What: White Rabbits
When: June 22, 2009
Where: The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
Why: White Rabbits’ second record, It’s Frightening is good, but not as good as their live show. I last saw them at Sasquatch ‘08 and am quite pleased to say they’ve gotten even better in the interim.
This sextet brings it. Despite a lack of immediacy in their stage setup (lead singer/frontman Stephen Patterson is seated at his keyboard, front and center), White Rabbits bring a huge amount of energy to their show. Percussive to a fault, they utilize two drummers for most songs, though at some point I think every band member grabbed the sticks and joined the beat.
“Percussion Gun,” might be the most drum-heavy song in their catalog, and it was a standout, along with old favorites like “The Plot” and “We Go Dancing”—my personal highlight of the night. While the bouncy, infectious tunes couldn’t quite get the typically staid Seattle crowd moving too much, it thankfully didn’t weaken the band’s performance. The best part about this show? Being able to better appreciate all the new songs, which admittedly sounded a little lackluster on first listen of the record.
