BrightestYoungThings: Live DC: Deer Tick, Dorolean, Holy Sons @ The Cat

all words: Nicole Cohen
all photos: Jane Briggs

Providence band Deer Tick took to the Black Cat’s Backstage Tuesday night with a set that celebrated the band’s cross-genre versatility as much as its alt-country repertoire. The five band members opened their set by taking the stage, arm around each others’ shoulders, for an a capella version of their single “Dirty Dishes”, a number that singer John McCauley reportedly wrote – shocker – about a sink full of dirty dishes.

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They went on to mix tunes from their 2007 debut and 2009 follow-up with an assortment of covers that seemed to deliver a brief history of 20^th century rock and roll: The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Replacements, and yes, even Ritchie Valens’ 1958 hit “La Bamba” (itself a cover).

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But McCauley’s John Prine vocals are what really stole the show. It’s the kind of rasp that would be painful to listen to if he didn’t deliver it just right, which he did. Paired with his on-stage antics (i.e. unzipping and reaching his hand down his pants) and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, there’s no doubt this man is an entertainer and the crowd loved him for it.

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Earlier in the night, opener Dolorean’s Al James owned the stage in an un-ironically worn shirt depicting deer in a forest and heartbreaking songs that would sound cheesy if they weren’t so sincere. It was Ben Harper’s voice to Tom Petty’s beat and folk all at once. Dolorean’s acoustics are exactly what you want to be listening to if you ever find yourself driving a pick-up through Montana.

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Fellow openers (and Portlanders) Holy Sons delivered an easy set full of Neil Young guitar riffs and sometime horse vocals. It’s what Cat Power might sound like if she were a man. In a good way.

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