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Day Three Hundred Two (Year Two)

So, my ears are still ringing a little bit, but...

Someone asked me today who it was I saw last night, and when I told them it was Deer Tick, they hadn't heard of them and asked what they sounded like.  Off the top of my head, I said that they were "a mixture of Uncle Tupelo and The Replacements."  The more I live with that description, the more it seems accurate to me.

Last night's show started at 9, doors opened at 8, though and R. and I got there early enough that we were able to get a spot right in front of the stage, which was both good and bad.

There were 3 bands last night: The Stepkids, The Turbo Fruits, and (of Course) Deer Tick.  The Stepkids were seemingly airlifted straight out of the 70's and dropped onto the stage at Vaudeville Mews.  The whole band was completely dressed in white, and played white instruments.  All of their music utilized clean guitar tones and high three part harmonies.  Then there was the projector that flashed tie-dyed color schemes and other designs onto a screen behind the band.  It was awesome, but if you had epilepsy as a kid, you could well have been in trouble.  Musically, they were good.  A bit jammy in places, and definitely more of an instrumental act than a group that has in it a brilliant lyricist.

The Turbo Fruits came next and were more loud than they were anything else.  That said, they felt like a natural choice for a Deer Tick warm-up.  The bass player seemed to be the most musically talented of the bunch, and he seemed aloof.  Almost to the point where he was doing this for a check, and on his off time he listens to NPR and writes esoteric jazz.

As for Deer Tick, they were incredible!  On record, John McCauley has mastered the art of making things sound loose and relaxed.  Live, they were amazingly tight.  I'm not sure what the name of their lead guitarist is, but he was astoundingly good, and even stepped in and did a bit of singing as well, taking the lead vocal on a couple of songs.  I was expecting McCauley to carry the load, but he shared the stage (and the spotlight) with all of the guys in the band.

I haven't found a setlist yet, but it seemed like Deer Tick played a lot of songs.

I'd go anywhere, any time to see this band again.

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