Last Night – DEER TICK

Posted by chrisking on May 5, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized

The biggest problem I have with Deer Tick is their name. No, I don’t find it gross or odd or offensive (except when I google image for a band picture and find a gallery of blood-filled monster bugs). I just have trouble remembering if it’s one word or two, and I know this is reflected in a lot of the advertising/promotions/marketing. A big apology to those guys if I fumbled the ball on the spelling. Especially after the show last night. Because now I know for sure that those scrawny Rhode Islanders could totally kick my ass. They proved it to a crowd of 200+ at last night’s show at Sticky Fingerz.

There are two kinds of great rock shows. One is the polished performance by exceptionally tight performers. The other (possibly more exciting) show to see is the one that is constantly on the verge of becoming completely unhinged. For over 90 minutes on a Tuesday night, Deer Tick definitely put on the latter with just the right dose of raw playfulness and passionate delivery that kept the audience guessing. At any given time they could veer into the “Sweet Child O’ Mine” solo or Richie Valens’ “Oh Donna” before flipping the switch and rocking out cut after cut from their stellar “Born on Flag Day”. Bonus points for opening with a short reading of The Replacements “Alex Chilton”.

Deer Tick has a new record coming out on June 8, and we look forward to their return to Little Rock.