Deer Tick

I am too old for this shit. I’m writing this the morning after seeing my third show in three nights.

First up was The Deep Dark Woods from Saskatoon at The Hideout. They drew a solid crowd for a Tuesday night and for a band that is just starting to buildup a fan base here in the States. Those that made it out were treated to a special night of music. The band has added a full time keyboardist which is like adding butterscotch to your hot fudge sundae. You didn’t know it could get any better, but it just did.

The Canucks played for about three hours, combining alt-country with a Grateful Dead vibe, including rousing renditions of Jack A Roe and O Babe It Ain’t No Lie. They also fired up two new tunes that my man-date Jefe said were hands down his favorite tunes of the night. Lucky for you, they are also part of our live session with Deep Dark Woods.

My next show was Deer Tick at a packed Empty Bottle. After sitting through a couple opening acts, McCauley and crew hit the stage at 11:30. Muzzle of Bees, a fantastic blogging counterpart, wrote a great review so I will not reinvent the wheel here. He’s bang-on in his assessment that this isn’t alt-country – its just homegrown rock and roll. They are tremendous live act and do a great job of breathing life into their songs. Also, banged out a nice cover of Petty’s Breakdown.

Last up was Elton and Billy at Wrigley. I will admit that this was met with trepidation on my part as I couldn’t get “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and “I’m Still Standing” out of my head. And, Sweet Jesus, those songs suck. But you kind of forget that there was a time when the two of them were making some unique music. After the cheesy beginning where they were trading verses of their tunes, Elton hit a nice run where he played “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding,” “Levon” and “Madman Across The Water.” After that it was back to the schmaltzy “Crocodile Rock” and the aforementioned mind-numbing “I’m Still Standing.” Madman was a real nice surprise but I would have liked to hear “Take Me To The Pilot.”

Joel followed and played a couple of his decent tunes including “Angry Young Man,” “Zanzibar” and “Allentown.” The trade off was sitting through “Uptown Girl,” “River of Dreams” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” which besides being a blatant rip off of “Its The End of The World” by REM, is just about as bad a song as one man could write.

Then it was back to the dueling piano lounge act with “Piano Man” and “The Bitch Is Back.” While there were some truly awful parts during the show, there were enough very good moments that made it worthwhile, with “Madman Across The Water” leading the way. Its amazing to think that the two of them once wrote truly unique music in the days before MTV came along. After that, they started chasing the four minute hit single.

Deer Tick’s debut release, War Elephant, was a tremendous album that has yet to leave my rotation. After hearing some new tunes at SXSW, I’ve been waiting for Born On Flag Day. It’s always a good feeling when you’re looking forward to a release and it exceeds all of your expectations.

On War Elephant, John Joseph McCauley III went at it alone while Flag Day has a robust sound backed by a proper band. And when bands start growing up, you know what that means. It’s time to experiment with strings. “Smith Hill” introduces stringed arrangements and thankfully it works.

But what I like best is the following tune, “Song About A Man,” that sounds like it was recorded in his bedroom right after pen was put to paper. It’s raw and reflective, the production is limited and its as if McCauley was saying “I’m still the same guy.”

A couple of the other highlights include “Friday XIII” that has McCauley sharing vocals with a female lead. Much like the strings, a female vocalist was unexpected, but along with “Houston, TX,” it’s probably my favorite tune on the album.

Deer Tick has been getting gobs of press lately including an interview with Brian Williams, the “breaking band” feature in Rolling Stone and hand jobs from bloggers. It is probably just a matter of time before Deer Tick is crossing into the mainstream like M. Ward, Conor Oberst and others. It will be interesting to see how they handle the transition from alt-country rag-a-muffins to a more noted act with even greater expectations from a wider audience. This suburban dad hanging on to his youth will remain a steadfast fan.

