Deer Tick + J. Roddy Walston + Quick and Easy Boys - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR Oct. 21, 2010)

It’s always nice to know that even semi-famous musicians are not only talented, but good-natured and humble to boot. The Quick and Easy Boys, despite their self-proclaimed naughtiness, possess such shining virtues. They formed in Eugene, Oregon and played local Hood River bars until they earned a reputation with their goofy antics and head-turning musicianship. Jimmy Russell, the lead guitarist-singer-birthday-boy’s guitar style has been compared to Jimi Hendrix, which is quite the accolade, but after seeing them excite a crowd of no more than thirty, I have to concur. Their set, beginning with the song “7 Ways” was an appropriate compliment to the transitioning weather outside – from sharp, chilly, sunny days to cool, complex, overcast nights of autumn. Their music has both a down home farm-boy feel, psychedelic rock complexity, and a string of girly-pitched lyrical echoes and “Oo-Oooh Ooooh”’s for good measure. “Black Panther” is a departure from the psychedelic with its hyper-speed country ho-down Oi-punk overtones. They’re fun, which has something to do with Deer Tick catching one of their performances in Baltimore and being so charmed that they invited The Q&E Boys to open for their upcoming shows in Portland, Seattle, and Bellingham. Talking with them before the show, they showed some playful anxiety about playing such a large and relatively empty venue. But when they got on stage, you wouldn’t have known it. Everyone was up close and dancing – encouraged primarily by Jimmy’s mom, who possessed more energy and the biggest, longest lasting smile I’ve ever seen from a proud parent. I’d be proud too if my offspring played guitar like that. So, next time the Quick and Easy Boys play Portland I encourage you to attend. I would even say it’s even worth the drive to Hood River to catch them in their element.

This is hard to say, but J-Roddy Walston and the Business cannot be properly condensed into words. Initially, they could easily be mistaken for the Kings of Leon circa Aha Shake Heartbreak-era just on looks alone, but their musical style is a fresh blend of ragtime-piano and soulful heavy metal. Their long wavy mountain-man hair is put to good use as they swing it around incessantly like an instrument unto itself. It was captivating to watch the Rod flail about on a portable piano capped with a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels that sat ignored for no longer than two minutes. The two back up vocalists/guitar & bassist harmonize in some unexpectedly high pitches, offering a confirmation that these guys don’t take themselves too seriously. A Little Richard tune was covered, which clarified a few things about their influences, so imagine said piano prodigy coupled with the upbeat blues rock of the Rolling Stones, and tempered by Sex Pistols’ style drunken sloppiness (which just translates to professionalism when you can pump out quality jams simultaneously). The good times continued with these guys and I was thoroughly impressed by their energy and ability to slap smiles onto the faces of the otherwise super-jaded clan of gum-chewing, raccoon-eyed, leather-jacket and tattoo clad ladies (undoubtedly born no earlier than 1992) wagging their shoulders back and forth in the front row. The Baltimore natives have put out a couple of albums already, including their recent self titled with most of the tracks they played on Thursday night.

Someone yells out the requisite “DEER TICK!” during the long intermission, which was apparently benign because the next blip in the crowd static was the troops climbing on stage, John MCcauley giving the crowd a polite shrug with his hands tied up with four bottles of beer. “Any Deer Tick fans? They’re up next. We’re called Cups, from Romania. We’re gonna start things off with a Deer Tick cover.” So, I don’t know where Deer Tick went, but Cups were a fine substitute, starting their set with “These Old Shoes” – a jangly song/story so well written it could be a future folk standard. From there on they rotated songs from War Elephant, Born on Flag Day, The Black Dirt Sessions, and a slew of new material including “Buried Deep,” “Daydreaming,” and “Me Me Me.” The whole show was being filmed which may explain the level of energy, unpredictability, and the impromptu cover of Randy Bachman’s “Taking Care of Business.” The drummer even came out from hiding later on and sang a duet with guitarist Ian O’neil. It was clear that this was a show that mattered. 

DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - These Old Shoes (MP3) or Follow us for more Deer Tick MP3s (Twitter)

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