Show Review: Deer Tick @ The Independent 3/3
March 5, 2010
Photos by: Charlie Homo
It remains unclear whether the twangy, young-hearted Deer Tick has always had such a strong blend of comical and confident stage presence. My last experience with the band in San Francisco seemed much more innocent and charming than say, rambunctious. Perhaps the pressures of corporate sponsorship and a highly anticipated “sold out” show Wednesday at The Independent put the pressure on Deer Tick to perform, because boy, did they put on some kind of show. Staged in between two T-Mobile spotlights, the Rhode Island quartet took to the stage in feathered masks, and an onslaught of crowd-thrillers instantly began.
Sometimes you think you’ve seen it all, and then you get a new first. While McCauley blabbered on about his best friend in the whole world, a fellow named Paul, the bass player is on his cellphone (onstage) and gets Paul on the line. Soon enough, an all-inclusive happy birthday singalong commenced ringing loud throughout The Independent. For the curious, yes, McCauley sings all songs in that signature Deer Tick raspy, bullfrog tone.
The signs of pre-show intoxication were obvious. Aside from the generous collection of beer bottles next to each microphone stand, there were frontman John McCauley’s intermittent soloing, confessions of which Deer Tick numbers he does and doesn’t like, and playing his instrument about the stage while crawling on his knees. One of War Elephant’s strongest, “These Old Shoes,” marked the tipping point for his outlandish behavior, as McCauley decided to crowdsurf halfway to the bar, guitar, cable and all.
Via eavesdropping upstairs, I learned that while many of us stood outside in a mess of guest list and ticket acquisition, John had done a pre-performance acoustic set of various covers. It makes me wonder how much time he actually had to get so hammered. In any event, due to unforeseen circumstances requiring me to leave early, I apparently missed additional booze-fueled mayhem:
Seriously?
nice one.
for some reason i always feel like i am being ‘marketed’ to like this band, but his vocal aesthetic has always sounded a bit contrived to me. oh well.
You left early? I guess that’s why you didn’t mention John coming back onstage in just his underwear, pulling his dick out and using it as a pic to strum his guitar. Oh yeah, then there was the time when he went over to his guitar player and started making out with him, then asking for a safety pin so he could pierce himself on the lip, above his right nipple and in his side. Another moment you must have missed was when he flipped off the sponsor (T Mobil) and told them to fuck off, getting the crowd to chant it. Not to mention he was so drunk that his guitar playing was compromised. I do have to say that they played until 1 AM and the show was a lot nicer once all the “free show”, ” Ive heard Deer Tick is good” people thinned out. Maybe next month when they play the Great American, John will be just drunk and not wasted, so I actually see some good rock music .
^the show was a lot nicer once all the “free showâ€, †Ive heard Deer Tick is good†people thinned out…
what? versus the “I like listening to sh*t-faced crappy vocals and crappy d*ck guitar strumming” people who stay until the end because they like punishing their ears and somehow chalk that up to indie rock cred?
get a clue. the whole point of having a gig like that is to bring out people who have maybe heard the buzz and are curious. then its up to the band to take hold of that opportunity and make some new fans. instead the lead singer acted like a drunk 17 year old whose parents were out of town on vacation and left him too much cash. by all means Mr. McCauley, get your drink on, have fun with the sponsored gig, even bite that hands that feeds if you want, but do it with a bit more composure.
I saw a Youtube vid of “ashamed” fron that night and I think Chantelle Tibbs as guest vocals was the shining light on that song.
Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27zk2L3QHHQ