Today, Deer Tick released their new EP “Contractual Obligations,” 8 songs recorded during the sessions for their latest album ‘Emotional Contracts’, via ATO Records. “Sometimes when you make a record you have to make a few cuts. With 2023’s Emotional Contracts, we were quite happy with all the material that ended up on the cutting room floor. So we swept it all up and compiled it into this EP titled Contractual Obligations.” says singer/guitarist John McCauley, whose bandmates include guitarist Ian O’Neil, drummer Dennis Ryan, and bassist Christopher Ryan.
The Providence-bred four-piece spent months working on demos in a warehouse space in their hometown before heading into the studio with producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Sleater-Kinney). “Contractual Obligations” - like ‘Emotional Contracts’ - fully echoes the unruly energy of its creation, ultimately making for a heavy-hearted yet wildly life-affirming portrait of growing older without losing heart. This new EP adds another notch to their belt of timeless rock-and-roll records. Purchase the EP on “Ice Blue” vinyl 12” HERE.
“Contractual Obligations” follows the critically acclaimed ‘Emotional Contracts’, which featured AAA radio top ten single “Forgiving Ties” and saw the band return to CBS Saturday Morning, as well as being named one of NY Mag/Vulture's Most Anticipated Summer Albums, and earning praises and support from NPR Music, MOJO (4/5 star), and more.
Founded by McCauley in 2004, with the lineup solidified in 2009, Deer Tick partly attribute their unfaltering chemistry to a shared sense of humor. But as a phenomenally rowdy live act who once averaged 250 shows a year, Deer Tick mainly credit their deep-rooted connection to a mutual love for the unpredictability of the musical impulse. “I feel very lucky that we all ran into each other at some point pretty early on in our lives,” says McCauley. “From the start, I just wanted to find other musicians that would somehow all stick together, which definitely isn’t easy. But we all have a real fascination with music, and that desire to never limit ourselves or repeat ourselves is something that we all very much continue to share.”
To celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary, Deer Tick will tour extensively through the Summer, Fall and Winter 2024, including three sold-out hometown shows in Rhode Island.
Tour Dates
Jul 12 - Naples, NY - Hollerhorn Distilling# (Low Ticket Warning)
Jul 13 - Garwood, NJ - Crossroads # (Low Ticket Warning)
Jul 14 - Queens, NY - The Rockaway Hotel #
Jul 16 - Amagansett, NY - Stephen Talkhouse #
Jul 17 - Marshfield, MA - Levitate Backyard# (SOLD OUT)
Jul 18 - Matunuck, RI - Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)
Jul 19 - Matunuck, RI - Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)
Jul 20 - Matunuck, RI - Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)
Jul 26 - Carnation, WA - Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
Jul 27 - Calgary, AB - Calgary Folk Music Festival
Aug 31 - Westbrook, ME - Quarryside at Rock Row
Sep 1 - Bethlehem, NH - Colonial Theatre
Sep 5 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig "
Sep 6 - Newport, KY - The Southgate House Revival "
Sep 7 - Evanston, IL - SPACE= (Evanston Folk Festival Afterparty)
Sep 8 - Maquoketa, IA - Codfish Hollow Barnstormers =
Sep 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Vivarium =
Sep 11 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex =
Sep 13 - Fort Hill, PA - Deer Valley Folk Festival (John McCauley & Ian O'Neil Duo)
Sep 14 - Stone Ridge, NY - Meadowlark Festival
Sep 15 - Albany, NY - Lark Hall ~
Oct 12 - Stowe, VT - Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center
Nov 7 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall
# with Al Olender
" with Dylan McCartney and Dakota Carlyle (of The Drin)
= with Sugadaisy
~ with Nicolette and the Nobodies
