MUSIC: Deer Tick Clowns Around at Fete

Monday, December 31, 2012

Rob Duguay, GoLocalProv Music Critic

This Sunday at Fete, one of the biggest shows to hit The Creative Capital happened with Deer Tick selling out the ballroom to full capacity. Also on the bill were Providence blues band The Silks, San Francisco's Two Gallants along with The Skinny Millionaires from Newport performing at the after party in the lounge area for a night that was sure to blow your mind over and over again. Deer Tick's whiskey soaked and cigarette smoked rock & roll is always a treat to see, but with Two Gallants making their first Ocean State appearance in what seems like forever and awesome local talent sharing the stage it was guaranteed to be a glorious concert.

The Silks

First up were The Silks fronted by Tyler-James Kelly on electric guitar and his soulful voice to go with Jonas Parmelee on bass and Matthew Donnelly on drums. They started off the night perfectly to the delight of the packed house, making you want to groove and do the boogie from start to finish. The Silks will be playing New Year's Eve at Local 121 in downtown Providence with a bunch of special guests that promises to be a great way to ring in the new year.

Two Gallants

Next up were Two Gallants, a band I've always wanted to see live and it was a treasure to finally witness their emphatic rock & roll sound that will hit you like a freight train from their pure volume alone. "Dyin' Crap Shooter Blues", "My Love Won't Wait", "Ride Away", "Steady Rollin'", "Despite What You've Been Told", "Las Cruces Jail", "Cradle Pyre" and "Halcyon Days" shocked the soul and rocked the stage for a set that I won't forget. Two Gallants have a new album out called The Bloom and The Blight available, one of the best albums to come out in 2012 with music that will make your eyes bulge with excitement.

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Deer Tick

Providence's favorite sons in Deer Tick went up all dapper in clown makeup with their trademark rock & roll that is no holds barred and bound to make you dig the rhythms and strums. With Rob Crowell on the keys, Dennis Ryan on drums, Christopher Ryan on bass, Ian O'Neil on guitar and John McCauley on guitar and his voice that walks the fine line between being smooth as silk and rough as sandpaper, Deer Tick always delivers on their reputation as one of the premier bands in the world today. "Funny Word", "The Bump", "Easy", "Baltimore Blues No. 1", "Main Street", "Walking Out That Door", "Clowning Around", "Twenty Miles", "Art Isn't Real (City Of Sin)", "Straight Into A Storm", "Little White Lies", "Something To Brag About", "Houston, TX", "Christ Jesus", "Now It's Turn" and "Mange" highlighted a magnificent set that left the audience screaming for more.

Within seconds, Deer Tick came back on stage much to the crowd's delight and played a cover of Elliott Smith's "Between The Bars", a jazzy r&b rendition of "Ashamed", a rocking version of The Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers", "Miss K" and "Let's All Go To The Bar" which had the audience rocking on stage with Deer Tick for a raucous end to their performance. Deer Tick hasn't put out an album since Divine Providence during the summer of 2011, but look for even bigger things from them in 2013.

After-party: The Skinny Millionaires

Playing the after party in the lounge area of Fete were The Skinny Millionaires from Newport, lead by Mike O'Donnell on vocals and guitar while upping the ante with their unique brand of folk-punk. "Frankly Jane", "Driftin'", "Wayfaring", "Sleepyhead", "Morning Glory", "Easy Tiger", "Rooftops" and "Long Tall Sally" were part of an amazing set to finish off a fantastic evening. The Skinny Millionaires have an EP that came out in 2012 called Easy Tiger, definitely a record that will electrify you with sheer amplification as well as sooth you with Mike's poetic lyrics. A memorable show that will be talked about in the years to come, log on to fetemusic.com to get the scoop on what's going on at one of the best places in Providence to catch a show.

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