Pitchfork

Pinch him all you want: this is no mere dream. Chris Deaner, kit-man for Versus-derived electro-acoustic indie-poppers +/-, really is playing drums for one of the world's biggest pop acts.

As reported yesterday, Deaner follows in the footsteps of Mike Watt as the latest indie rocker chosen to help Kelly Clarkson remain hipster-friendly. Once just another guy in a band, Deaner will now get to stare at Kelly Clarkson's ass for 90 consecutive minutes, several days a week, before crowds in the tens and hundreds of thousands. Determined to find out just what that's going to be like, Pitchfork e-mailed Deaner for a quick chat.

Pitchfork: How did you hook up with Kelly Clarkson?

Chris Deaner: Her current guitarist, and co-producer on [Clarkson's forthcoming] My December album, Jimmy Messer, is an old friend of mine. We were roomates in college actually. Kelly's band needed a drummer, one that was used to playing with and triggring samples live, so he gave me a call.

Pitchfork: How long have you been in her band?

CD: Not very long. My first show with them was the Daytona 500 [on February 18, 2007]. A nice intimate little show to get my feet wet.

Pitchfork: Did you play on the new record?

CD: I did not. It was already finished when they called me.

Pitchfork: Are you going to tour with Kelly?

CD: That's the plan, I'll be touring and playing all TV performances.

Pitchfork: Are you playing Live Earth?!

CD: I hope so! What an amazing opportunity. It's a dream come true to be able to be playing music on something as historic as Live Earth. It gives me chills just thinking about it...

Pitchfork: Is your being in Kelly Clarkson's band going to affect your role in +/- at all?

CD: Unfortunately, yes. I am going to try to play all the shows I possibly can with +/-, but there is no guarantee that I'll be able to do all of them. In the event that I might miss any +/- shows (the European tour is an example), my friend Karl Lundin is going to fill in for me. He's a super great drummer and the other half of a two drumset band we have called Loudest Boom Bah Yea. (shameless plug)

Pitchfork: Is Kelly Clarkson as awesome in person as she seems to be on record/video?

CD: Yup. Maybe a little awesomer? She's exactly as you would think she is: grounded, funny, and very very very talented. Every time we rehearse with her I'm struck by how amazing her voice is.

Pitchfork: You mention that you're shooting a video right now. What's the deal with that?

This time I won't be behind the camera at all, but instead in front of it. We are filming the video for Kelly's single, "Never Again". Should be exciting! I plan on geeking out quite a bit while on set.

In addition to keeping time for Kelly, Deaner has also been helping his ex-roomie Messer record some demos in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, +/- themselves recently remixed a track off the Rosebuds' latest, Night of the Furies. They have a DVD, collecting 12 videos and some bonus goodies and titled Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut DVD, out soon via original home Teenbeat.

Finally, the +/- European tour Deaner mentions-- in further support of 2006's Absolutely Kosher LP Let's Build a Fire-- kicks off (plus or minus Deaner) May 15 in Cologne; the band also hopes to swing through the U.S. East Coast in September with Japan's Moools.

Since U Been Gone:

05-16 Cologne, Germany - Tsunami
05-17 Dortmund, Germany - FZW
05-18 Den Bosch, Netherlands - W2
05-19 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
05-20 Hamburg, Germany - Knust
05-21 Berlin, Germany - Lido
05-22 Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz
05-23 Giesen, Germany - Muk
05-24 Heindelberg, Germany - Karlstorbahnhof
05-25 Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachtof
05-26 Kleinreifling, Austria - Seewiesenfest
05-27 Vienna, Austria - Arena
05-29 Nuremberg, Germany - K4
05-30 Trier, Germany - Exhaus
05-31 Offenbach, Germany - Hafen 2
06-01 Sigen, Germany - Vortex Club
06-02 Hannover, Germany - Glocksee