C=T sent Kathleen Tarrant to the Larimer Lounge to soak up the Whiskey induced sounds from Deer Tick.

When Deer Tick takes the stage, it sort of feels like the world just lit on fire. John
McCauley’s neck veins pop like roots bringing the heart to the head, and he sings his
rough, folk colored, bruising rock as though he expects a riot. The Larimer Lounge was
packed full on Wednesday, the attendees ranging from men with clouds of white hair
and leather motorcycle jackets to plaid-adorned young folks pigeon toed holding PBRs.
Despite any lifestyle differences in the gathered crowd, it was one of those shows that
is swept away and dictated by the band. It was as though Deer Tick was using the room
as a punching bag for their music, throwing it out with such ferocity and meaning. When
McCauley sang the solo to “Christ Jesus” from War Elephant, his face was red, his spit
was flying, and every word was a promise and a net and we were captured.

The set rarely let up, though it made room between raucous guitar for some down
tempo moments swelling with tight harmonies. The show felt a little rough, a little
loose, like something strange could happen, and would happen. And did happen.
McCauley rambled into the crowd at one point, singing and stumbling and kissing his
fans’ foreheads, never letting the melody stray. Before a few songs there were uncouth
announcements about their meaning. “This song is about trying to get laid and being too
drunk.” “This song is about oral sex.” Enter guitar lick.

Deer Tick hails back to the kind of bathed-in-whiskey-and-sorrow rock that can wander
into a caricature of itself if not approached with authenticity. However, McCauley and
his band own that haywire recklessness and marry it with music that buries itself in
your gut. It was one of those rare (and extraordinarily long) shows that makes even the
most reserved of head bobbers send their own roots shooting down to draw up the hot,
messy stuff that Deer Tick’s music relates to.

Deer Tick-Piece by Piece, Frame by Frame [mp3]