Deer Tick, today announced their Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Sleater-Kinney)-produced new album, Emotional Contracts, will be released on June 16th, 2023, via their new label home, ATO Records. The band–John McCauley (vocals, guitar), Ian O’Neil (guitar, vocals), Dennis Ryan (drums), and Christopher Ryan (bass)–has also shared the O’Neil-led lead single “Forgiving Ties” alongside a playful Brandon Herman-directed video. “The song is essentially a metaphor for the fear that results from a sudden traumatic event, and how to move forward and take care of yourself and your loved ones,” explains O’Neil of the lyrically pensive track that’s belied by its ebullient sound, which features the spirited trumpet work of Fridmann’s son, Jon, and finds McCauley chiming in to play the part of a jittery inner voice.
“Forgiving Ties” arrives alongside the grand, brooding, and cathartic album closer, “The Real Thing.” Of the deeply personal, near nine-minute long track, McCauley explains, “At first I had an idea for a song called ‘The Last Book on the Shelf,’ which I ended up using as a title for a song about all the creepy book-banning happening lately. ‘The Real Thing’ became about living with depression, which has been part of my existence since I was a kid, and how it takes even more work to keep your head above water as you get older.” Emotional Contracts, Deer Tick’s first new work since 2017, is now available for pre-order.
Deer Tick has also announced an additional run of headlining shows across the east coast in celebration of Emotional Contracts, including an album release in-store at NYC’s Rough Trade on June 12th, Washington D.C’s 9:30 Club on November 14th, Brooklyn, NY’s Warsaw on November 15th, and two hometown shows at the Columbus Theatre on November 24th and 25th.The November dates expand their previously announced (and predominantly sold-out) summer headline run, as well as a June/July stretch supporting Jason Isbell that includes Los Angeles, CA’s The Greek Theatre on July 14th. Tickets for all new shows go on-sale this Friday at 10am EDT and a full itinerary is listed below.
Emotional Contracts track list:
1. If I Try to Leave
3. Grey Matter
4. If She Could Only See Me Now
5. Running From Love
6. Once in a Lifetime
7. Disgrace
8. My Ship
9. A Light Can Go Out in the Heart
10. The Real Thing
Deer Tick Live Dates
6/5 – Deerfield, MA @ Tree House Brewery
6/7 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
6/8 – Canandaigua, NY @ Lincoln Hill Farms
6/9 – Woodstock, NY @ Levon’s Barn (SOLD OUT)
6/10 – Woodstock, NY @ Levon’s Barn (SOLD OUT)
6/12 – New York, NY @ Rough Trade
6/14 – Portsmouth NH @ Cisco Brewers
6/15 – Matunuck, RI @ Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)
6/16 – Matunuck, RI @ Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)
6/17 – Matunuck, RI @ Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)
6/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird
6/21 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
6/22 – Indianapolis, IN @ HI-FI Annex
6/23 – Milwaukee WI @ Summerfest
6/24 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow (SOLD OUT)
6/25 – Wisconsin Dells, WI @ Showboat Saloon (SOLD OUT)
6/27 – Ft Collins @ Washington’s
6/29 – Stanford, CA @ Frost Amphitheatre*
6/30 – Quincy, CA @ High Sierra Music Festival
7/1 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater*
7/2/23 – Canby, OR @ Clackamas County Fairgrounds*
7/4 – Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amp*
7/5 – Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Zoo*
7/6 – Spokane, WA @ Martin Woldson Theatre*
7/8 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden*
7/9 – Dillon, CO @ Lake Dillon Amphitheatre*
7/11 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre*
7/12 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s*
7/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre*
7/15 – Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre*
7/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ Wynn Las Vegas*
10/12 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
10/13 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
10/15 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East
10/17 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre
10/19 – New Orleans, LA @ Chickie Wah Wah
10/20 – Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater
10/21 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
10/22 – Ft Worth, TX @ Tulips
11/8 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
11/9 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
11/10 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
11/11 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
11/12 – Homer NY @ Homer Center for the Arts
11/14 – Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
11/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
11/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
11/18 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
11/24 – Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre
11/25 – Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre
* Supporting Jason Isbell
