Over the past couple years, much of the American iteration of "indie rock" (or whatever) has gotten mired in a latte-scented puddle of mild psychedelia on one hand, and purposely lo-fi, pedal-doused noise on the other. There's a lot of cool stuff in-between, but what nearly nobody is doing any more is straight-ahead, well, rock, the kind that hangs more on hooks and melody than on effects. Enter the Black Rabbits, a foursome originally from Orlando that now resides in Asheville, North Carolina.
via myspace.com/theblackrabbits
The coed group boasts a slightly roughed up, power pop sound, but not an overproduced one. Rather, the band traces its lineage directly back to great '60s U.K. groups like the Animals and the Turtles, as well as much later American groups like the Pixies and even Nirvana. That, err, grungier stuff is more or less confined to frontman Jetson Black's slightly snarling vocals. The rest of the time, there's a feel-good, timeless bounce to the songs that should appeal to Boomer parents as much as twentysomethings in Converse. After all, this is a band that also unabashedly name-checks the Monkees, an influence that can be heard in the bouncy build-ups of songs like "Hurry, Hurry."
The band played Churchill's last night, and from tonight and throughout next weekend visits several staple venues throughout South Florida. Hit the jump to get all the show details.
Friday, April 16. The Poor House, 110 SW 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Admission is free; age 21 and up. 954-522-5145
Thursday, April 22. Respectable Street. 418 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Admission is $5; age 21 and up. 561-832-9999; respectablestreet.com
Friday, April 23. The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St., Miami. Admission is free before 11 p.m., $5 after; age 21 and up. 305-379-0508; thevagabondmiami.com
Tuesday, April 27. Propaganda, 6 S. J. St., Lake Worth. Admission is $5; age 21 and up. 561-547-7273; propagandalw.com
