Deer Tick

Deer Tick’s by-the-book rockabilly is mostly notable for the band’s age (very young) and hometown (Providence, Rhode Island—not exactly the South). But what Deer Tick lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with foot-stompin’, hootin’ and hollerin’ energy, not to mention the gravel-smeared voice of baby-faced frontman John McCauley. The group’s sophomore album, 2009’s Born On Flag Day, reaffirms the band’s disinterest in innovation, but ups the ante with regard to raising a ruckus, while 2010’s full-length, The Black Dirt Sessions, is a sparser, ballad-heavy album that serves as a piano-led group-sing after last call. The band’s latest, Divine Providence, sees McCauley’s booze-drenched tales imbued with tough-guy sincerity and sharp (but sloppy) hooks.

Updated 05/24/2012