Since He’s Been Gone
The building housing onetime indie rock mecca the Electric Lounge and Gallery Lombardi was bulldozed this week for yet another Downtown condo development, but the Lounge lives on in the strangest of places. To wit, pay attention to the video for new Kelly Clarkson single “Never Again,” because that’s Chris Deaner, formerly of Lounge stalwarts the Adults and Prescott Curlywolf, in the drummer’s chair. Deaner was recruited by former college roommate and longtime Clarkson guitarist Jimmy Messer in late January, also joining Messer’s onetime Goudie mate Einar in the pop princess’ Texan-thick touring band. Clarkson hails from just outside Fort Worth and “definitely has an affinity for all things Texas,” says Deaner, who moved to Brooklyn in 2000. “The keyboard player’s from Texas as well, but I don’t think he ever spent any time in Austin.” Deaner’s first gig with Clarkson’s band came at February’s Daytona 500, a “surreal” experience for someone fresh off the club circuit with NYC collagists +\\>-. “The stage was set up on a couple of semis,” he says. “As soon as we were done, the semis pulled out of the way, and the race started 10 minutes later.” Deaner hasn’t stolen a glance at Clarkson’s iPod yet but says she’s a huge Patty Griffin fan and is “exactly what she’s famous for: very funny and grounded and down-to-earth and nice.” His new gig should allow him to cut back his computer-job hours, but he’s not quite sure what to expect with +/- after his summer tour for Clarkson’s new My December (co-produced by Messer) ends. “We’re just now ending the tour support for the latest record [Let’s Build a Fire],” he says. “It’s a good time, because now they’re going to go write, so I can go play and come back to help finish the songs they’ve started.”This article appears in May 11 • 2007.