Recently at Harper’s Ferry, Junkmedia watched John McCauley lead the denizens of Deer Tick through a fiery set composed equally of instant classics from first LP War Elephant and new album to be released in June, Born on Flag Day. Frankly, it was a religious experience. And not because of any hype or expectations that followed the band into Allston that evening, but due to a workmanlike performance which oddly enough suggested Deer Tick are some transcendent, rustic New England reincarnation of The Dead or something.

Allow us to explain. The extent to which McCauley is rooted in the folk/grunge scenes of New England is staggering. A friend of yours in Cambridge has probably jammed with him before. Some of them might even made some field recordings with McCauley. His dedication to remain an everyman came across in all the witty banter, including but not limited to talk about shrimping, as McCauley told all the women in high heels, “Ladies, don’t step in any shit. I wanna suck your toes later.” This band has played with Jana Hunter toured with Elvis Perkins. A current opening spot on the Jenny Lewis tour assures Deer Tick are ready for their moment to rock. It’s refreshing to hear an old soul write lyrics this wholly badass.

But what of the new tunes? How do they hold up against those on War Elephant? Amazingly well, the way the second Wolf Parade record expanded on the sound they made on the first while no longer sounding like they were all individual members in a group trying to get their songs on the record. This new DT album still has the singer/ songwriter quality as War Elephant, but the riffs are bigger, sadder, and more conducive to making hips move. New song “Straight into a Storm” begins with a super-sized Zep homage to “Whole Lotta Love” before turning into a rockabilly bluegrass number. You can see how these parallels to The Dead are apt.

Even the spirit of how Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia wrote songs together is alive in Deer Tick’s repertoire. A great example is “These Old Shoes,” one of the best tunes on War Elephant that was given a new depth of soul when McCauley’s old friend, songwriting partner, (whose name eludes us), became the lyricist of that song,. But important to remember is that the guy also led the band through a rousing cover of Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”. Between that cover and the cover of “La Bamba” fused with “Twist and Shout,” we remain convinced that Deer Tick’s dexterity as a well-oiled, rockabilly touring machine will keep them in working order for a long time coming.

--Photo by Mark Gottlieb.