Usually bands this challenging are doomed to wallow in dank flea-pit venues idolized by a few brave souls and sustained only by belief in their own genius.
But Deerhoof, after putting out a total of six albums since their formation and having survived numerous lineup changes, have somehow managed to cross over to the other side in the past couple of years, to the extent that they've played several stadium dates supporting Radiohead and are now the biggest-selling artist on the Kill Rock Stars label.
Due to play four live dates in Japan during June, guitarist John Dieterich was happy to talk on the phone from San Francisco — the band's home city — about the as-yet untitled album they've just finished recording and the band's newest member, guitarist Ed Rodriguez.