Live Review: White Rabbits with Lovepark at London Hoxton Bar and Kitchen – 13th August 2012
It’s a warm night inside the trendy Hoxton Square and Lovepark are finishing their set. My friend turns to me: “where did all the bands that sound happy like this go?” he enquires. I have no answer. The only acts of a similar standard of quality indie pop that remain today are breakthrough acts Dog is Dead (who’s lyrics do dip into the dark side once in a while) and Phoenix, who’ve dropped off the radar of late. Bands of a similar cut to the Holloways all but died back at the turn of the decade, and it’s been rather sombre ever since. By that means, Lovepark are enjoyable to the point that they stand out from a crowd of miserabilia; and they’re just the support!
The headline act tonight are White Rabbits. Whilst it may have seemed a bit quiet on their front since 2010 record ‘It’s Frightening’, they’ve been busy and now they’re ready to promote their third album ‘Milk Famous’ to the 200 assembled.
They open with a few new ones. Lead single ‘Heavy Metal’ doesn’t lend itself live much but it builds up the set for the likes of ‘I’m Not Me’ which pulses throughout as the band’s two drummers (all bands are better with two drummers) really start to get people going and front-man Stephen Patterson gets into the flow of things with his powerful voice.
The band leave interaction to a rough minimal, allowing the music to take centre stage (difficult when there’s six of them) The record shines more in a live setting as the gradual crescendos, little guitar riffs and more percussive sounds get everyone in the room to a steady bob. Of course, the set is back-weighted though as the likes of ‘It’s Frightening’ singles ‘Rudie Falls’ and the ever exciting ‘Percussion Gun’ are left towards the end. Unlike many sets of this style, you don’t feel as if the evening’s been waiting for them as each track, even the weaker songs on the New Yorker’s third stand on their own.
Whilst it may not be the best album they’ll record, nor in contention for album of the year, ‘Milk Famous’ performs itself live in a way that not many thought possible and fits alongside older material in a way that will surely make White Rabbits live darlings of the underground once more in no time. It’s been special.
Leave Your Response