Seasoned Portland music makers Deer or the Doe have been playing house party rock since 2005. The band is based on solid friendships, and with that chemistry intact they have expanded to the point where they are now touring the United States.
Their first release, Go to Sleep, Quit Listening, was featured all across the Portland indie stage. The five-piece has since been working on an elusive sophomore album, which they hope to complete before summer when the band members who are attending PSU are free to tour.
The Vanguard recently caught up with keyboardist and vocalist Cassie Neth to help illuminate the band’s increasingly busy schedule.
Daily Vanguard: How did Deer or the Doe form?
Cassie Neth: Carlos and Aaron and Clint were in a band called Curse of the Carousel Ponies. The band broke up and they wanted to start a new project. Aaron is my boyfriend and I happened to have an old fender Rhodes piano lying around. That’s when it started.
DV: What sort of band were you aiming to create?
CN: I don’t think that there was an intention. I think that they probably would have liked to have gone in a similar direction as Curse of the Carousel Pony was. Post-punk, two basses, two guitars—just lots of stuff going on. But adding a piano and adding me changed things. It made it a lot more melodic, a lot less chaotic.
DV: Aside from the instruments you play, what role do each of you play in the band?
CN: Aaron definitely takes the lead in the band. He has the most experience playing in bands. Carlos is a formerly trained musician; he’s definitely the instructor if any of us need help playing our instruments. He’s definitely helped me along the way. Clint is the quiet, cool bass player. Blake is a new addition to the band, and he’s brought a new life to the band. We were getting sick of playing the same songs and had a friend join the band and things just lit up again.
DV: What are the professional ambitions of the band?
CN: I think that it’s just an outlet, another creative outlet. It’s just fun. If something were to happen that’s great, I think that striving for local recognition is what we want to do. We feel like we have a pretty good, solid group of musicians around us.
DV: Which local bands are your favorites?
CN: Point Juncture Washington, Junk face, Menomena. That’s a few. There are so many musicians, so many bands out there. Portland is the place to be.
DV: What sort of performance do you usually shine at?
CN: I think we really thrive on basement shows, and playing for kids and people that want to have a good time. We love playing house shows. It’s much more comfortable playing on the same level as people. It’s a lot more intimate, you can really engage with people.
DV: What separates Deer or the Doe from other local bands?
CN: I think in Portland there is a lot of singer-songwriter, folk stuff going on, which is great. And a lot of DIY bands, people making their own instruments. But I think Portland is lacking rock bands that are just playing what they listened to when they were growing up. I think we’ve stayed true to punk and post-punk and experimental. I think we’re a pretty solid rock band.