On a picturesque summer evening by the lake, Dillon Amphitheater was packed with fans eagerly awaiting a sold-out performance by the renowned singer-songwriter Jason Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit. With Deer Tick as the opening act, the stage was set for an unforgettable night of music.
Margo Price has earned her place as one of the most buzzworthy independent country music stars to emerge in the last few years. Late last year, she released her second record on Jack White’s Third Man Records, has played just about every TV show you can imagine, and has been universally praised, often by places that tend to overlook Country Music. Her current tour includes three nights at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird here in Denver.
Deer Tick rolled through town last week and played to a packed house at The Gothic Theatre down in Englewood. Despite the fact that they were missing their rhythm section, the band soldiered on a trio and thrilled the crowd with set that was a little bit more Country than it was Rock-n-Roll. Deer Tick is known for wild shows, and last week’s set at The Gothic didn’t disappoint. Local rockers The Knew opened the night with every ounce of the passion and fervor they are known for.
When Deer Tick took the stage on Sunday night at The Bluebird, there were light bulbs that flashed the words “Deer” and “Tick” behind the band. Lead singer, and founder of the band, John McCauley was decked out in a fancy pink blazer and tie that was strangely appropriate for his band’s one-of-a-kind combination of blues, folk, country and in your face punk rock. McCauley’s gritty voice not only translated from record to stage almost seamlessly, but the emotional lyrics were brought to life in the live setting.
In the music industry there is such a huge difference between recording in a studio and performing live. Bands like The Beatles chose to give up touring entirely and focus on the sound they could only achieve in the studio, while other bands, like The Rolling Stones, seemed to focus more on harnessing the energy and power of their live show in studio settings. Providence, Rhode Island’s Deer Tick may not be The Stones or The Beatles, but they certainly are one of the most creatively prolific bands of recent memory.
