Show Review/Album of The Month pt. 2 - Deer Tick at The Troubadour

First off, thanks to those that joined us last Friday at SoHo for our first appearance in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA.  It was a blast to play with great talents Drew Southern, Louder Space, and The Fire Department.

So.  You may have gathered that I enjoy music.  So much, in fact, that I will even attend a rock 'n roll concert from time to time.  I did exactly that on this past eve of October 26th.

Deer Tick; perhaps a juvenile, abrasive name to give one's band, perhaps that is the point.  The group is notorious for inviting rowdy behavior at their shows with recurring instances of beer being sprayed upon the crowd near shows conclusion.  Essentially Deer Tick is a glorified bar band.  And I love them for it.  Suffice to say I got a healthy dose of vicarious misfit behavior at the sold out Troubadour show in West Hollywood.  However, the level of crude, drunken behavior was slightly less than their storied past.  After seemingly endless touring/partying and an unusually rough year, lead singer John McCauley has mentioned that he is toning down his indulgent behavior.  Pussy.

Anyway, the band simultaneously boasts great talent in all its members despite the reputation that precedes them.  Proficient in numerous genres; various country and western styles are successfully infused with grunge and punk.  Deer Tick has in fact been known to play full sets of Nirvana songs under the moniker Deervana.  Yet on their latest record there are a couple songs with the distinct feel of show tunes.  Alas, no band's catalog is complete without a few tender numbers, no complaints from me.

The band showcased its ability to hold down the structure and also stretch out some tunes into the ether.  This was specifically apparent when opener Robert Ellis joined for an extended guitar duel with McCauley while guitarist Ian O'Neil joined Dennis Ryan on the drum set.  All the while bassist Chris Ryan unfailingly propels the groove and keyboardist Robbie Crowell augments his superb piano playing with brilliant sax solos.

The latest effort Negativity provided the bulk of the set list.  The record is a collection of songs which bemoan the travails of love and partying, surprise.  It seems that McCauley has slowed down and perhaps misses some of his untoward behavior as "Trash" depicts.  A somber character reminisces his playful past in a delightful, "show tunes"-infused, bluesy rock number.  This song on record contains some lovely vibraphone and horn arrangements interspersed with leads from McCauley.  "The Rock" opened the set beginning with its vocal harmony laden, hypnotic intro and exploding into the haunting swing groove reminiscent of "The House of The Rising Son".  This track also incorporates some fanciful horn arrangements which are implanted regularly throughout the album.  Particular highlights of the new material included the Springsteen-esque single "The Dreams In The Ditch" with guitarist Ian O'Neil taking lead vocal and drummer Dennis Ryan singing his psychedelic tune "Thyme".  Also played from Negativity was "The Curtain" and "Mr. Sticks" containing perhaps the strongest melody and dynamic.

The band continued to roll through a varied set list culled from their entire catalog and peppered with some well chosen covers including The Beatles' "One After 909" and Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It".  Highlights of older material included the mostly a capella version of "Dirty Dishes" and a rowdy take on "These Old Shoes".  Deer Tick classics "Ashamed", "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)", and "Baltimore Blues No. 1" were also pulled from 2007's War Elephant.  The lone representation of 2009's Born On Flag Day was the rocker "Easy" while 2010's The Black Dirt Sessions provided "Twenty Miles" and a solo McCauley effort on piano for the very somber "Goodbye, Dear Friend".  "Main Street", "The Bump", "Let's All Go The Bar", "Clownin' Around", and "Miss K" from 2009's Divine Providence rounded out the set.

As a fan I was completely satisfied, perhaps not satiated.  Tick has never let me down in concert and every time I've seen them I leave saddened that the show is over.  They grace the stage with complete lack of pretension and delightfully confront the audience with uninhibited shenanigans paired with adept musicality.  For this, their fans are endeared to them.

