Dan Deacon at Phoenix Concert Theatre

I’m guessing Baltimore native Dan Deacon didn’t have an easy time getting through the border into Canada en route to his gig at the Phoenix last night.  Before sounding a note, he told the gathered his plight in the most hilarious fashion I’ve heard.

Touring behind his recently released Gliss Riffer album, Deacon said his peace regarding his ordeal and then promptly got down to business.  And Deacon’s business is everyone’s pleasure.

Opening with new track “Sheathed Wings” Deacon seemed to crowd himself toward the front of the stage in front of a backdrop of what looked to be various printed curtains.  Those eventually gave way to a more traditional stage and projection set-up along with an accompanying guitarist.

If you have never seen Dan Deacon, I recommend seeing him at least once in your lifetime in his own setting.  While he spent a lot of last year opening for Arcade Fire, I can’t imagine what his sets or their response would have been like on that tour.  There’s no chance of escaping as a passive spectator as Deacon involves EVERYONE at his gigs, and at times last night I thought it was to take the focus off him.  It was hard to decide what to watch, whether it be Deacon being the conductor on stage, or those in the audience that danced, obeying his orders.  Guaranteed is a smile being plastered over a sweaty face, something accomplished often last night and thankfully the crowd obliged and was up for some unbridled joy.

Focusing on the new album, Deacon also offered up at least a couple of tracks from his three previous albums.  He sounded loud and fantastic and his visuals were the perfect accompaniment going from simple to bordering psychedelic overload at times.

However, my only gripe was his run through “Of the Mountains”, a massive juggernaut of a track from 2009’s Bromst, reduced to half its length.  The song is epic and should have been extended if you ask me.  But you didn’t and I think I was the only one complaining.  A minor flub on a majorly enjoyable night.