Chicago-based Rabid Rabbit finds balance between art, mayhem
Rabid Rabbit, "Rabid Rabbit" (Interloper),
By a strange set of circumstances, the spacy, heavy strains of experimental doom have edged their way into tastemakers' iPods. Well, here's an act for cool art school kids and metalheads alike, one founded by a Chicago husband-and-wife team who thankfully have more to offer than endless drones and aimless feedback. With two bassists holding down the thick low end, Rabid Rabbit splits the difference between suffocating sludge and freaky rock n' roll madness, offering a hungover head trip for fans of everything from Sonic Youth to St. Vitus.
The quartet's debut album benefits from diversity of tempo. The end-times righteousness of "Welcome to the World" kicks it off, crashing Mike Tsoulos' wild tribal drums against Gregg Prickett's virtuoso guitar with ever-building fury. Nine-minute slow jam "Spider" follows, Andrea Jablonski giving ominous overtones to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" with a dry recitation of the nursery rhyme as she and fellow bassist Arman Mabry throb and thrum, Prickett alternately creaking and soloing with bluesy classic rock abandon.
The record's other five tracks move between these poles of powerful rock and contemplative creepiness, sometimes with Jablonski's minimalist vocals and sometimes without. The focus remains on hazy, enveloping atmosphere, felt equally in traditional doom instrumental "Ephedrine" and static-crispy rocker "Morse Code," which sounds like an older track by The Kills recorded on an especially foul day. The only downside is that it's currently a vinyl-only release, since analog cultists aren't the only ones who will appreciate it. Everyone else: be content with Rabid Rabbit's live shows, which from the recorded evidence are no doubt wonderfully, thunderously filthy affairs.
• Rabid Rabbit performs a record release show with Grief, Indian, Bloodiest and DJ Kevin Drumm at 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 227-4433 or hideoutchicago.com.
The Answer, "Never Too Late" (The End),
Ireland's The Answer is yet another group reviving the classic '70s hard rock sound. The quartet has turned a lot of heads around the globe, as leathery Brits Jimmy Page, Joe Elliott and David Coverdale have all praised their authentic retro stomp. Now they're gunning for the States, with a coveted slot opening AC/DC's current tour, a space on the brand new video game "Guitar Hero World Tour" and this EP (hitting stores on Nov. 11) serving as an introduction.
The song "Never Too Late" comes from The Answer's 2006 album, "Rise," but it could have been released at any point since Cream dropped "Disraeli Gears" in '67. Paul Mahon's wah-wah guitar shuffle and Cormac Neeson's raspy wail don't contain a trace of irony. Augmented with harmonica, "The Doctor" sounds even more vintage, its vintage Zeppelin blues groove kicking into high gear during its final minute. The only brand new song here, "Highwater or Hell," breaks the mold with an anthemic chorus, and the brief disc concludes with the energetic "Come Follow Me" recorded live in Japan (where the band is, apparently, huge).
Even though it comes with a DVD, there's just not enough to this EP to tell whether The Answer's personality is unique enough to translate into staying power. It does, however, prove they have more in common with the earnest, proficient likes of Rose Hill Drive than with the campy theatrics of, say, Wolfmother. If you've already bought a ticket for AC/DC, getting to the show early should be worth your time.
• The Answer performs with AC/DC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $89.50/sold out. (312) 559-1212.