Listen here:

iTunes
Spotify
Deer Tick online

More soon,

Ty

Album of The Month/Show Review - J. Roddy Walston & The Business

I had the pleasure of attending the sold out J. Roddy Walston & The Business show last weekend at The Troubadour on my birthday.  'Twas a lovely way to spend my special little day.  Of course Mr. Roddy and his accompanying "Business" put on a fantastic show.  It was a rowdy, raucous, and righteous display of old-school rock 'n roll.  For anyone that harbors reservations about the spirit of rock 'n roll today, simply look to J. Roddy & The Business to deliver.  The sound and attitude of said style is very much alive in this group.  The long hair flails, the guitar wails, and the drums pummel.  The bass thumps, the piano pounds, and flannel is worn.  The group provides an accurate measurement of today's rock 'n roll pulse, and it is very much alive.

J. Roddy is currently touring in support of their latest release Essential Tremors, which I will now appropriately feature as "Album of The Month". This record, released last month, is the group's third full length effort.  It continues with the gritty styling of their previous records, containing the usual suspects of distorted guitars and raw, boisterous drum sounds.  Accompanying that are the traditional rock culprits of bouncing bass lines and rhythmic piano playing.  Atop all of this sits J. Roddy's raspy yet sensual and, at times, riotous voice which is augmented by delicious, playful backing harmonies.

There is much to be said for this third effort, these fellas have matured well and offered up a great batch of classic sounding cuts mixed in with a few curveballs.  I personally love the hypnotic, tribal pulse of "Sweat Shock" reminiscent of Led Zeppelin a la "Immigrant Song".  "Black Light" is a groovy nod to AC/DC with a simple beat and a killer distorted bass tone.  Another favorite is "Hard Times"; furnishing the record with the necessary rolling, rollicking drive that pairs well with a joyride, windows down.  And a J. Roddy record would not be complete without a healthy dose of some good old boogie woogie shuffle which is achieved with the tunes "Marigold" and "Tear Jerk".  "Boys Can Never Tell" is a country-esque ballad showcasing Mr. Roddy's sensitive side and contains some tasteful pedal steel guitar playing.  And the closer "Midnight Cry" is a lovely anthem which yields a grand sing-a-long outro which was heartily embraced by all at the Troubadour show.

From the  thrash of "Heavy Bells", the laid back funk of "Take It As It Comes", and the tender falsetto of "Nobody Knows", J. Roddy Walston & The Business have added a rock solid album to their arsenal.  It is sure to receive many a repeat spin on my figurative record player (iPhone) and I hope it does the same on yours.  Enjoy and keep rock 'n roll alive!

jroddywalstonandthebusiness.com
J. Roddy Walston & The Business - Essential Tremors on iTunes
J. Roddy Walston & The Business - Essential Tremors on Spotify


More soon,

Ty

San Diego Adventures

"Stay classy San Diego."

Had a fantastic little getaway to San Diego this past week.  Arriving Tuesday evening Mike and I discovered the sleepy quality that downtown San Diego provides in the wee hours.  Hence, no booze at 1:30 in the morning.  Oh well, whattaya gonna do?  No big deal, no big whoop.

So, that brings us to Wednesday.  A day full of anxious anticipation of the National League Division Series game five between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.  In order to calm our nerves we proceeded to take in one of the finest attractions San Diego has to offer; the San Diego Zoo.  Superb would be an understatement to describe this zoo and we didn't even have time to experience it in its entirety.  Now, of course we were excited that the Pirates had a chance to advance to the National League Championship in their first playoff run since 1992.  Alas, their fate was not to our preference with the Cardinals ultimately defeating the Pirates, however, we are very proud of the ball club making a strong effort this year after a twenty year dry spell from the playoffs.  And you can still support our Buccos in 28 North fashion with our song Bucco Fever.


Anywho, this brought us to Thursday which found us spending a lovely afternoon with a buddy in Del Mar, taking in the beauty of the Southern Cali Pacific, and having some epic jams.  And in the evening I proceeded to get very intoxicated in celebration of my birthday.  Overall, I had a fabulous birthday outing, thanks to all who participated/contributed/encouraged my indulgent behavior.  Special thanks to Michael & Rick Lindner, Chris Wherle, Al & Josh Wein; had a blast in San Diego with you guys. 

More soon,

Ty