Deer Tick at The Basement

For most bands that, like Deer Tick, are on the cusp of a breakthrough, an endorsement from the clean-cut minion of a media conglomerate—as MSNBC anchor Brian Williams has done by spotlighting DT on his web-only BriTunes program—might normally reek of kitsch. But anyone familiar with leading man John McCauley's music since his self-assured debut War Elephant in ’07 doesn’t need much convincing of this Providence, R.I., band’s authenticity. Their recent follow-up Born on Flag Day may have bore its share of critical slights for losing some of the catch-all sprawl that was such an instant draw for fans. But whatever fleeting charm they may have sacrificed is more than made up for by Flag Day’s sheer confidence. McCauley’s seasoned yet unkempt songs are proof enough that this is one showman that’s sure to stand up to even the rashest snub.
Sun., July 12, 8 p.m., 2009