White Rabbits at 400 Bar on 5/21/08
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| White Rabbits - Photo by Stacy Schwartz |
White Rabbits have been swinging through the Midwest over the last year in support of the likes of Tokyo Police Club, The Walkmen and Spoon. An impressive feat in itself, White Rabbits landed at the 400 Bar last night, deservedly their own headliner. It has been a big year for the Brooklyn-based sextet- the release of their Fort Nightly LP, touring, climbing the record-label ladders and proving that having two full drum kits on the road is totally worth it.
There is a dark thrill that comes with that much percussive firepower.
From the insouciant rattle opening "Sea of Rum", the crowd that had been thinly dispersed at the bar pulled in and began to twitch. Greg Roberts' sweet tenor swung out to counterpoint the bass-heavy drums and crisp guitar as the hypnotic rhythms-within-rhythms took hold.
Steve Patterson on keys brought harmony and flourish and kept the show tight and moving, segueing into songs so effectively that people cheered over connecting material.
They played a good amount of new and unreleased material, a good sign, seeing as how they have just been signed to Radiohead's TBD label.
The new material had a similar tendency towards ska and calypso, a building tropical storm of percussion, guitars and keys. They have a stated proclivity for The Specials, and kept that anarchic spirit in the orchestration. Drummers and bass players circled off their kits to play toms, tambourines and a second keyboard, as needed to build up the blast. Roberts and guitarist Alex Even held the center and Patterson worked his fingers into frenzy, treating his keyboard like another drumset.
The set felt short, as it has previously. With the tightness and force of the songs, it can just sort of whip past. They did close out the night with a cover of Bob Dylan's "Maggies' Farm", done double time, with group chanting and screaming. Even before the last notes had died bassist Adam Russell had hit the merch table at the back, and a thoroughly rocked crowd was left to negotiate the remainder of the night.
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson from former label Say Hey opened, and although he was singing with a hurting voice and what seemed like a curse of broken strings (7 the night before- a "total fucking shitstorm" in his words) he soldiered on. His debut CD is a lot clearer than the sound put together by the live band, but his patter like Paul Simon and ripping, arena-esque lead guitar made for a swaying, raucous opening act.
Photo - Schwartz
Unnamed new song (unreleased….obviously) Take a Walk Around the Table Kid on My Shoulders
Links to video from January tour:
Stacy's Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnconcertphotos/sets/72157605197128693/
Location Info:
400 Bar
Artist Info: White Rabbits
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