Deer Tick at Lupo's
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
Deer Tick at Lupo's
Deer Tick at Lupo's
Deer Tick at Lupos
Deer Tick took the Lupo's stage Saturday January 2 to a sold out house. It was the biggest headline show ever for the band with a growing national reputation. They opened with fan favorite "Main Street" from their breakthrough 2011 album Divine Providence. Next up was "The Dreams in the Ditch," from 2013's Negativity.The high energy show continued with "Art isn't Real," from their 2007 debut album War Elephant.
John McCauley
John McCauley is the driving force behind Deer Tick. The Providence native and Nashville resident founded the band. He's a gifted songwriter, distinctive vocalist and tour de force on stage. McCauley thanked the show's trendy sponsor, Narragansett Beer, noting that it was his grandfather's favorite beer.
Ian O'Neil
Lead guitarist Ian O'Neil shined all night long. Early in the show, his driving solo on "Card House" kicked the tempo up a notch or two. O'Neil's been writing more for the band including "The Dreams in the Ditch" and "Now its Your Turn," both show highlights.
Chris Ryan
Bass player Chris Ryan along with his brother, drummer Dennis Ryan keep the band grounded. Live Deer Tick moves seamlessly between genres while remaining under the umbrella of rock and roll. A swinging version of Duke Ellington’s "Don’t Get Around Much Anymore" was a mid-set crowd pleaser.
John McCauley
Perhaps the biggest ovation of the night came when McCauley’s wife, singer Vanessa Carlton, joined the band for “In Our Time,” a tune from the Negativity album. The countrified duet was pure Johnny and June, and the inclusion of Carlton, known for her breakout hit "A Thousand Miles" was a nice addition to the set.
Rock and Roll
Anyone who thinks rock and roll is dead might want to check in with Deer Tick - a formula that includes guitar driven rock, badass indie cred, and a dose of boy next door defiance. They play Rock and Roll like it was meant to be played - a little out of control, tastefully under-produced, and rough around the edges.
Live Music is Better
With 5 studio albums since 2007, the band has a lot of great material to draw on. Show highlights included the sharply crafted "These Old Shoes" and an epic take of Negativity's "The Rock." The show was a retrospective celebration of their career so far.
O'Neil Covers The Boss
Guitarist Ian O’Neil (with help from the 2,200+ in attendance) took lead vocals on the Springsteen classic "Hungry Heart." Known for throwing in a cover song from time to time, the band also played the NRBQ gem "Rocket in My Pocket."
Encore
With balloons raining down, the encore was just to the left of insane. Highlights included Deer Tick favorites “Ashamed,” and “Mange,” a Stones influenced rocker complete with tons of distortion and feedback. The show closed with a raucous version of “Let’s All Go to the Bar,” a wide open sing-a-long from their 4th album Divine Providence.
Last Good Tooth
Last Good Tooth, a band formed at RISD, warmed up the crowd on a chilly night. They played an impressive set featuring Brown Bird's Morganeve Swain on violin. There another Providence born band to watch.
