Rhode Island's own alternative-folk outfit Deer Tick has seen incredible progress since their debut in 2004. Formed individually by singer/songwriter John McCauley, the project released their first album, War Elephant, in 2007 with McCauley playing all instruments on the record and wrote each song. Since Deer Tick’s first release there have been three more studio albums, constant touring, and a number of collaboration work with various artists. This upcoming September 24th (9/24/2013) sees the release of the long-awaited new Deer Tick album Negativity via Partisan Records. This summer Deer Tick has been touring throughout the East Coast and made their way to the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey on June 14th. It was the closest spot to Philadelphia the band was going to be this tour, and it was not a show to be missed. Check out photos from the show here.
June 14th is Flag Day; Deer Tick's second release is entitled Born On Flag Day, indeed the show at The Stone Pony was the 27th birthday celebration of lead singer John J. McCauley III. As we walked through the doors of the Asbury Park venue, the crowd was already very lively, providing an atmosphere magnifying the anticipation for music. Generously spacious, the first room greets with a full sized bar and merchandise table selling T-Shirts and Hoodies. The main stage is right by an outside deck with a delightful view of the boardwalk. Opening the night was Neptune City's own singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins. The intensity and propensity of Nicole Atkins' powerful vocals swooned the audience into a mesmerizing dancing frenzy. As the night progressed, the crowd became anxious to welcome Deer Tick once again to Asbury Park.
Set up on stage in giant casino-style lights spelled 'Deer Tick' lit the room as the band joined the stage. John McCauley wore a shirt sporting a large number '27', to commemorate his birthday. Starting the show with a raw and righteous performance of the fan favorite, "Let's All Go To The Bar," a perfect anthem to start a night at The Stone Pony. After the song McCauley exclaimed, "It's my party, and I can cry if I fucking want to!" Happy birthdays and congratulations were shouted from the audience in a fury, there was a confirmation that the fans were ready to celebrate. Continuing to a track from War Elephant, "Standing At The Threshold", led people to singing along in unison.
Next was an energetic and propelling performance of "The Bump," the first track from the latest Deer Tick release Divine Providence. McCauley's vocals are scratchy and viciously rock and roll with passion and prosperity. Drummer Dennis Ryan proved to be a strong member of the group providing radical rhythm sending the audience to dance along all night. Tick proceeded to play new tracks from their upcoming release Negativity. "It's going to be a dark record," said McCauley. The encore greeted John McCauley to the piano for an intimate performance of "Christ, Jesus" with the crowd genuinely singing along. Afterward the full band once again joined the stage for an amazing performance of the Divine Providence hit, "Main Street." Check out a video of the performance below:
The band seemed to enjoyed their time at the famous Asbury Park venue as McCauley stated, "It's great to be back here at The Stone Pony again." The band closed their set with an outstanding version of, "Miss K." With the growing reception Deer Tick has been gaining over the years, it's exciting to see what the future has in store for the band. Anticipating the release of Negativity in September will greet the band with accolade, as each release from the band has been a milestone. Philadelphia has last seen Deer Tick back in April 2012 when they had a show at the Union Transfer and in October 2011 when they played University Of Pennsylvania’s Harrison Auditorium and the band Fun open up for them. This upcoming autumn will bring the band good fortune as it is well deserved. The passion and prowess of the song writing within Deer Tick is ultimately impressive. Looking forward to be able to see Deer Tick once again, as they have the demeanor of a true and genuine rock and roll band. Philadelphia will always welcome Deer Tick, and the genius and brilliance of John McCauley's songwriting. As we approach the release of Negativity, the respect, creativity, and popularity of Deer Tick will continue to grow.
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