Deer Tick - "If I Try to Leave"

Photo by CJ Harvey

We can all name bands we loved, but then changed to a more mainstream sound and just lost us. It's not because we're giant music snobs (well... maybe a little) but that they changed everything about what we loved about them to try to become huge stars. While the singles from Deer Tick's upcoming album have definitely been more mainstream than they usually sound, they have not compromised a single thing to get there. The latest single, "If I Try to Leave," shows more of Deer Tick's natural progression than a complete left turn to try to get some arena rock money. Everything that has made us fans since War Elephant and Born on Flag Day through Negativity and Mayonnaise is there. If anything, "If I Try to Leave" incorporates all of Deer Tick's sounds into one cohesive, brilliant single. It has country, their huge alt-rock sound, traces of indie rock... everything Deer Tick has built towards is audible in "If I Try to Leave."

John McCauley (vocals/guitar) says if the new single:

“The overall theme of this song is family and how I’ve come to rely on it. I need my family as a grounding force in my life. My survival depends on it, and I like it that way.” 

You can watch the video for "If I Try to Leave" below. Emotional Contracts is due out June 16 on ATO Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Deer Tick, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

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*

8/03 - Baltimore, MD @ WTMD First Thursday Festival

8/04 - Fairfield, CT @ The Warehouse at FTC

8/05 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes

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