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Dan Deacon

By Keegan Hamilton

Published on April 09, 2008

If there is in fact a fine line between genius and madness, Dan Deacon takes that line, bellows distorted nonsensical lyrics and dances back and forth across it. While critics and hipsters fawned over Deacon's dense, absurdist style of electronica last year after the release of his album Spiderman of the Rings, his following developed mainly because of extensive touring and batshit-insane concerts. These solo gigs find Deacon setting up a rat's nest of synthesizers, cables and electronics in the middle of the audience. He then leads a riotous dance party, playing recorded instrumental versions of his songs through an iPod shuffle taped to a banana (seriously), while belting out the lyrics to tracks such as "My Own Face is the F Word" through a series of voice distorters. Sound a bit bizarre and pretentious? Get a look at the pudgy, balding man in Harry Caray glasses and his live spectacle and decide for yourself.

9 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Billiken Club, in the Busch Student Center on the campus of Saint Louis University, 20 North Grand Boulevard. Free. 314-977-2020.