Photo of Destroyer ’s Dan Bejar by Laura Jerele
w/ Jennifer Castle
There ’s something about seeing a band like Destroyer at an intimate and legendary venue like Off Broadway that feels like stepping into a fever dream—or least that what it felt like to me. With lights low and deliberate, all of us were in early, and pressed in tight but quiet, waiting. The show unsurprisingly sold out early on, honestly kinda feeling lucky to be there standing in the front row.
Opening the night was Jennifer Castle, a wistful singer/songwriter from the GTA, whose set was stripped down to just her, her songs, a guitar, harmonica, and piano. Ethereal and almost whisper-soft at times, she filled the room with this quiet intensity that made people actually stop and listen. Her original, unique songs and vocal timbre set the mood perfectly.
And then…there is the legendary Destroyer. Packing seven bandmembers on the stage, Dan Bejar and the rest of Destroyer quietly walked out into the smokey air, all the chatter stopped, cheers launched loudly, and suddenly we were somewhere else entirely. They kicked things off with “The Same Thing as Nothing at All,” which to me is a full-on sonic wash, it totally and immediately pulled me under. At times I just stood there, absorbing all the music and was like, oh shit! I get to photograph this, too! However, unlike other shows, this felt immediately different and being obtrusive with my camera in any way to get shots was not in my plan. “Times Square” and “Tinseltown Swimming in Blood” hit me so hard, sharp and hypnotic, each note hanging in the air just a little longer than it should, and all the while I could not take my eyes off Dan Bejar and the spell he was casting.
Bejar himself was simply magnetic. His movements are slow, deliberate, always a little mysterious. He leaned into his half-mic stand or crouched low when he wasn ’t singing, like he was both holding something back and giving everything he had at the same time. Sipping a cocktail. Gazing at us like he was controlling chaos and deciding his next move, who knew. Leaning, kneeling, sipping, staring. And then there were his eyes. As captivating as they were intimidating, uniquely alluring and completely mesmerizing, Behar ’s gaze is the most unique thing you ’ll ever feel at a show. He looked out over the crowd like he was seeing right through us, or maybe somewhere past us entirely. It was intense.
You cannot put this music into one category, because at time it felt ethereal and poppy, other songs feel jazzy yet heavy, all sway and swoon worthy in their own way, but each song feels incredibly unique. Played to perfection, I might add. And then there is Bejar ’s voice—crazy unique in how he sings and speaks. There was a point near the end of the set when trumpeter JP Carter took over with a minutes-long trumpet and pedal effects detour, all swirling distortion and shimmer, while the rest of the band just sat onstage watching, listening. It was weirdly beautiful, the kind of moment that could only work with a band this unique.
The band is touring behind their fourteenth album Dan ’s Boogie, and the new songs blended seamlessly with the older ones. Destroyer’s music has always been hard to pin down, but live, it just makes sense. The sound felt timeless, strange, and full. It’s art rock with a pulse that is cerebral, moody, intimidating and alive. The encore of “Travel Light” and “June” was the perfect soft landing, but the real ending of “Looters ’ Follies” was massive, a slow-burn finale that swallowed the room whole before fading out into fog and applause while they quietly walked off the stage.
For a band that’s so sonically fluid, Destroyer somehow makes it all make sense live. Every era, every tone, every weird little twist found its place. For me, this show was one of the best I’ve seen this year; it was moody, hypnotic, and just a little uncomfortable in the best possible way possible. A total experience that felt perfect, one of those rare nights where you walk out into the cold and rainy air outside and have to take a second to come back down to earth because you felt like you just left it. This show did not just sound good, it lingered and crawled under my skin, stayed in my head and I will be thinking about this for days. | Laura Jerele
Setlist:
The Same Thing as Nothing at All
It Just Doesn’t Happen
Times Square
Tinseltown
Bologna
Sun Meets Snow
Kaputt
The River
Rubies
European Oils
Cataract Time
Hydroplaning
Suicide Demo
Encore:
Travel Light
June
Looters’ Follies
