Deer Tick @Union Transfer, Philadelphia 11-06-2013

Deer Tick performing "The Rock", live at the Union Transfer

Having never seen Deer Tick live before, but hearing of their live exploits over the years, I went in with pretty big expectations and happily they were met and then some. I didn't get into Deer Tick until 2011 and went back and discovered their older releases. And over the last few years there are few artists I've listened to more than them. It is startling to see their progression from a folky alt/country outfit to, well, the second coming of the Replacements. And the suit with red hearts worn by McCauley and "custom-made from a couch" is definitely something I could see Paul Westerberg wearing.

Deer Tick are just a great live band and even though the latest album, Negativity, has more contemplative piano-based songs, than their previous few releases, they still translated into a compelling live performance. Negativity is an apt title, as singer/guitarist/keyboardist John McCauley was going through a break up with Nicky Darlin of Those Darlins and his father (and Rhode Island state rep) was convicted of tax fraud. McCauley seems to have recovered OK from the former and is now dating singer Vanessa Carlton, who also appears on the album on a duet with McCauley ("In Our Time"). 

Their roughly 105-minute set was understandably heavy on their last two albums, with 5 tracks from 2011's Divine Providence and 9 tracks from Negativity, the former because it is full of the kind of up-tempo songs that translate well live and the latter obviously because it's the new album.

During the middle of the set they did a Q&A, where they read and answer questions taken randomly from a box at the merch stand. Each member of the band answered a question. Finally the last question, answered by McCauley, was, "Why don’t I like your new record at all?” McCauley then asked rhetorically, “Why did you come tonight, idiot?” And then the band started to play “Spend the Night” and changed the words to “Suck My Balls", before playing the song normally.

Setlist:

1. The Rock 
2. Main Street 
3. The Curtain 
4. Just Friends
5. The Dream’s in the Ditch 
6. Baltimore Blues No. 1 
7. Big House
8. Clownin’ Around 
9. Standing at the Threshold
10. Hey Doll 
11. Mange 

Q&A

12. Spend the Night / I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) (Hank Williams cover) 
13. Mr. Sticks 
14. Thyme 
15. Dirty Dishes 
16. She’s Not Spanish
17. Miss K >  
18. 12 Bar Blues (NRBQ cover)
19. Trash 
20. The Bump 
21. Easy

Encore:
22. Ashamed
23. Let’s All Go to the Bar 

You can also check out a few videos from the show at my You Tube account.

Year in Music 2012 - Part One

I probably listened to more new music this year than I can ever remember thanks to Band Camp and Dead Radio Sound. But ultimately I found myself liking the new releases by older veteran favorites of mine to that of most of the cutting-edge stuff. And in many ways it was the year of the EP release with some stellar 4 and 5-song EPs. 

Generally, my list goes from around November to November. So anything that comes out in November and December of the previous year works its way into the next year’s list. That holds true this year with a few late 2011 releases on my 2012 list. But here are other some notable earlier 2011 releases that I didn’t discover until 2012:

Some Notable 2011 Releases I Missed Out On Last Year

The Black Belles – S/T (Third Man Records). Discovered by none other than Jack White and signed to his label, this female Nashville quartet blends bluesy garage rock with a goth look that probably confuses a lot of people. And this was a bit catchier to these ears than anything White's done himself in the last few years.

The Darlings – The New Escape (Gadsen). If you mixed Bad Religion and I dunno - Blink 182? - they may sound like the Darlings. This was one of these albums I found organically, just from iTunes recommendations and a few mentions in reviews and enjoyed it during a time when very few new albums were in my rotation. Then I realized they were sort of being pushed by KROQ in SoCal. You can definitely imagine their sound being popular on modern rock radio in the late 90's/early 00's, as they meet most pop/punk cliches, right down to the band members all having the last name "Darling." Overall, it's a decent album. It might have even been a huge hit in like 2001. But most likely these guys are probably destined for like 2:30pm slots on the Warped Tour until the end of time.

Hanni El Khatib – Will the Guns Come Out. (Dine Alone/Universal). Khatib plays a brand of funky blues-based garage rock that would fit nicely next to the first White Stripes record. And Khatib even branches out into sort of a rock/R&B hybrid on a few tracks. I heard this music in a few commercials and actually thought it was the White Stripes at first. "You Rascal You", "I Got a Thing", and "Fuck It, You Win" are the highlights.

