Usually I wake up in the morning and go to work in my (albeit unconventional) office. I don't expect offices to be part of my entertainment or nightlife. They are for work and work alone. Last Saturday, I was proved wrong. I went down to the Grant Building at 7th and Market with a bottle of Jameson shoved into my coat pocket. I signed in at the front desk and made my way to a suite on the second floor.
I walked into a space that was a million miles from your typical office. For a start, there was no furniture, just a few people sitting around on the scraggly carpet and smoking out of the window. This office had served as a practice space for SF noise rock band The Rabbles, and they were now quitting it in style with an impromptu gig.
The Rabbles seem to have taken something from British punk of the 70's, without the punk vocals, and mixed it with the noisy psychedelia of 13th Floor Elevators and Syd Barrett. The songs are upbeat and melody driven, but keep their grungy grit. I could also make comparisons with Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. Founder member J. Lee described the band as "a tribute band to the greatest hits you've never heard." They have been going, in various incarnations, since 2003. They play around San Francisco, and you can often catch them at the Hemlock or the Eagle Tavern.
On Saturday they played a short set with plenty of noisy guitar, but just the right amount of pop sensibility to give it balance. Singers Marina Lazzara and J. Lee's vocals blended well together, and Marina's voice was reminiscent of Patti Smith. They had managed to pull a decent amount of people together at the last minute, but they failed to make much of a connection with the audience. They could use a bit more verve, but perhaps this was just a result of playing in their practice space.
I would like to hear them play at a real venue, because their political lyrics and interesting mix of musical styles make them an intriguing band, one that I would like to see more of ... and that's not just the whiskey talking either.
- Liz Barnes