Posts Tagged ‘John McCauley’

DEER TICK – ” Straight Into A Storm ” Documentary

Posted: May 7, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Reflecting on 10 years as a band, Deer Tick have announced a new documentary entitled Straight Into A Storm.

Straight Into a Storm, tells the story of how the band Deer Tick, fronted by John McCauley, surfed the waves and tempests of the rock & roll life to accumulate a diehard fan base and a cultish identity that has kept them on the road for well over a decade. With never-before-seen archival footage, interviews with friends like Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith and plenty of live shots to bring to life Deer Tick’s lengthy story.The film – directed by William Miller focuses on the band’s history as well as their 10-year anniversary run at Brooklyn Bowl over New Year’s 2014.

The film also shows how vital the band dynamic – now including Ian O’Neil, Chris Ryan and Dennis Ryan – is to Deer Tick’s sound.

“Our 10-year anniversary shows were a celebration for our fans and for us,” the band said in an official statement. “It was a lot of work, but also a blast! William Miller was there every night to capture that spirit. We’re proud and excited for his film to get an official release and proper distribution by partnering with Abramorama.”

On their last set of records, Deer Tick Vol. 1 and Deer Tick Vol. 2, the Nashville-based, Rhode Island-bred band made peace with their dual sides: one acoustic and one electric, it showcased the breadth of their range and their ability to hop from somber folk one moment to raucous, sweaty punk the next.

Straight Into A Storm will debut at New York City’s Roxy Cinema Tribeca, followed by a Q+A from the band and a concert cruise around Manhattan.

DEER TICK – Vol 1 & Vol. 2

Posted: September 17, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Deer Tick tickets

After scrapping some stuff they did in 2015, the boys met for their traditional run during the Newport Folk Festival in 2016 and creative juices began to flow. Their set was outstanding and a tremendous amount of fun for everybody involved.

2013′s Negativity were the nascent stages of John McCauley coming out of a funk. We’re now experiencing a McCauley who has a nice home life with a baby girl and is generally taking care of himself – running and cutting back on the booze and smokes. Much like Jason Isbell, those developments have not deterred him from penning some quality tracks. And quality tracks you will get; in fact you’ll get 20 – split among two separate LPs (don’t call it a double album). Vol 1 is the acoustic and Vol 2 sees them plugging in. Folk rockers Deer Tick are the well-established cult band with a huge international following.

The most endearing quality of Deer Tick has always been their heart-on-sleeve approach to their music. While they be married and more mature, that aesthetic is still on full display throughout. Vol 1 opener, Sea Of Clouds is a track about letting go built. McCauley’s rasp is surrounded by angelic harmonies and the tune, built around in a tasty acoustic lick, eventually builds into an orchestral finish.

Only Love is a sad track about the impending end of a relationship. And as you’ve come to expect, McCauley hits it out of the park but the rhythm section is the real star here. It doesn’t let the tune get too bogged down and it really works. On Vol. 2, McCauley mines the addiction subject again with Jumpstarting, arguably the best track of the twenty. I get goose bumps just imagining how this will play out live (yes, I am that lame). The boys revisit the Deervana days with the Nirvana inspired It’s a Whale and Sloppy.

On the back-half on Vol. 2, McCauley takes a humorous look at being a band at the summer festivals with S.M.F. This is sure to be another winner live. That leads into the touching instrumental, Pulse – a tribute to the victims of the 2016 Orlando shooting. The closer, Mr. Nothing Gets Worse, sung by Ian O’Neil feels like it was lifted off one of the Diamond Rugs albums; boozy sax and all.

Not many bands could have pulled this off. But Deer Tick certainly have, Throughout the 20 songs, you get the full gamut of Deer Tick in a way that reflects their current station in life. Good for them. They are and always will be one of my favorites.