The Horrible Crowes - Elsie (Side One Dummy). In between Gaslight Anthem albums, Brian Fallon recorded this album of more quiet contemplative pop/rock songs.

Nothington – Borrowed Time (Red Scare). Sort-of-named after their lead singer Jay Northington, this Bay area band fuses an old school punk sound with some poppier elements. Think more along the lines of Rancid or Social Distortion.

Now, Now - Neighbors EP (No Sleep Records). Formerly known as Now, Now Every Children this band switched labels and shortened their name. They definitely have Tegan and Sara or Seapony vibe.

Ovlov - What's So Great About the City? EP (Exploding in Sound). Definite 90's Grunge vibe. Sounds like a rawer version of the Smashing Pumpkins or Foo Fighters.

Roomrunner – S/T EP (Fan Death Records). Another band with a definite Grunge/hardcore vibe.

Sneeze - Grandma in the Trenches EP (Bear).

Speedy Ortiz - Cop Kicker EP (Cooling Pie).

Speedy Ortiz - The Death of Speedy Ortiz (Cooling Pie).

Woods - Sun and Shade (Woodsist). I've been a fan of Woods and everything Kevin Morby has done for several years now. I just lost this release in the shuffle of new albums last year and didn't get into it until early in 2012.

2012 Shows

Jeff Mangum - 01/25/12 at University of Pennsylvania - Irvine Auditorium.

Tommy Stinson - 03/09/12 at World Cafe Live as part of WXPN's Free at Noon series.

Cloud Nothings - 03/30/12 at Johnny Brenda's.

Rhett Miller - 06/05/12 at the World Cafe Live. Miller and the Serial Lady Killers performing mostly Rhett's solo material with a handful of Old 97's tracks as well.

Built To Spill - 06/23/12 at Union Transfer. I can finally cross "seeing Built to Spill live" off my bucket list.

Jesse Malin - 06/29/12 at Milk Boy. Solo acoustic gig for Malin.

D Generation - 07/03/12 at Johnny Brenda's. First gig in Philly for the reunited D Gen since 1999. 

Wilco - 7/21/12 at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden as headliner of the XPN Festival.

Sebadoh - 8/6/12 at Union Transfer. Sebadoh with new music, plus the usual favorites.

Bob Mould - 9/11/12 at Union Transfer. 20th anniversary of Sugar's Copper Blue in its entirety, plus other Mould and Husker Du tracks.

Old 97’s - 10/25/12 at Union Transfer. 15th Anniversary tour for Too Far To Care, so TFTC in its entirety, plus other favorites from the catalog.

Best EP, Singles Compilations, Reissues, etc (in alphabetical order)

Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue III. The final 3rd disc full of leftovers and b-sides from the original Mermaid Avenue sessions in the late 90's. It's easy to see why most of the tracks on the first two releases beat out these during the editing process, but about half of it is still very strong.

California X – Sucker/Mummy 7”

Deer Tick – Tim EP (Partisan). 

Old 97’s – Too Far to Care (Reissue)

R.E.M – Document (Reissue)

Rolling Stones – "Doom and Gloom" (single)

Roomrunner – Super Vague EP (Fan Death Records).

Sebadoh – Secret EP. First new Sebadoh material in over a decade. 'Nuff said.

Shark Tape – S/T EP. Shark Tape was one of my favorite Band Camp discoveries this year. They have a very late 80's Modern Rock sound, reminiscent of latter day Replacements or Echo and the Bunnymen.

Shark Tape – Eyes on You EP

Speedy Ortiz – Sports EP (Exploding in Sound). This is probably the best EP release of the year. 5 killer tracks from a band with a great future.

Speedy Ortiz – Taylor Swift/Swim Fan (single) (Exploding in Sound).

Times New Viking – Over & Over EP

Toy Soldiers – Tell the Teller EP (Mad Dragon).

Paul Westerberg – "My Road Now" (single)

The Rest of EPs and Singles

The Biters – Last of a Dying Breed EP,  Free Energy – "Dance All Night" (single), Free Energy – "Electric Fever" (single), Heat Dust – S/T EP, Chris Mars – "When I Fall Down" (single), Metallica – Beyond Magnetic EP, Quilty – Masonish EP, The Raveonettes – Into the Night EP, theHell – Sauve Le Requins EP, Those Darlins – "Pet You and Hold You" (single), Those Darlins – "Summer’s Dead" (single), Wye Oak – "Dance My Pain Away" (single)


Next: Albums 35 to 21 in the countdown