Music City Roots Hosts Deer Tick, Deep Dark Woods And Tristen

Nashville – Music City Roots is a weekly show created to bring together artists whose music carries on traditional roots music in some form. Deer Tick, Deep Dark Woods, and Tristen most recently performed quick-fire sets for the show along with a few other Nashville acts. The show is broadcast live over the radio and online from the famed Loveless Cafe, harking back to the times when radio shows were a favorite form of entertainment. The legendary songwriter Jim Lauderdale had his work cut out for him as he hosted multiple bands with interviews during set changes. It was a well-oiled, impressive evening of non-stop music.

Deer Tick closed the night. They played four songs off their new album released in September, Negativity. The pop sensibilities of the album weren’t as prevalent in a live setting, something appreciated by those who prefer the acoustic-driven work that they’ve made leading up to 2013. The piano work was replaced with an organ projected through Leslie speakers, adding warmth to their music. In addition to the mystique of the Leslie speakers, lead singer John McCauley threw another curve ball at the audience when he invited Vanessa Carlton to the stage (remember her?) to sing “In Our Time,” a track she helped with on Negativity. Whereas Carlton was very serious, McCauley’s demeanor was warm and jovial throughout the night, matching his band’s music. Deer Tick closed with “Ashamed” off War Elephant, a single they couldn’t get away from playing.

Photo By Francis A. Willey and Sandja Kukac

Before Deer Tick, Deep Dark Woods took the stage to play a similar brand of music. This band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (a name that Lauderdale couldn’t say enough) signed to Nashville’s Sugar Hill Records in 2011. The lyrics and instrumentation are a throwback to Neil Young’s early days with Crazy Horse. Boldt’s voice was deeper and more intimate without the ambient fuzz present on their recent release, Jubilee. Boldt was serious as he sang lyrics reminiscent of traditional British folk, a style also dipped into by one of his influences, Bob Dylan.

Photo By Music City Roots – Scarlati

The biggest surprise of the night was Nashville-based artist, Tristen. Her voice swung gracefully between octaves as she played songs off her new album CAVES. The flexibility in her voice is lost on the album. But it was impossible not to miss when she sang “Gold Star” on stage. Tristen stood out from the others artists, not only because her music is keyboard-driven, but also because she wore a one-piece, shiny tuxedo-ish getup. Her presence on the show demonstrated that interpretations of roots music are bound in one ideal: good songwriting.

The night matched songwriter for songwriter, from Portland to Saskatoon. Jim Lauderdale brought all performers to the stage for one final song with him. Per the request of John McCauley, everyone joined together for a rendition of the Lead Belly tune, “Goodnight Irene.” After solos from a member of each band, we were sent off until next week’s show. You can catch future live broadcasts from Music City Roots online on Wednesday nights.

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Caroline McDonald

My first memory is of singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” quietly to myself during preschool naptime. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Nashville where an instrument lives in every home, but music has gripped me for as long as I can remember.

After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.

A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.

I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!