SLCene Suggests: Deer Tick at The Urban Lounge

DEER TICK, THE URBAN LOUNGE, Tuesday, 9 p.m., $20

Deer Tick’s John McCauley has never had any problems on past efforts in invoking a gritty, drug-fueled existence buoyed by a life-affirming rock and roll habit, and on the Rhode Island band’s latest release, he and his gang may have just perfected the Deer Tick aesthetic. Negativity is a remarkably strong set, and five albums in, Deer Tick just seems to be getting better in the studio. This time around, Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin lends a hand as producer, capturing McCauley and the rest of the quintet in fine form. While Deer Tick will never quite capture the feel of their live performances on record, likewise it’s hard to imagine some of the new songs will sound as good on stage as they do on Negativity. But it will be damn fun to hear them try. They are a consistently great live band, and I expect McCauley’s new odes to the seedier side of life will sound excellent next to their older material. Robert Ellis opens the show.