White Rabbits vs Hockey – Koko – 24 February 2010

Words and photos by Marcus Maschwitz

First off this review isn’t really going to compare White Rabbits against Hockey because they are super different but I just used that as the title because I feel that White Rabbits were too good to be considered an opening band tonight. Maybe I am biased but that’s how I feel.

Koko tonight was completely sold out and I haven’t seen it this full in a while. The crowd seems really excited but open minded and ready to have a good time except for one dick licker (excuse me) who must have got the wrong invite and came to the show to start fights. Not sure what that’s all about but I guess it happens. I never really experience this as shows and always consider the time in a venue with a band to be a good time so this dampened my spirits right away. Luckily someone put him in his place.

White Rabbits began setting the stage on their own making sure that everything was in the right place so that they could come out and destroy their instruments. NOTE: They don’t actually destroy their instruments but rather play them with more heart and passion than I’ve ever seen to date except possibly for this last time I saw them play)

It’s obvious that majority of the crowd isn’t familiar with their stuff and aren’t sure what to expect and after the first song it sounds like the crowd around me has learnt a new language (F@$K YES). I realize now that Matt has a broken hand and I’m not sure what he is thinking but it has no negative effect on his performance and they breeze through their set with ease as if nothing could ever stand in their way. Not only that but they all seem to be having fun playing and I love that. These six guys are so tight on stage that they almost seem like one artist and they can play each others instruments just as good as their own while being one of few bands to make playing a tambourine look cool.

Besides a few broken strings and some guitar cable issues for Gregory Roberts the show is great and when they finish I hear people speaking and agree that “with a set like they there is no way they won’t become huge soon”. I almost wonder if I’ll ever get bored of these guys but I know that can never happen unless they all lose interest. My only fault is that their set was a bit short but this is because they were a support slot.

After a short wait the lights dim and the guys from Hockey slowly make their way on stage. I am really new to their stuff but I’ve been really excited all week to see them live because of the stuff I’ve heard. They start off with Work and it’s got such a fun feel and groove about it that I find myself immediately tapping my foot and trying to sing along to a song I don’t even know (you’ve all seen the person I’m talking about at a show, on the tube or in the car next to you). Bassist, Jeremy Reynolds, is playing a really different way to bands I’ve seen before but the sound he’s creating is amazing.

As with most Portland born bands the guys have a cool look about them and they experiment with sounds making sure their tones are different and they’ve definitely created a sound that’s theirs. They make their way through greats that include Wanna Be Black, 3am Spanish and Song Away and the whole time people are singing a long and moving which is always a great sign. Fron tman, Benjamin Grubin, comes across quirky but in a ways that most people tonight want to be like him. My favourite of their set has to be Too Fake which I know the best and it felts as if I had been waiting all night for them to play it.

Hockey are great live, really great and their show tonight has convinced me to want to get their albums. I can’t believe I am only discovering these guys now. It’s really exciting but almost a pity that I’ve missed out until now.

All in all tonight … at Koko … was a night to remember … a good night with a lot of energy and proof that live music is what it’s all about. Both bands have great recorded works but they both over power these with their live performances. Make sure to check them out. Make sure to learn the words and MAKE SURE to see them live. You’re missing
out until you do.

I want to again stress that I am not comparing these two awesome bands so please don’t take this review personally and rather take my advice and make sure to check out both bands.

This post is tagged Alex Even, Anthony Stassi, Benjamin Grubin, Brian Betancourt, Brian White, Gregory Roberts, Hockey, Jamie Levinson, Jeremy Reynolds, KoKo, Matt Clark, Ryan Dolliver, Stephen Patterson, White Rabbits