Interview: Deer Tick

In the midst of their largest UK tour to date, Rhode Island's Deer Tick answer a few Ragged Words email inquiries. The band's final run of dates include Whelans in Dublin this weekend and don't forget we have a double pass to give away along with the band's two records here.

1. You’ve played everywhere from farms to front rooms in the states, any plans to play some equally left field locations in the UK?

I'd certainly like to. But it doesn't seem like we'll be doing that this time. Perhaps next time around.

2. You’ve just toured with Neko Case, a great artist, what other current artists would you like to tour with and why?

I'd like to tour with Paul Westerberg. I think he's a really smart songwriter, and kind of a living legend, though I don't think he'd prefer to be called that.

3. A key part of the Deer Tick sound is John’s voice – John, how many bags of gravel does it take to create a voice like yours or has it been there since birth?

Birth? No. Puberty? Maybe. There's no trick to it. I don't condition my voice to sound like that. It just happens that way.

4. Ragged Words understands that John played the majority of instruments on debut ‘War Elephant’. Has your latest release ‘Born on Flag Day’ been more a full band effort and if so do you prefer to record solo or with the band?

I like recording and playing with the band much better. I'm a hack drummer and bassist anyway.

5. Born On Flag day appropriately depicts a flag banner on the sleeve, the original War Elephant release had an ancient War Elephant on the cover. What inspired the decision to change the War Elephant sleeve for re-release to a band, babes and guns photo?

It's a joke, much like most of the music industry. We weren't planning on using that for the cover, but when the idea came up, it was difficult to say no to.

6. Much of ‘War Elephant’ was apparently astonishingly written before John’s 19th Birthday. John when did you first start writing songs and when did you first realise that music was what you wished to pursue?

I started writing pretty young. 13 or 14. I'm still not satisfied with anything that's been released, and I think the albums are deceptively hokey. Live, our sound is much harder.

7. Born On Flag Day appears to lean more toward traditional Indy rock than War Elephant, for example the song ‘Easy’. How do you feel that your song writing and sound has developed since War Elephant?

I don't like the term indie rock. I'd like to develop into something more timeless and unique.

8. Please explain to those outside the US of the significance to Deer Tick of ‘Flag Day’ and why was it chosen as the album title?

Flag Day in the states in June 14, which is my birthday that I share with an uncle of mine. It seemed appropriate for some reason.

9. Nights in bars and loneliness are common themes in your music (‘The Ghost’, ‘Friday XIII’). How autobiographical are these sentiments?

Depends on the song I guess. Friday XIII is just a story. The Ghost is more grounded in truth.

10. Your song ‘Friday XIII’ off Flag Day features a great duet with Liz Isenberg. Was the inspiration for the song and duet inspired jointly and are you planning to feature duets as a core part of the Deer Tick sound in the future?

I think duets are fun. I always have. Jana Hunter and I tried doing a duets album a few years ago, but unfortunately it never got finished and I don't think it will. I wouldn't expect to hear a duet on every album, but there will be more. Liz and I wrote Friday XIII one night we'd been up drinking. Around sunrise we grabbed a guitar and decided to write a duet.

11. You did an interview with NBC Nightly News’ Brian Williams – how did the interview come about and how do you feel that his status as one of the “worlds 100 most influential people” has positively influenced your career?

It was really nice of him to profile us like that. We've gotten a lot of positive responses from that. He and Rolling Stone's David Fricke are responsible for a good portion of our success. It was a bit strange how is got started. All of a sudden I got a phone call from our manager saying "You have to be in New York on Monday, Brian Williams is going to interview you at NBC Studios." Getting a call like that, at that time, was very strange and exciting.

Deer Tick remaining European dates

2 Dec 2009 The Musician, Leicester
3 Dec 2009 Dulcimer, Manchester
4 Dec 2009 Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
5 Dec 2009 The Captain’s Rest, Glasgow
6 Dec 2009 Whelans, Dublin 
8 Dec 2009 The Windmill Brixton, London