Friday music weekend: James Rabbit

Yeah, I know, it's late, but it's here nevertheless!

Don't forget to check out the calendar for stuff to do this weekend! Have a listen to this band and I'll catch ya on the flip side!

A friend of mine suggested I check out James Rabbit, so I did, and it was like a breath of fresh air. Led by Tyler Martin's frenetic vocals, James Rabbit is a refreshing kick in the butt that will make you dance like you got ants in your pants. Cheered on by a driving keyboard, their music is a pleasantly schizophrenic parade of bright sounds and bright colors.

I was told that the real kick is seeing them live, with the band encouraging the audience to come in close and break it down, but I'm having just as much fun listening to the songs off of their MySpace. My favorite is "If You Can't Talk About It" with its soaring chorus, jangly guitar, and thumping piano. The shiny trumpet doesn't hurt either! I feel like if Of Montreal met Ben Folds Five, this is what it would sound like.

Comprised of Dylan McKeever on drums, Max Bennett-Parker on keyboards, Drew Stoeckel on bass, Mike Rekevics on guitar and John Tyler Martin on vocals (When performing live), it's obvious that the members of James Rabbit know their instruments and their devotion to their craft shines through in the ease with which their songs fall into your ear. Their latest album, Perfect Waves, gestated for fifteen months, and is available at www.insound.com.

The band just completed a northwest tour, but I suspect we'll be seeing them in Los Angeles very very soon.

And I will definitely be there!

I got in touch with Tyler Martin and he answered The Five for me. You can check out their MySpace for a sample of Perfect Waves.

Greatest musical influences:
Dexys Midnight Runners, Kate Bush.

Gear:
A variety of crummy amps, a regular guitar. Dylan's drums were on a Whitney Houston record, and Drew has a wireless hookup for his nice bass. We use a few synthesizers at shows, the Yamaha CS01 and SK15. A Conn trumpet. On record the gear is similar, with many more keyboards, a real piano, etc.

People can find us: On the web at www.myspace.com/jamesrabbitmusic or lefou.blogspot.com and IRL at the Crystal Palace in Santa Cruz, CA.

Going out/pre-show rituals:
Scribbling a set-list together really quick with the song selection depending on my current emotional state/anticipated size of the audience/location of the show.

Something about me most people don't know:
My rules of what is okay to eat and what isn't and when these rules apply.



Photo by Jon Manning.