNK ROCK and INDIE ROCK movements of the 1980s. still beyond relevant today.

REVOLUTION GRRRL STYLE NOW, indeed!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | BAT FOR LASHES

10/30/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

NATASH KHAN (a.k.a. BAT FOR LASHES) is a BRITISH singer-songwriter of partial PAKISTANI descent known for her lush DREAM POP sound and terse lyricism that are often biographical allegories.

in my mind she is the next progression in modern pop music that has emerged out of the UNITED KINGDOM post-BRITPOP as she is the very physical embodiment, much like M.I.A. (SRI LANKA) and STORMZY (GHANA), of an exceedingly multi-cultural youth culture. and from this web of diverse second-generation immigrants comes new cultural touchstones that reflect with authenticity on the changing definition of BRITISH identity.

but aside all that her music is dense and thought-provoking. well worth investigating.

SPOTLIGHT | 6 MUSIC LIVE ROOM

10/28/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

when AMERICANS think of public radio the dry, educational shows associated with NPR usually come to mind. these shows, much like their PBS television counterpart, are meant to enrich and cultivate thoughtful dialogue on a myriad of subjects.

this is not the BRITISH model at all. they have a celebrated station dedicated solely to news called the WORLD SERVICE, but they also have a number of stations dedicated to the arts, including BBC6 which is dedicated to modern ALTERNATIVE MUSIC (i.e. INDIE ROCK, TRIP HOP, ELECTROCLASH, ALTERNATIVE ROCK, INDIE POP, PUNK ROCK, etc).

the professionally mixed live performances are particularly well produced and include the likes of TRICKY w/MARTINA TOPLEY-BIRD, IGGY POP, THE PIXIES, LIZZO, JOHNNY MARR, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, BEAK> and STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS as notable past performers among many many others.

definitely worth a listen.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | MINUS THE BEAR

10/2/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

what i love about the recently disbanded MINUS THE BEAR is their unique use of effects. normally with INDIE ROCK bands there is a bias against utilizing too many guitar pedals as such is somehow inauthentic or impure. MINUS THE BEAR rejected that silly notion and had a highly processed sound that utilized synchronized time-based effects and ring modulators. what came across was highly rhythmical and percussive, almost like an AFRICAN DRUM CIRCLE done with space lasers.

sadly they broke up in 2018, but you can always check out the members work in other bands like BOTCH and ONALASKA.

SPOTLIGHT | FROM THE BASEMENT

9/23/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

FROM THE BASEMENT was a live performance series produced by NIGEL GODRICH (RADIOHEAD, ROGER WATERS, BECK, R.E.M.) that lasted two seasons and aired intermittently on SKY TV from 2006 to 2009. shot and recorded without an audience, the bare studio room was an open canvas for the artists and directors, including SOPHIE MULLER, to present their music in manner they more or less had control over.

notable performances include those by PJ HARVEY, THE FALL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, THUNDERCAT, THE KILLS, RADIOHEAD, CSS, SONIC YOUTH, FLEET FOXES, THE WHITE STRIPES and JARVIS COCKER of PULP

definitely worth checking out, especially for the quality of the live mixes, which honestly is a bit of a forgotten and under-appreciated art. enjoy.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | NO JOY

9/11/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

MONTREAL outfit NO JOY is the emblematic of the emotive depths available within the restless, waves of feed-backed sonic bliss within the genre of SHOEGAZE. listening to them makes me relive my introduction to MY BLOODY VALENTINE and SLOWDIVE all over again.

definitely check them out.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | NADA SURF

9/4/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

NADA SURF is easily one of the most underrated bands of the 1990s (right up there with FAILURE). while their more successful peers (WEEZER & GREEN DAY) rode waves of fame and disappointment, they just strode along consistently creating tuneful and emotionally resonant INDIE ROCK that continues to this day.

i really don't understand why they are not more wildly celebrated, but even so i'm still stoked that they have assembled an enviable staple of well-crafted and thoughtful songs well into middle age. they don't appear to be settling any time soon. i look forward to continuing to grow with their music as it continues to develop. see where frontman/songwriter MATHEW CAWS takes us.

thank you to NADA SURF and MATTHEW CAWS for reposting our IG story today!