chris rotolo reviews the alt-country band’s live show in the city by the sea…
ASBURY PARK – Like a prom night plucked from the scriptures of the ‘50s, Rhode Island’s favorite country-fried Blues-Punks, Deer Tick, crawled atop The Stone Pony’s hallowed planks in pastel painted pelts of powdered blues and chalky reds, maintaining the visual aesthetic associated with the outfit’s presidential campaign-themed tour on evening number two of its 48-date promenade about the states.
However, emitting from the stacks was less a series of slow-dance anthems torn from the songbook of Marvin Berry, and more the soundtrack to a sizzling back yard barn dance, driven forth by the singed and jangling fret-work of former Titus Andronicus axe-wielder Ian O’Neill, and the soulful croon of front-man John McCauley, his flame-licked vocals kept ablaze by a series of vodka shots consumed throughout the evening.
Skinny-jeans sporting patrons draped in plaid knocked bodies with women in tube tops, some sent to the deck to dig amongst a thick assortment of busted beer bottles for loose earrings and mishandled cell phones, dodging boot heals and large shards while shouting along to such setlist staples as “Baltimore Blues, No. 1,”Main Street,” and the crowd pleasing unity tune “Let’s All Go To The Bar.”
Not bad for the group’s first trip to Asbury Park.
In support was the Nashville-based Garage-Rock four-piece Turbo Fruits that’s 2009 single “Mama’s Mad Cos I Fried My Brain” proved to be the decided anthem of the 4/20 showcase by a series of show goers who, by the scent of things, had celebrated the unofficial holiday, rooted in mind altering debauchery, earlier in the day.
Opening the evening’s festivities, and providing the Pony with an air of nostalgia, was the Northern New Jersey Grunge collective Jounce, an outfit fronted by bass plucker, and former Nickelodeon star, Danny Tamberelli (Pete & Pete, All That), who proceeded to lead his Rock squadron through a captivating set of originals, while fighting back a grin when celebrated by adoring fans, culminating with a riotous rendition of The Who’s “Young Man Blues.”
If you missed out on Deer Tick this time around be sure to check them out on the group’s final tour stop at the Clearwater Music Festival in Croton Park, NY on June 17th alongside the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Ani Defranco, Martin Sexton, and more.
Check out Chris Rotolo’s Asbury Park-centric website, Speak Into My Good Eye, for more in-depth news, reviews, thoughts and interviews about the re-emerging musical mecca.
Comments are closed.