Deer Tick, Ed Kowalczyk, The Defibulators and Luray will perform Sunday, Nov. 10 at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center as part of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s “Mountain Stage with Larry Groce” in a fantastic evening of diverse performances. Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 304-293-SHOW and 800-745-3000.

Deer Tick began as a solo project in 2004 by John McCauley and quickly grew in popularity, earning comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Modest Mouse. No comparison can box in Deer Tick’s sound however, as they pull tricks from folk, blues and country in a genre-defying drawl. McCauley’s unmistakable voice alongside expertly eclectic guitar, bass and drums fill a room anytime Deer Tick comes to town. Rolling Stone magazine called their 2009 album “Born on Flag Day” the “Country-Rock breakthrough of the year,” and Deer Tick has been continuing to break through.

The former lead singer of alt-rock band Live, Ed Kowalczyk struck out on his own in 2009 and has been busily exploring his solo sound ever since. Kowalcyzk has released three albums since beginning his independent career, and while the voice may be familiar, the trajectory and themes are all new. He has collaborated with musicians such as the world-famous Dutch Anouk, Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows and Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads. The intensity of Kowalcyzk’s voice is honed by decades of experience, and his exploration into acoustic sets leaves plenty of space for it to grow.

The Defibulators’ playful sound fits in anywhere, described by PopMatters as “a drunken square dance on speed.” The band formed in New York City through a mutual love of classic country like George Jones and Buck Owens, and fed on the frantic energy of the Big Apple to create the living sound that has generated a loyal following. Plenty of acts today are taking a modern spin on old-time country, but The Defibulators’ style is unrelenting in its tongue-in-cheek songwriting and dance-along tunes. Come for the toe-tapping beats, and stay for the cleverness.

-WVU-

dr/10/24/13

CONTACT: David Ryan, WVU Arts & Entertainment
304.293.8222, David.Ryan@mail.wvu.edu

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