Once upon a time, Rock N Roll use to shock the world.
From Elvis Presley's swiveling hips to The Who tearing up their equipment on air, rock use to be dangerous or at the very least did something that made you say, "Wow that was something!"
The last time this happening in rock was probably the 90's era when Nirvana, Guns N Roses and Marilyn Manson ruled the roost (and groups like Blink 182 destroyed).
During a recent Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Deerhunter gave this type of performance .
The visual alone of their girly Marilyn Manson (with of Joey Ramone) looking lead singer Bradford Cox performing with what seemed to be bloody, bandaged fingers was crazy enough.
However near the end as the band powered the jangly, 90's influenced "Monomania" (think Kurt Coban and Smashing Pumpkin's Billy Corgan) , the wig wearing Cox (who refers to himself as the chararacter"Connie Lungpin"), left the stage, walked into the hallway, drank a woman's cup of something and then stood by the elevator while the band's reverb rang throughout Fallon's stage (a mid 80's Late Night with David Letterman would have looked confused after that performance...heck a 2013 David Letterman would have looked confused after that performance).
This type of "what the heck was that" performance art that made people seek out Ziggy Stardust back in the 70's. This is not to say Deerhunter is even close to the great David Bowie's universe, but in 2013, it's great to see a lead singer do more that just stand there or show off of their abs (sorry Adam Levine and Maroon 5, I like the band, but I can't just remember a memorable performance since the first album.)
The lead singer actually did something that was crazy and memorable.
Maybe Deerhunter's performance on Jimmy Fallon is the beginning of bringing awe insprign performances back to rock and roll.
If not, at least we have Odd Future's Tyler The Creator and Kanye West to continue to bring this type of crazy energy in Hip Hop.
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