White Rabbits 'Fort Nightly ' album

This week marks the release of Brooklyn’s White Rabbits debut album, Fort Nightly, on Say Hey Records. The album follows on the heels of the band’s highly praised SXSW performance, which led NME Magazine to declare the group the #3 band of the mid-March conference and The Tripwire to write, “I couldn’t help but stand up and get my dance on to them.”

One listen to Fort Nightly and it’s easy to see why White Rabbits cause fans and critics alike to sing their praises. The band cleverly combines sounds and styles from eras past into addictively catchy compositions. “If Liberace joined a swing band, and enlisted a guitarist addicted to eclecticism (Western, surf flecked, and C&W (included), it might sound a bit like this. Yet somehow, The White Rabbits pull this surreal set straight out of the hat, because for all its fractured elements, the group still magically conjure up coherent, complete songs. As lyrically eclectic and clever as it is musically, this is one fascinating album,” AllMusic.com writes.

Fort Nightly was produced by Chris Zane, whose credits also include Asobi Seksu, Les Savy Fav, and White Rabbits’ label mates Shy Child.

biography
White Rabbits come to NYC via the arid plains of the Mid West. Although they have been in The City for just over a year, they have managed to catch the attention of Say Hey Records and producer Chris Zane (Shy Child, Asobi Seksu, Les Savy Fav) with their stellar songwriting ability and instrumental aplomb.

Lead by dual vocalists, Greg Roberts (Guitar / Vox) and Steve Patterson (Piano / Vox), the 6 piece is rounded out by Alex Even (Guitar / Vox), Adam Russell (Bass), Matt “The Duck” Clark (Drums) and Jamie Levinson (Drums). With a certain joie de vive, playfulness and charm White Rabbits thematically evoke the more decadent and bygone era of days spent on the green, old cinemas “Tourist Trap”, tragic mothers “Navy Wives”, and restrained, but no less awkward domestic disputes, with the first single, “The Plot.”

Added to their arsenal are 3 part vocal harmonies that texture the album throughout. White Rabbits even showcase the occasional group chant, best exampled on Fort Nightly’s opening track “Kid On My Shoulders” as it thunders to its conclusion. White Rabbit’s penchant for more tropical excursions such as on “I Used To Complain Now I Don’t”, featuring the horns of Beirut’s (Jon Natchez), are, at times, reminiscent of The Specials or Madness.

The band also has a keen ear for the occasional cover song, and the old instrument switcheroo on stage. Anyone who has had the chance to see White Rabbits live will be able to attest first hand to the joy and effervescence that they exude on stage. True camaraderie in fact. Their sets have gained the band a large and growing audience and led them to share bills with Peter Bjorn & John, The Walkmen, Richard Swift and others. A full tour is planned for the late spring as well.

White Rabbits have succeeded in realizing a tremendously vibrant and creative debut record with Fort Nightly. They communicate joy without being cloying or saccharine sweet, and the listeners could easily find themselves clapping along to any one of the darker moments. White Rabbits combine style and panache, both musical and personal, for a thoroughly fresh and unexpected experience. This is certainly one to follow through the looking glass.

Press Quotes
"The Plot" was NPR.com's song of the day on 5/18/07

"Brooklyn newcomers White Rabbits pull off an amazing sleight of hand with Fort Nightly, popping out of the hat with a debut as fully formed and self-assured as any likely to be heard this year." The Onion Grade: A-

"Nearly embarrassing levels of enthusiasm, sincerity, and energy inform Fort Nightly, the band's surprisingly meaty debut." The Village Voice

"Kid on My Shoulders" Forkcasted on Pitchfork - "The song's dark sway is tough to get out of your head, but it's hard to imagine wanting to get it out of there anyway."

“Although my feet were already growing tired from day one, I couldn’t help but stand up and get my dance on to them.” The Tripwire

“Brooklyn six-piece White Rabbits dive into a set of nine near flawless tunes. Layering concertgoers with a thick coating of hazy vaudeville piano jangles, airy lead guitars, and genre-negotiating drum patterns.” – Spin.com

"Their tune "The Plot" was one of the best songs we heard in all our time out there..." - NME (UK) - Named the #3 band of SXSW

"White Rabbits have moved through this city like a clever magic trick...with many more surprises still up their sleeves" - CMJ

"As lyrically eclectic and clever as it is musically, this is one fascinating album." - Allmusic Guide - ****1/2 Review!

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Tracklisting

White Rabbits - Fort Nightly