government of more than $500,000 resulting in a 27-month prison sentence and a $10,000 fine, the death of his uncle, his wedding engagement to Nikki Kvarnes of Nashville band Those Darlins collapsing due to his drug use and drinking and subsequently getting clean from drugs. The song "Mr. Sticks" is about family struggles with the title being his father's childhood nickname and "Pot Of Gold" is a "stream of consciousness recollection of what went through my head and what kinds of misadventures I got myself into when I was doing crack." Throughout 2013, O'Neil and the Ryan brothers played several shows with Ravi Shavi frontman Rafay Rashid in their new side project Happiness. On 16 January 2017, keyboard player Robert Crowell confirmed his involvement with the upcoming Deer Tick album while announcing his departure from the band. Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 After the release of Negativity, the band took a break from their usually intensive work schedule to focus on other things. However, when they did start playing shows together again, they found renewed motivation to record. On 15 September 2017, the band released two eponymous albums simultaneously. The first, Vol. 1, was largely a folk album, akin to their early work, while Vol. 2 was more focused on the rock sound they developed in later years. In October 2018 McCauley joined Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear on stage at the Cal Jam '18 festival to perform three Nirvana songs, "Serve The Servants," "Scentless Apprentice" and "In Bloom." In 2019, the band released a compilation album, titled Mayonnaise. It compiled alternate versions of songs from their self-titled albums with covers and a handful of newly written tracks. In 2021 the band was inter alia part of the Newport Folk Festival in July. Members Current John Joseph McCauley – lead vocals, guitar (2004–present) Christopher Dale Ryan – bass, upright bass, backing vocals (2007–present) Dennis Michael Ryan – drums, backing vocals (2007–present) Ian Patrick O'Neil – guitar, backing vocals (2009–present) Former Paul Marandola James Falzone Diego Perez Andrew Tobiassen – guitar, backing vocals (2008–2009) Robert Barry Crowell – piano, keyboard, saxophone, backing vocals (2010–2017) Timeline Discography Studio Albums War Elephant (2007, Partisan Records) Born on Flag Day (2009, Partisan Records) The Black Dirt Sessions (2010, Partisan Records) Divine Providence, (2011, Partisan Records / 2012, Loose Music) Negativity (2013, Partisan Records) Deer Tick, Vol. 1 (2017, Partisan Records) Deer Tick,