Deer Tick kicked off their three-night run at Newport, RI’s Newport Blues Cafe last night. The annual, rowdy late-night shows are tied to the nearby Newport Folk Fest, where the members of Deer Tick have grown into one of the festival’s unofficial house bands.

Last night’s Newport Blues performance featured special openings sets by Langhorne Slim and Bobby Bare Jr. In addition, Phosphorescent, who played Newport Folk Fest earlier in the day, offered a surprise support set. Bare also returned to the stage during Deer Tick’s set for a few songs.

Deer Tick’s John McCauley performed at the festival fairgrounds earlier in the day. At the end of his show, he brought out his mother on a cover of Jimmy Buffet’s classic “Margaritaville.”

Justin Townes Earle and Jason Isbell will join Deer Tick at Newport Blues this evening. Meanwhile, Phosphorescent will open for Robert Plant at Brooklyn, NY’s Prospect Park.