What a great post, Matt. I was a hesitant Deer Tick
fan until I saw them 6 times over the muesmr.
I don't care if they're borrowing from rock bands of
yesterday because all bands do that.
Deer Tick really does lay it all out there and with
more energy than most. Their shows are unpredictable
and wild at times (I saw McCauley light a set list
on fire) and I feel like there are so few bands keeping
that crazy part of rock 'n' roll alive.
They're one of those bands that's more than the sum
of their recorded songs. I realize that's not speaking
to the music per se, but I don't understand how "critics"
fail to appreciate that aspect at the very least.