Deer Tick Serve Up “Emotional Contracts”

On June 16, Rhode Island rockers Deer Tick drop their new record, “Emotional Contracts” (ATO Records). If we’re lucky, we might get our chance of wrapping our mitts around said record a couple of days early when the band pays a return visit to Cisco Brewers in Portsmouth on June 14 (tonight!).

“Emotional Contracts” is a rip-rollicking affair that showcases the band at the height of their creative powers and steering the course in a slightly different direction. The reckless spirit is still there, but there’s an airy optimism that infiltrates the tracks. It’s quite fun. And no less raucous. Tickmates John McCauley and Ian O’Neil share vocal duties throughout, which adds some additional interesting flair.

The Rodeo sat down and threw some questions at McCauley and O’Neil to gather some background on the new record, 20 years as a band, and tracing the unique latch they’ve held on Portsmouth over the years…

Granite Rodeo: It’s been a bit since your last studio LP. 5ish years or so, right? When do you know it’s time to make a new one? What inspires creative movement?

O’Neil: We used to rush to the studio as soon as we had enough material for an album. That was kind of the only indicator that it was time to record again. If COVID didn’t happen, this album would have been out a few years ago, but those pandemic years helped us fine-tune the material and write some new tunes. Ultimately it benefitted the album. We entered the studio with 20 or so songs and were entirely over-prepared.

Granite Rodeo: “Emotional Contracts.” Dig the name. What all is in it (the name)? Relationship wins and losses?

O’Neil: To me, the title means the deals you make with yourself and whether or not you keep up the terms of those arrangements. You could consider each song an internal, emotional contract of sorts. The name was a joke at first but something about it rang true when we were compiling the final sequence.

Granite Rodeo: What were the goals for this record? It’s got a different feel to it. Still Deer Tick, but there’s some extra sauciness to it… What did you take from past recording experiences that helped shape/inform how this one came to be?

O’Neil: Our goals were to sound surefooted and create a succinct, consistent body of work. I’m not sure how much we took with us from our past experiences making records, because something about it felt like starting over. A clean slate. We just wanted to try something new, so we called up Dave Fridmann to see if he’d be interested in producing us.

Granite Rodeo: Speaking of the past, man, you all are knocking on the door of two decades together as a band. Did you see the journey carrying you this far at the outset?

McCauley: I’m glad you didn’t say we were knocking on something else! Longevity, tightly knit bonds, telepathic communication, brotherly love, and all that stuff is certainly what I bet on during the assembly of this band. I didn’t lose the bet.

Granite Rodeo: Is there anything you know now that you might have incorporated at the outset of your foray into navigating a life in music?

McCauley: After nearly 20 years, I suppose it’s normal to want to go back and change everything. But being young and naive made it extremely fun in the beginning. It was a fucking adventure every single day. It probably would have been boring if I were wiser back then.

Granite Rodeo: You’re on ATO now, which is a badass label. How’d you land with them, and how does the emotional contract sit with you? Feel alright?

O’Neil: Very cool label. Great roster and alumni. We’ve been on their radar for a while. We actually took a meeting with them before “Born on Flag Day” came out. It’s been wonderful finally getting to work with them. I believe we used a regular old paper and ink contract.

Granite Rodeo: In general, why music? Why do you seek it? Why do you create it? What keeps you inspired to keep dipping back into the well?

McCauley: I watched the “La Bamba” movie too many times as a kid.

Granite Rodeo: It was exactly ten years ago that you guys played at (then) Red Hook Brewery, headlining Matt Bonner’s Sneakers and Speakers charity event. Those were fun gigs! The brewery has since sold/rebranded and is now Cisco. Anyhow… what excites you about getting back to Portsmouth to play a show?

McCauley: We’ve made a lot of friends in Portsmouth over the years. I used to come up and play Red Door all the time back in the day, usually sharing a bill with Nat Baldwin.

Granite Rodeo: Speaking of Sneakers and Speakers… I remember John slicing his hand open on a cymbal, continuing to play, the hitting the hospital for a few stitches. You guys have some history here in Portsmouth.

McCauley: Yeah, I couldn’t get through many more songs. The blood was making it impossible to play the guitar. I don’t punch the cymbals as often as I used to. Learned my lesson. That’s that wisdom/boring thing I was talking about. Apparently, I missed Matt Bonner singing one of our songs with the band while I was getting my hand stitched up.

Granite Rodeo: Let’s not forget Tristan (Law’s) 30th birthday party at the Press Room nearly nine years back. Who, coincidentally, is responsible for this gig… okay, I seem to have stopped asking questions and am now telling war stories. I’ll stop.

McCauley: Was it that long ago? Fuck.

Granite Rodeo: Can’t wait to have you guys back in town. What can folks expect?

McCauley: New album, new setlist, light beer, and less hair.

For more information, check out www.pressroomnh.com and/or www.deertickmusic.com.