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
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