Now, I got into Battles because of drummer John Stanier, who was a hero to me in Helmet when I was first starting to play in bands in the early ’90s. Little did I know that I was about to walk into a drumfest at theLaunchpad. I got there quite a bit early to hang out alone and have a few beers—alone time being at a premium with a new son. After several PBRs and a few games of Ms. Pacman, Ponytail took the stage.

Throughout the night, eyes were locked on Tracyanne Campbell, and although she maintained an unyielding straight face the entire show, the moments she actually did smile sent a ripple through the crowd.

I’m happy to say that Deerhoof is getting the popular appreciation that they deserve. A band whose sum is exponentially greater than its parts, Deerhoof has been blowing me away for years, and while critics have adored them, they have often been unfairly categorized as too difficult for the casual listener.