|
||||
|
||||
|
Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
|
||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||
the Music Lounge by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer |
|
 |
|
| Six musicians, two lead singers, White Rabbits are the band to watch for | |
|
by Albert Rodriguez -
SGN A&E Writer Quote me on this. White Rabbits are one of the best live bands in music right now. But, who the heck are White Rabbits? Allow me to introduce you. They're a six-piece ensemble reminiscent of 30s or 40s big bands with delightful touches of jazz, bossa nova, Latin, and swing. Based in NYC, yet authentically Midwesterners, White Rabbits combine various musical genres and a clad of instruments together for an overall sound that's a bit piano bar, a bit parade on main street. Having seen them perform live this summer at The Crocodile Café, I must say these guys can really get a room swaying. And, on the cuteness scale these men all post above average results. White Rabbits return to Seattle for a show at Neumos on Thursday, October 18 opening for Tokyo Police Club. Visit www.neumos.com for ticket information. The unit's full-length debut Fort Nightly was selected by Seattle Gay News as one of the best albums and/or singles of 2007 ½. From Indianapolis, where the band recently played a benefit concert for a children's hospital, this is what guitarist Alex Even had to say when he made a beeline for "The Music Lounge". Albert Rodriguez: Did you guys walk around Seattle when you were here in June? Alex Even: We did a little, kind of around the club (The Crocodile Café). But outside of that, not really. We stayed in a hotel where I think some scenes from Sleepless in Seattle were filmed. That was a highlight. Rodriguez: You guys have been on the road for much of this year. Even: We started touring pretty thoroughly around the time our record (Fort Nightly) came out in June and haven't really stopped. This is our last tour of 2007. We're going to take a break for the winter and start writing and recording the next record, and then go back out in the spring. Rodriguez: Your last show was one of my favorites this year, and much of it had to do with the energy White Rabbits bring to the stage. People really felt that. Such amazing energy. Even: I don't think that was an intentional or thought out thing. It actually took us a while to find our feet playing live. We played steadily the New York bar scene leading up to the record. (A screeching siren can be heard in the background, prompting Even to ask for a pause. And then we resume the interview.) Rodriguez: Looks like somebody found your stash of pot. Even: (laughs) I should run now. Rodriguez: Each band member is a great musician, but no one overwhelms the others in the group. You work so well as a cohesive unit. Everyone does his part, and it folds together nicely. Even: Probably a lot of that comes from, well, we all live together. Rodriguez: You do? Even: Yeah, we moved to New York and we were all desperately broke. So we got this loft where we could all live, practice and write in the same area. We holed up for a winter and wrote the record together. We pride ourselves in being a band where the result is that everyone's input is valued. That translates to the stage as well. Rodriguez: Since you all live together, who takes the longest shower? Even: (laughs, ponders) I don't know about that. Rodriguez: There's got to be a neat freak in the group. Even: It's kind of hard to keep a loft clean with six guys. For a while we tried. Rodriguez: Do you all share the cooking and household duties? Even: We try to. There are still arguments about it. Since we've been touring, it's relieved some of that domestic stress. It's a difficult situation, but it lends itself to creating a somewhat unified vision. We're always turning each other on to the same records, books, and movies. Rodriguez: I bet you have some pretty crappy meals when you're on the road. Even: I would say the majority of the meals are crappy. Most of the time we eat unhealthily on the road. Rodriguez: What's your favorite song to play live? Even: That's tough. We have a couple of new songs, which weren't on our record, and I enjoy playing those. It's probably just the charm of playing something new. But off the record I enjoy playing a song called "I Used to Complain Now I Don't". Rodriguez: My favorite song to hear live is "While We Go Dancing". Even: That's one of our bouncier numbers. Rodriguez: What was the last download onto your iPOD? Even: I put the new Liars record on it. After that, I put a new Kinks record on there. Rodriguez: When you see Seattle on your tour itinerary, what comes to mind? Even: Nirvana. Rodriguez: Were you a big fan? Even: I didn't really discover their catalog until much later. At the time, I thought I was too cool to listen to Nirvana. Rodriguez: You guys probably get hit on a lot. Am I correct in that assumption? Even: (laughs, pauses) Um, I don't know if I'm at liberty to say that. Probably not any more than any other person. Rodriguez: Some bands are kind of ugly, and I can't imagine how they could possibly get hit on. But I'm looking at a White Rabbits photo this very second and I'd say your odds are favorable. Even: Well, thank you! Rodriguez: It's time to let you go, but I'm excited about you guys coming back to Seattle. You're opening for Tokyo Police Club on Thursday night (Oct. 18). So you're not headlining this time. Even: No, we're not. But we'll be able to play most of the songs off the record. Rodriguez: Cool, I can hit the bar after you guys play. Even: I'm sure that's what we'll do as well. Rodriguez: Okay, drive safely to Seattle and bring a scarf because the weather's been shitty. Even: It's been scorching hot where we're at, so that sounds delightful. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 post your own information on the Seattle Gay Blog |
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2007