Austinist Interviews SXSW: Deer Tick
How old were you when you decided to make music? Did you receive any formal musical education early on?
I always knew I'd make music. Music has been the only consistent thing throughout my life. Tee ball was fun and everything but it’s only so fun when you're so bad at it you can't even hit the ball. I didn't play anything until I was 10 or 11. I always sang though. The only musical education I got was on electric bass. I took lessons for a few years in my early teens.
Who influenced and inspired you during your early years?
I grew up loving Roy Orbison, George Harrison and Ritchie Valens. I had a suitcase of 45's that my uncle gave me that had a lot of stuff like The Beatles, Rod Stewart and Badfinger in it. I don't think I ever had that many albums, just tons of singles. The California Raisins movies and the La Bamba movie played a big part in influencing me as a youngster, too. And this big box of 50's doo-wop and rock'n'roll tapes.
Interview continues after the jump!
Tell us about AS220 in Providence and how you came to be a part of that artistic community? What are some of your favorite bands to come out of Providence?
AS220 is my favorite venue/bar/taqueria/hang out zone. I wouldn't say that I'm necessarily involved in what AS220 really is though. They're a non-profit arts space that offers a variety of resources for artists of all types. They've got a dark room, a print shop, an artist-in-residency program, live/work spaces for rent... I just play, eat and drink there. Check them out, they're great -- AS220.
My favorite bands in Providence right now are Chris Paddock and Diego Perez, a couple of songwriting buddies of mine. I'm also quite fond of Lazy Magnet, which I can't really begin to describe, and The Body, an awesome doom metal band. There's a bunch of new bands around town now, too. It's kind of hard to see them all.
What is your "self-released" CD count prior to War Elephant?
I had this album called Jukebox Whore (2005) which was mostly just acoustic guitar and singing. I recorded it really late at night in my apartment and didn't want to wake anyone, so most of the vocals are falsetto. I'm not too crazy about it. Then there was a split tape I did with Nat Baldwin (2005). That tape ruled; but it's long gone now. I sold it on CD-R last summer, but other than that it's been sold out for a couple years. Then there was Greatest Hits (2006), which was a couple songs from a session I did in Baltimore, old recordings that I didn't do anything with, and some new stuff I did in my apartment. It did contain some previously 'released' works though. It was kind of like a demo for War Elephant, it shares many of the same songs.
How did your collaboration with Nat Baldwin and Jana Hunter begin? What is most appealing about collaborating?
I don't know. Maybe it was as simple as being at the right place in the right time with people that share similar ideas. It all starts with "I think it would be fun..." Though the stuff I did with Jana (Hunter) will never be released. We need to re-record it. It'll be worth the wait.
I like collaborating because so far I've found it to be easier and of a different, higher sort of quality. It's a lot of fun, too.
Your MySpace page lists that you toured the States with the help of Viking Moses: does he perform in concert with you? What is the current live line-up we can expect at SXSW?
He taught me how to tour. I still play in his band sometimes, but we don't perform together all that often.
Deer Tick is a real band now and our line-up is Chris Ryan on the upright bass and electric bass and Dennis Ryan on drums and backup vocals. I play the bicycle horn and the tuba. We will also be joined by our friend Liz Isenberg who will singing with me. We wrote a duet a few weeks ago.
Do you prefer the intimate setting of a small, "off the beaten path" venue or is it more or less the same as playing a regular venue which might not as cozy?
To tell you the truth, I usually like the sound better at a regular venue. But I can't really say. It depends on how I feel, if I've eaten, and how many beers I've drank.
Deer Tick: [Official] [MySpace]
Deer Tick will play various gigs in town during SXSW week, no doubt.
