Pitchfork

As Pitchfork prepares to take the holiday plunge, we leave you today with a digital stocking stuffer that should toast your Yule logs right good. Um, whatever the hell that means. "+81" comes careening down your chimney courtesy of the kind elves at Kill Rock Stars, straight off Deerhoof's Friend Opportunity-- which, as previously reported, arrives January 23 via KRS, bundled with 10 tracks and 12 unique cover opportunities.

Bookended by some trumpets that almost sound From Barcelona, the track showcases the leaner, (not really) meaner Deerhoof, presently a trio following the departure of bassist Chris Cohen (who now plays in the Curtains). Satomi Matsuzaki's still cooing existential babytalk, guitarist John Dieterich is still slicing out razor-sharp riffs, and drummer Greg Saunier still holds it down in back, threatening to go all John Philip Sousa on us but soon settling on a simple, efficient beat. This is the Deerhoof we know and love, decked out in some festive ornamentation, and it should rock new friends as well as old.

Before "+81" hits Friend Opportunity, however, it will kick off the +81 EP, set to land exclusively at digital retailers on December 19. Along with the title song, the EP collects four B-sides from the pre-Cohen, Reveille era (when the band was also a trio): "Sealed With a Kiss" (aka "Bring Down the Nutritious Pigs", and an alternate version of the Apple O' cut), "Surprise Symphony" (apparently inspired by Haydn), "United He-Ho Brothers" (the very first Matsuzaki-Saunier- Dieterich composition), and "Aho Bomb" (live favorite and "Nels Cline's favorite Deerhoof song," according to Saunier). Phew!

As previously reported, Deerhoof sweep across North America early next year. And they're up for a PLUG Award! Vote here.

Hoofprints:

01-17 Osaka, Japan - Umeda Shangri-La *
01-19 Nagoya, Japan - Nagoya Quattro *
01-20 Tokyo, Japan - Shinjuku Loft *
01-24 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre #^
01-26 New York, NY - Irving Plaza ^
01-27 Chicago, IL - Metro ^
01-30 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall ^&
02-01 Seattle, WA - Neumo's Crystal Ball Reading Room &@
02-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's On Richards &
02-03 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom &@
02-04 Eugene, OR - W.O.W. Hall &
02-11 Washington, DC - Black Cat $
02-12 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle $
02-13 Asheville NC - Grey Eagle $
02-14 Charleston, SC - Cumberland's $
02-15 Columbia, SC - Headliners $
02-16 Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits ^$
02-17 Miami, FL - Poplife ^$
02-18 Tampa, FL - Crowbar ^$
02-19 Orlando, FL - The Social ^$
02-20 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds ^$
02-21 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club ^$
02-22 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge ^$
02-23 Winston-Salem, NC - The Warehouse ^$
02-24 Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom $+
02-25 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar $+
03-02 San Diego, CA - The Epicentre %
03-03 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress %
03-04 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room %
03-07 Oklahoma City, OK - Conservatory %
03-08 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room %
03-09 Austin, TX - Emo's %!
03-10 Houston, TX - Numbers !

* with OOIOO
# with Hella
^ with Busdriver
& with Blackblack
@ with Leti Angel
$ with Harlem Shakes
+ with Flying
% with Macromantics
! with Star Death