Website | MySpace | Partisan Records

Deer Tick – Easy

Previously posted:

Deer Tick – Art Isn’t Real (City of Sin)

Deer Tick – Long Time

Deer Tick – Still Crazy After All These Years (Paul Simon Cover)

Deer Tick is all set to release the long anticipated follow up to their debut, War Elephant, on June 23rd via Partisan Records. The new album is called Born on Flag Day. The cover art is above. “Easy” is below.

Deer Tick – Easy

Partisan Records recently announced that it will release the Deer Tick’s sophomore album, Born on Flag Day, later in 2009 – the band is putting the finishing touches on the record as you read this. I highly recommend catching them performing their new stuff at SXSW 2009. Below you’ll find a video from last year in Austin.

Here are some older tracks:

Deer Tick – Long Time

Deer Tick – Art Isn’t Real (City of Sin)

Video: Deer Tick – These Old Shoes (Live at SXSW 2008)

Here’s the trailer for the upcoming DVD documentary:

Tour dates:

Fri-Feb-13 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom *
Sat-Feb-14 Northampton, MA Iron Horse #
Sun-Feb-15 New Haven, CT Café Nine #
Mon-Feb-16 Albany, NY Madison Grille
Tue-Feb-17 Buffalo, NY Soundlab
Wed-Feb-18 Ft. Wayne, IN The Brass Rail
Thu-Feb-19 Rock Island, IL Ribco
Fri-Feb-20 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle &
Sat-Feb-21 Bloomington, IN Cinemat
Sun-Feb-22 Jamestown, NY Labyrinth Press Company
Mon-Feb-23 York, PA First Capital Dispensing Co.
Tue-Feb-24 Boston, MA TT the Bears %
Wed-Feb-25 Providence, RI Steve’n'Levin 4-ever
Thu-Feb-26 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom %
Fri-Feb-27 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live %
Sat-Feb-28 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café %
Sun-Mar-01 Washington, DC 930 Club %
Mon-Mar-02 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom %
Wed-Mar-04 Toronto, ONT Horseshoe Tavern %
Thu-Mar-05 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place %
Fri-Mar-06 Columbus, OH Skully’s %
Sat-Mar-07 Cincinanati, OH Southgate House %
Sun-Mar-08 Asheville, NC Orange Peel %
Mon-Mar-09 Charleston, SC Tin Roof ^
Wed-Mar-11 Tallahassee, FL The Engine Room
Fri-Mar-13 Louisville, KY Headliner’s %
Sat-Mar-14 Nashville, TN The Mercy Lounge %
Mon-Mar-16 New Orleans, LA Clever
Tue-Mar-17 Houston, TX Rudyard’s
Mar 18 – 21 Austin, TX SXSW
Mon-Mar-23 Huntsville, AL The Flying Monkey Art Center $
Tue-Mar-24 Birmingham, AL Bottletree $
Wed-Mar-25 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn $
Thu-Mar-26 Durham, NC Duke Univeristy Coffeehouse $
Fri-Mar-27 Baltimore, MD The G-Spot $

* = w/ THALIA ZEDEK BAND, THE WEIGHT
# = w/ MARISSA NADLER
% = w/ JASON ISBELL
$ = w/ PHOSPHORESCENT
& = w/ FUTURE CLOUDS AND RADAR, ANNI ROSSI
^ = w/ CARY ANN HEARST

I passed by a few nice cover tunes while driving on the internet super highway, along with news that Bon Iver is releasing a new EP called Blood Bank and Phosphorescent a Willie Nelson tribute album (click “via” links for more details).

Deer Tick also recorded a favorite Paul Simon tune and it’s nice to hear him accompanied by a piano. “Something In The Way” is a natural song choice for Van of Port O’brien’s voice.

Deer Tick – Still Crazy After All These Years (Paul Simon via)

Bon Iver – Your Love (The Outfield via)

Port O’Brien – Something In The Way (Nirvana)

Phosphorescent – Reasons To Quit (Willie Nelson via)

As Oz and I tirelessly compile our list of 2008’s top 50 albums, we continue to bring up 2007 releases that were inexplicably left off last year’s list. Let’s chalk it up to rookie blogging or heads up asses.

