After recently posing nude on the cover of NME magazine, debonair frontman Eddie Argos and his merry band of Lotharios have set their sights on conquering the Big Apple. This British invasion comes on the heels of the release of their sophomore album It’s a Bit Complicated. Unfortunately, due to sound problems and a game opener, the night did not belong to the playful Brits, but rather Brooklyn’s very own White Rabbits.
The White Rabbits have been touring constantly for the past year or so, with recent support slots in front of other British indie rock acts The Cribs and Mystery Jets. However, White Rabbits brand of indie rock bears more of a similarity to the recent efforts by another New York band, The Walkmen. White Rabbits’ debut album Fort Nightly has received near-unanimous praise, with de rigeur indie rag Pitchfork awarding it an admirable 8.1 rating. White Rabbits are a six-piece, crafting melodic, piano-driven ditties sung by an alternating pair of lead singers - and all six of the Bushwick boys are on point tonight. The chorus to “Kid On My Shoulders” is killer - “We held a torch throughout it / One day we’ll laugh about it.” Ditto for foot-stomper “The Plot,” whose chorus of “Whoa-o-o-o-o-o-o’s” bears repeating (in the shower?). “Navy Wives” is a beautiful ode to the forlorn spouses of armed servicemen (not to be confused with recent TV drama Army Wives), and “While We Go Dancing” is cheery enough to make even the most reticent of hipsters shake their tail feather. Their performance brought down the house.
Next up was the main event, UK’s Art Brut. The lads had some big shoes to fill following the wonderful White Rabbits, and they tried their damnedest to reclaim the stage, with chunky singer Eddie Argos exhibiting his signature bravado, cavorting about like a man possessed and launching himself headfirst into the crowd. Standout songs off 2nd LP It’s a Bit Complicated included “Direct Hit,” debut single “Nag Nag Nag Nag,” and the Pulp-esque sexual musings of “Post Soothing Out.” They also played a selection of fan favorites from debut LP Bang Bang Rock and Roll, including the call-to-arms “Formed a Band,” cheery love song “Emily Kane,” and “Bad Weekend,” which had Argos yelling, “Art Brut: Top of the Pops” during its thrilling finale (dated, but exhilarating nonetheless). And yet, despite Argos’ customary élan, tonight was one of those unfortunate nights where a venue truly betrays its act. The sound was very fuzzy, at times making Argos’ lyrics (and cheeky banter) incomprehensible, and it seemed as though the band itself was having trouble hearing each other as well. A shame, really.
White Rabbits 1, Art Brut 0.
-- Marlow Stern
