Deer Tick kicked off their run of Newport Folk Festival after parties last night at the nearby Blues Cafe last night. Bear’s Den opened the night before Robert Ellis took the stage with Deer Tick as his backing band. The group worked through a number of tunes, including a take on Hall and Oates’ “Rich Girl” before closing out the set with a Richard Thompson cover.

Deer Tick came out for their headlining slot, which covers of songs by Neil Young, Richie Valens and frequent teases of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” Lead man John McCauley (who wore a sailor hat for the duration of the show) announcing “we are called Deer Tick and Friends for a reason, let’s bring out some friends” as the night’s guest, The Walkmen’s Hamilton Leithauser, joined them on stage. Leithauser took up his guitar and sang on “I’m Retired,” ““Let’s Make Love Underneath the Apple Tree” and Bob Dylan and Rick Danko’s “This Wheel’s On Fire.”

Deer Tick will return to the Blues Cafe for tonight’s after party, which will feature opening sets from T. Hardy Morris & the Hard Knocks, Ages and Ages and Joe Pugg.