The good news is that most of the acts listed below have releases coming out in ‘09. Our best EP’s of ‘08 will be out tomorrow and watch out for the top 50 albums of ‘08 next week.

1. The Everybodyfields – Nothing Is Okay

I am so pissed that I first found out about them earlier this year. They are amazing musicians with beautiful vocals singing timeless songs.

The Everybodyfields – Aeroplane

The Everybodyfields – Everything Is Okay

The Everybodyfields – Don’t Turn Around

The Everybodyfields – Lonely Anywhere

Here more tracks over at The Everybodyfields Live Session.

2. Delta Spirit – Ode To Sunshine

Loved the album but seeing them live at SXSW cemented their place as one of my favorites. “People C’mon” is one of the best songs of 2007. Couldn’t find a track – Sorry.

3. The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain

I was late on the scene with these guys but am absolutely enthralled with them now. The intricacy of their music is amazing to see live.

The Acorn – Crooked Legs

The Acorn – Flood Pt. I (from the HearYa Live Session w/ The Acorn)

4. Ox – American Lo-Fi

Mark Browning was born to sing Alt-Country. At this point, I can’t even stomach Cheap Trick’s original version of “Surrender” but Ox’s version is outstanding.

Ox – Miss Idaho

Ox – Surrender

Ox – Sugar Cane

5. The Bees – Octupus

I liked this last year and have no clue how we left it off the list. Probably for the same reason we just realized that Drive-By Truckers wasn’t on our 2008 list until tonight. Our heads are often up our collective asses over here.

The Bees – This Is For The Better Days

6. Deer Tick – War Elephant

War Elephant was another ‘07 album that was just re-released in ‘08.

Deer Tick – Art Isn’t Real (City of Sin)

7. The Deep Dark Woods – Hang Me Oh Hang Me

In my review of this album, I compared them to myself on acid wearing a Cowboy hat. In spite of my limited literary skills, check ‘em out.

The Deep Dark Woods – Hang Me Oh Hang Me

8. AA Bondy – American Hearts

After seeing him perform for our Live Session, it was apparent that Gus (aka Bondy) is the true embodiment of a musician. You feel better for the opportunity to speak with him, not to mention hearing him play.

Exclusive: A.A. Bondy – Rapture Sweet Rapture

Exclusive: A.A. Bondy – There Is A Reason

Both tracks from our AA Bondy Live Session.

9. Bean Pickers Union – Potlatch

Want something cheery? Listen to Beyonce’s alter ego, Sasha Fierce. Want a slice of dark Americana? Listen to The Bean Picker’s Union.

Bean Pickers Union – Potlatch

10. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

Jagjaguwar re-released this in ‘08 but Oz is a stickler for the rules, so it’s staying off our ‘08 list.  To be honest, I am not really into Bon Iver, but Oz threatened to fire me if I didn’t include it.

Bon Iver – Skinny Love

Did you discover a great ‘07 album in ‘08? Let us know.

I wrote about Deer Tick’s War Elephant back in January and described it like this:

Have you ever been poured a really stiff drink that makes the hairs on your arm stand up and a shiver go down your spine? You get that burn in your throat and breathe a bit of fire. It’s a bit uncomfortable but then after you’re used to it, it becomes warm and pleasant. I guess the same could be said for peeing in your pants. You know the feeling I’m talking about. Deer Tick is like that.

Since I wrote that, the album has become a personal favorite. You AA Bondy fans came out of the woodwork last week and I’d be comfortable recommending Deer Tick to you. The vocals aren’t as easy to digest as Bondy, but this album is phenomenal.

Deer Tick signed with Partisan Records who re-released War Elephant earlier this month. John McCauley is the man behind the moniker and he wrote, recorded, and played every instrument on the album at the age of 20. That’s more than I did at age 20.

He has since grown a quite a moustache.

Deer Tick – Art Isn’t Real (City of Sin)

Deer Tick – Long Time