White Rabbits, Interpol (11.03.10)

the Band: White Rabbits, Interpol
the Date: Wednesday November 3, 2010
the Venue: DAR Constitution Hall (DC)

(Photo credit to Kyle Gustafson)

White Rabbits opened. They were amazing. White Rabbits is a six-piece indie rock band based in Brooklyn. The members are Alexander Even (guitar, vocals), Brian Betancourt (bass), Matthew Clark (drums, additional percussion), Jamie Levinson (drums), Gregory Roberts (vocals, guitar), and Stephen Patterson (vocals, piano). They played a lot of tunes from their recent album, It’s Frightening (produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel - I saw White Rabbits open for Spoon back in 2008). This was a perfect opener for the night … I knew it was going to be a great night of music.

(Photo credit to Kyle Gustafson)

Interpol was the main event! They were awesome!

Interpol is an indie post-punk rock band out of New York. I’ve seen them a few times before and they’ve always amazed. This time around they were without Carlos D (he left the band earlier this year). The current line-up consisted of Paul Banks (vocals, guitar), Daniel Kessler (guitar, vocals), Sam Fogarino (drums), David Pajo (bass), and Brandon Curtis (keyboard, vocals). I think Brandon Curtis is only a member during the tour … he’s also in the band The Secret Machines, another great band.

The set all four of their studio albums, Turn on the Bright Lights, Antics, Our Love to Admire, and their recent, self-titled release, Interpol. From the very start, Interpol put on a great show with tons of energy, especially Daniel who danced with his guitar the entire night. There were so many great tunes, but my favorites were Say Hello to the Angels, Narc, PDA, Lights, Evil, and the final encore song, Slow Hands. Without question, the highlight of the night was their new song, Lights, which sounded fantastic and Paul’s most powerful performance of the night. Just superb!

(Photo credit to Kyle Gustafson)

Full setlist: Success / Say Hello to the Angels / Narc / Hands Away / Summer Well / Rest my Chemistry / PDA / C’mere / Untitled / Barricade / Take You on a Cruise / Lights / Evil / Try On / Not Even Jail / ENCORE / The Lighthouse / Length of Love / Slow Hands

you make me want to pick up a guitar
and celebrate the myriad ways that I love you …

White Rabbits, the Walkmen, Spoon (04.11.08)

the Band: White Rabbits, the Walkmen, & Spoon
the Date: Fri April 11, 2008
the Venue: Sonar (Baltimore)

(Photo credit to Robyn Lee and her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/roboppy/?search=roboppy)

White Rabbits was the opening band. Unfortunately, we were a little late to the club and missed some of their set. The part that we did catch was fully entertaining. As I understand things, this sextet is relatively new to the indie scene (please don't ask me to describe what that scene is ... I don't know). We really liked what we saw and were bummed that we missed some of their show. Keep it up boys and visit us again soon.

(Photo credit to Gretchen Robinette and her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/gretchenrobinette/?search=gretchen+robinette)

The Walkmen was the band I was really interested in seeing. I've been following these guys since before they were the Walkmen (yeah, I'm talking about Jonathan Fire*Eater and the Recoys). Did you know they all grew up in DC? Suffice it to say, I'm a HUGE fan. Last night, these guys did not disappoint. It was an amazing set including the Rat, Another One Goes By, All Hands and the Cook, ... and even Wake Up! There were a ton of new songs as well including (sorry if I got the names wrong) I Lost You, Canadian Girls and Donde Esta La Playa? This may have been the strongest Walkmen show I've ever seen. The whole group was SPOT ON and Hamilton Leithauser belted and crooned his way through the entire show. It's been a full two years since their third album, A Hundred Miles Off, was released and I simply cannot wait until their next release (out this summer maybe) ... more music ... more shows ... more, more, more!

(Photo credit to Ryan Dombal and his Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/ryandombal/?search=ryandombal)

As if we didn't get enough, Spoon ended the night with a superb performance. Much of their set concentrated on tunes from their 2007 album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. My personal favorites included Don't Make Me A Target, Don't You Evah, You Got Yr Cherry Bomb, I Turn My Camera On, the Underdog, Small Stakes, and The Beast And Dragon Adored (just to name a few) but it seemed to be that every tune they played was a fan-favorite. The crowd absolutely loved these guys. Britt Daniels and the other Austin boys returned the favor by playing not one, but two encores.

If you haven't figured it out by now, the night was a complete success. With White Rabbits, the Walkmen and Spoon on the bill, how could it be anything less?

And when you believe they call it Rock and Roll ...