Emerging from the cold concrete of Providence, RI,
Deer Tick have fashioned a dusty, ragged blend of down-home rock ‘n’ roll that
flirts with Americana, alt-country, and punk blues while maintaining a
singularity that rests in frontman John J. McCauley III’s gruff vocal pipes.
After several frigid winters and drunken nights spent polishing their sarcastic
and rollicking act, Deer Tick exploded onto the scene in 2009, earning rave
reviews from Rolling Stone after
their spirited SXSW performance in March and heaps of praise once sophomore
album Born On Flag Day hit the
streets in June. Deer Tick sets out this week on a November mini-tour of the
East Coast, and EasternSurf.com caught
up with the succinct McCauley about drinking beer, studio magic, and farting in
bathtubs.
ESM: Your bio says you had
an epiphany when you first heard Hank Williams, Sr. — you supposedly holed
yourself up with a bottle of brandy in a cold bedroom and emerged several days
later with newfound purpose. True or false?
John J.
McCauley III: Yeah, it’s true — why, you think it sounds bogus? When I first
really listened to Hank, it changed my mind about what a song could be. From
that moment on, I think I was tapped so to speak by the songwriter’s collective
unconscious. It led me away from home for some furthered self-discovery.
ESM: You started off playing
with Paul Marandola, then went solo, and then expanded the band to its current
lineup (Andrew Tobiassen, Ian O’Neill, Christopher Ryan, and Dennis Ryan). What
motivated those ups and downs?
JM: That's not entirely true
— Paul remained a member of Deer Tick as often as he could. He even went
out on a few tours as our drummer. I’ve never wanted to be a singer/songwriter
with a moniker… that shit's wack.
ESM: You added several of
those guys because of their vocal and harmonizing abilities. Were you trying to
offset your rough-around-the-edges voice? And how did you get those weatherized
pipes?
JM: I just like harmonies,
man. Scream a lot and you too can fuck up your voice.
ESM: Your 2007 tour was
compounded by album release problems, financial issues, and low morale. What
happened?
JM: That tour sucked.
There was a lot of tension between everybody, and the van was packed tight with
shit. The fact that we didn't have an album and had no cash pretty much threw
us over the edge. We managed to make it all the way through though without
missing a show.
ESM: The recording sessions
for 2009 album Born On Flag Day were
hectic to say the least — you were living in Brooklyn while the rest of
the band was still in Rhode Island, and you guys were, in your own words,
“underrehearsed.” How did Deer Tick manage to produce such an amazing album?
JM: Studio magic [laughs].
Actually, Born On Flag Day is lacking
a lot of studio magic. I don't know [about amazing]… in my opinion, the album
was rushed. We didn't really think about what we were doing.
ESM: How does that album
differ from Deer Tick debut War Elephant,
which you recorded entirely on your own?
JM: Born On Flag Day opens up a lot of doors, whereas War Elephant is a much more
claustrophobic listen. Plus, on Flag Day you don't have to deal with my hack drumming and bass playing.
ESM: Any meaning behind the
title Born On Flag Day?
JM: Pretty simple —
I was born on Flag Day [June 14th]. So was my Uncle Frank.
ESM: The record came out
right after Deer Tick received heaps of
mainstream press — you were one of Rolling Stone’s Top 5 Bands from SXSW,
and you were the first band to appear on NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams’
new music show. Did that attention feel like validation for all your hard work?
JM: Hell yeah, it did. It
couldn't have happened at a better time. We've been very grateful for all that
stuff.
ESM: You’ve toured with
several artists — Castanets, The Felice Brothers, Neko Case — who
share your influences but might not play their brand of indie rock quite as
loud and rip-roarin’ as Deer Tick does. Have those experiences been positive?
JM: For the most part, it’s
been really great. I think The Felice Brothers and us saw more eye to eye than
a lot of the other bands we've toured with. When we're in town, we're there to
party, even if we're singing a ballad.
ESM: Press photos like the
one of you hauling 12-packs of Coors out of a convienence store sure speak to that
hard-partying nature. Has increased touring and popularity heightened that
reputation?
JM: It's hard to play a
show without someone buying you a round of shots or beers. But hey, I'm not
complaining. I don't know — I guess I drink a lot of beer on a daily
basis, touring or not.
ESM: Your website says a
third record is already in the bag — will it see the light of day in
2009?
JM: No, that'll probably
come out in March 2010.
ESM: What else waits in
Deer Tick’s future?
JM: We've got a little EP, More Fuel For The Fire, which should
be out by Christmas. Other than that, we'll mostly be farting in bathtubs,
penning our fourth record, and of course touring nonstop.
DEER TICK
TOUR DATES
11/4
11/5
11/6
11/7
11/8
|
Revolution Hall…………………………………… Troy, NY
The Space………………………………………… Hamden, CT
Newport Blues Café……………………………… Newport, RI
Iron Horse………………………………………… Northampton, MA
Church……………………………………………..
Boston, MA
|
|
11/18
11/19
11/20
11/21
11/22 |
Knight Theatre (with Neko Case)…………………. Charlotte,
NC
The Plaza Theatre (with Neko Case)……………. Orlando, FL
The Moon (with Neko Case)………………………. Tallahassee,
FL
The Republic (with Neko Case)…………………… New Orleans,
LA
Warehouse Live (with Neko Case)………………… Houston,
TX
|
|
For all
things Deer Tick, visit www.deertickmusic.com or www.myspace.com/deertick
