Deer Tick’s John McCauley started his musical career like so many other performers: as a teenager with a solo act and a larger vision of what was to come. Members have come and gone, but the DIY ethos that started with McCauley distributing homemade cassettes and CDs as he criss-crossed the country remains intact. Deer Tick shows are spontaneous, lively and imbued with passion for rock and roll the way it was meant to be played. It’s not uncommon for McCauley to surprise fans by bringing like-minded friends on stage, or to play a solo set for three hours, just because he’s in town. DCist spoke with McCauley ahead of his Sunday night show at 9:30 Club in support of Deer Tick’s fourth album, Divine Providence.
Can you talk about the inspiration behind Divine Providence? How does a sense of place influence your songwriting?
I guess the only place that influenced me would be the recording studio. I don’t really care to write anywhere else. It doesn’t matter if it’s Providence or anywhere else. The name came from this black metal song that we recorded that didn’t make it to the album.
A black metal song?
Yeah. [Drummer] Dennis [Ryan] wrote the lyrics. It has very anti-Christian lyrics, so he called it “Divine Providence”.
How do you think Providence’s music scene is faring as smaller cities like Baltimore see a surge in attention to their creative communities?
I think Providence is doing a pretty good job. There are a lot of bands coming out of there that are getting recognized, that are really good.
Any favorites?
Right now I’m pretty into The Silks, The Atlantic Thrills, The Wrong Reasons, The Low Anthem.
What shows do you remember playing in D.C.? What was your best experience here?
I always love playing at the 9:30 Club. It’s one of my favorite places to play in the country. The last time I played there with Middle Brother, we played in the balcony. I got nailed with a cupcake. D.C.’s really fun; we always have a pretty good time there no matter where were playing, but I’m glad we get to return to the 9:30 Club.
You’ve shared a stage with a diverse range of artists. Who have you yet to share a stage with that you’d like to? Any artists you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Patti Smith. I haven’t had a chance to see her yet. We were supposed to do some festival with her last year, but we had to cancel. I was pretty bummed out. I’d love to share a stage with Neil Young. That’d be pretty killer. I just started a new project with a few people I’ve wanted to work with for a while.
What are you called?
Diamond Rugs. It’s me, Steve Berlin from Los Lobos, Ian [Saint Pé] from Black Lips, Hardy Morris from Dead Confederate, Bryan Dufresne from Six Finger Satellite. Rob [Crowell] from Deer Tick also plays in it.
What does Diamond Rugs sound like?
It’s kind of trippy, pretty rock and roll. We sound a little bit different, I guess you’re going to have to wait to hear.
Are you still working with Taylor Goldsmith [of Dawes] and Matt Vasquez [of Delta Spirit] as Middle Brother?
We don’t have any plans to do anything right now. Dawes and Johnny Corndawg came through Nashville the other day and we did a Middle Brother song together. I live in Nashville now. I’d really like to do something again with those guys, but it was kind of hell trying to put that tour together. I’d like to make another album at some point.
You guys were great at Newport [Folk Festival] this year.
Thank you. I think if we play more it’ll probably be more like that: festival stuff.
As we enter autumn officially, how does your taste in the music you like to listen to change? Is it seasonally related, or does it change with the recording and/or touring schedules?
I probably mellow out a little more when it gets colder. I listen to more jazz and folk music. Nights like last night, I listen to a lot of punk rock, classic rock, cock rock.
Deer Tick fans were surprised to hear that Brian Williams talked about how your song “Dirty Dishes” was one of his favorites, and on his iPod. Were you expecting that? Do you ever hear or read about fans of your music that have surprised you?
It’s pretty cool. Anybody’s allowed to like our band, you know? Yeah, I guess we’ve had some unlikely bands, and just people curious about us. I’m pretty sure I saw Mos Def at one of our shows. And Mike Mills from R.E.M. at one of our shows…I heard a rumor that Paul Westerberg [of The Replacements] at one of our shows, but I don’t know if I believe he was there.
The last time I saw Mos Def, he was wearing a sailor hat like the one you’ve been wearing lately, because he was performing with Gorillaz, and that was the visual theme for the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour. But he came out in a full sailor costume. How did your sailor hat come about?
When my manager was driving to the Newport Folk Festival this year from New York, he stopped at a truck stop and they were selling them. There’s this video of me backstage at Newport this year wearing a bear costume and the sailor hat. Ramblin’ Jack Elliott nicknamed me Captain Tipsy.
Deer Tick headlines at the 9:30 Club this Sunday night, October 13. Virgin Forest and Dead People open. Doors are at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available here.
