A look at the cover of It’s Frightening, the White Rabbits’ killer, sophomore release, yields a pretty good glimpse of what’s to come at one of the band’s shows. The image, which depicts a drummer maniacally attacking his set, sheds light on the passion each member of the White Rabbits brings to the stage for a performance. And Tuesday, at the Doug Fir, the image was further brought to life as four of the six band members ended up striking the drum set throughout the night.
These boys held absolutely nothing back, throwing themselves into every beat they created, thus developing a sound only a group like the White Rabbits could. Bouncing back and forth between instruments, the band injected a frenzied energy into their songs, and the audience. For “Kid On My Shoulders,” best-known for its indie/island shuffle, three band members grabbed drum sticks and a maraca to pound a delicious rhythm into the tune.
The band’s performance of “Midnight And I,” a slower, darker track than most of their others, highlighted the dynamics that define the White Rabbits. Edging in and out of eerie melodies, the group captivated the audience with intense notes from the piano, drums, and guitars. But the lead and back-up vocals proved just as essential, providing harmony to each other while adding a needed ingredient to the band’s sound.
Closing with the hot new single “Percussion Gun,” the band showed the crowd their unique style won’t be leaving the stage of the music industry any time soon. With the magnitude of the song swelling by the second, the White Rabbits sang of their take on love in a rambling, hip-shaking way no member of the audience could deny.
Labeled indie-rock, the truth of it shows White Rabbits to be playing essential rock ‘n’ roll beats, layered with haunting rhythms and eclectic lyrics. Produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel, It’s Frightening reveals the future for these Missouri-born boys: moody yet jubilant, and full of outrageously good times to come.
DOWNLOAD: White Rabbits - Midnight and I (MP3) or Follow us for more White Rabbits MP3s (Twitter)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
