Deer Tick Inforoo™ Interview

My turn! Danbird and I were lucky enough to get the chance to sit down with Deer Tick, this past Sunday afternoon, for a short, but sweet chat. We had John, the primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist - Ian, on guitar and vocals - Dennis, the drummer, and Rob, who came up at the last minute, and plays keys, saxophone, and organ. Hope you guys dig it.



Are you guys having a good Bonnaroo thus far – any favorite moments or shows?

John: Last night ruled. A good friend of mine got really drunk and high on ecstasy. I peed on him and put toothpaste on his hair. We shot some fireworks off. I shot a candle with a gun and wax went everywhere – got all over Dennis. Then, he was going into random people's tents and stealing their booze and, like, breaking sh*t. It was, umm, one of the most depraved things, I think I've ever seen.

We've been lucky enough to see you guys a couple of times this weekend, both your own excellent set and your late night Deervana set, which was nuts in the best way possible, delivered in a big way. With your own set, do you guys plan set lists differently for festivals?

Ian: We didn't make a set list! We were running late. So, we just went on stage and when you don't make a set list and then you're like 'oh, sh*t, we have forty more minutes left, what do we do?!' Yeah, so we just, I guess, did it the best way possible!

With the Deervana thing, how did you guys get going with that and do you think there will be any Nirvana influence, intentional or not, with your newer material?

John: I think Nirvana has kind of always been a pretty strong influence on us. We started doing Deervana, I guess as a joke, really, for a friend's birthday party. And then, people started to really like it, so, now we have to break up the band.

Dennis: Pretty soon, it'll be no more.

What's up next for you guys, as far as the new release goes, or anything else that will be hitting soon?

Ian: We just finished recording our record.

Do you have a release date yet?

John: We were thinking October.

Going forward, is there another band whose trajectory you can see yourselves sort of following, as far as mile markers and success goes?

John: Dean Martin.

Dennis: Dean Martin.

I've got a couple questions, from over on Inforoo, some big fans of yours. Who are some of your favorite touring mates, headliners or openers?

Dennis: J Roddy Walston & The Business.

John: Dead Confederate.

Ian: Phosphorescent, some good friends of ours, and Dawes, as well.

We saw Phosphorescent on the Deervana stage – definitely making their presence known, which was awesome...

Ian: Yeah, the next morning they were like “We wonder if Deer Tick is actually pissed off at us?!” Us and them were kind of on a, I dunno, we'd been drinking all day...

Dennis: It was a long day.

John: Yeah, some people are like here (gestures low) we were like (gestures high) way up there.

Ian: I hardly remember that set...

Me, too, but it was a great set. How about some recent stuff that you guys have been listening to, when touring or on your down time?

Ian: Dennis is the mix master – give us a sample mix...

Dennis: Uhh, hmm. We're listening to anything with James Gadson drumming on it, Bill Withers stuff, Dyke and The Blazers, and then a lot of Odd Future. What else do we like a lot? Ahh, Tad!

Ian: Tad.

John: Tad rules.

Dennis: We like Tad.

Another question we had – favorite hangover music?

Ian: No music. (laughs)

Quiet?

John: “Pleased to Meet Me” (Note: presumably the Replacements album)

Do you guys have any plans for a live release – DVD, live album, anything like that?

John: I dunno, we never really thought about that.

Ian: It's a good idea!

I know a few folks who would agree with you. Someone on the board was also curious how you guys got hooked up with Rob?

Ian: Rob used to play keyboard in another band, Chris Denny and The Natives, and they went on tour with us. And then, he heard we were potentially looking for a keyboard player...he's right there (points at Rob walking up) ...film that guy...film him...this is a question for you!

There's Rob – we were just asking how you got hooked up with the band?

Rob: Umm, it was a late night, there was a lot of alcohol involved – you know – Ian and I fell in love and, you know. Nah, I was playing with another band for a bit that was on the Partisan roster. We did the label tour together, so we met them through that. That band kind of dissolved, right around the same time they were looking for a keyboard player. I heard they were looking, so, I called John and I called Tim, from Partisan.

And just came together?

Rob: Yeah, I went down and we were supposed to rehearse for three days and then head to South by Southwest. Instead, we did a lot of drinking, went into the studio, and headed to the first show.

Are you guys hanging around for the rest of the day today? Plan on seeing anything?

John: I guess the only thing I'd really like to see, is Dr. John with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Dennis: We just heard the Strokes were playing...so maybe, we can go see the Strokes!?

John: I have no idea. I think I'm gonna eat some ecstasy.


Here's some Deervana Video....