Getting too hot and too close here boys!
Picture four middle-aged fashonistas and what must be a deep, philosophical, male protagonist named “Mr Big”. When this is the best export that New York has to offer, one might be forgiven to think that the city is not the cultural hive that it once was. However, look past the innuendos so obvious that they’d make Charlie Sheen blush, and there are signs of actual life. Search deep into the depths of Brooklyn, in fact, and you might find the exceptional efforts of White Rabbits, a band famed for their edgy post-punk guitar spikes, drum stand-offs and infectious on-stage energy. After the phenomenal success of their debut record, Fort Nightly, the six-piece returned earlier this year with a second effort entitled It’s Frightening. In this interview, SS's James Conlon question the White Rabbits' drummer, Matt Clark about life on the road and dirty, dirty auto-tuning, before uncovering a painful exclusive about performing for death-row criminals...
SS: In what way was the process for writing and recording It's Frightening different to the way which you approached Fort Nightly?
Matt Clark: (Percussion, Drums) It was different in a lot of ways. We decided to work with our friend Britt as opposed to a traditional producer. Just that experience alone was great. We also demoed the album as a whole before going into the recording studio, which is where a lot of the experimentation with different sounds and composition come from. Since we had a lot of time with the songs we just kept going through them and trimming the fat until we got a lean piece.
SS: It has been a massive year for you with the album release, extensive touring and a performance on Letterman to top it off. What else have been the highlights?
Matt: We had the opportunity to go to Australia for some festivals and it was the best tour I think we've had as a band. We met a lot of really amazing people who are in a lot of amazing bands. If you can play a show then watch Future of the Left then catch Major Lazer when you're good and drunk, that's a good day. If you can do that at least 5 times that's something you can put on your tombstone... and your mother's.
SS: If you had to abandon guitars altogether and become a drum-only band, what would be your drum of choice for each member?
Matt: I'm glad you asked this question because I have been thinking of this idea for a while. Each member would have one piece of a kit. Except for the person with the kick drum would have the snare. But nobody in this hypothetical band would be allowed to have more than 2 drums. I challenge anyone to start this band under the condition that you don't play a disco beat and you don't list Joy Division as an influence, even if you are influenced by Joy Division. New Order is fine to list. To answer the question, we would all have snares. 'Cause as far as this idea goes, we are already on that next level shit.
SS: It's Frightening is very cohesive album. Did you originally intend for it to be a whole piece rather than a collection of single tracks?
Matt: We definitely wrote this album as a whole. When we were writing we knew how many songs we wanted to have on the album so when we were demoing we would leave gaps where a hypothetical song would go and write that song based on the feel of the song before it and the one after.
SS: If you could share a stage with any bands past or present, who would you have playing?
Matt: I don't know if this is considered a "band", but I think if we played with a firing squad we could make a criminals last moment memorable for that very brief moment. Plus 5/6ths of us smoke so we could bring those. This would obviously be in the past and only to serve the purpose of bringing justice to those convicted by an un-biased judge in a court of law.
SS: There is an incredible sense of melody and pitch on the new LP. Why not take the chance now to confess about the auto-tuning? (...seriously, it's okay. We won't tell anyone).
Matt: Thank you. I can't even joke on this one. My soldiers are talented on the mic. Some describe it as "savage". I don't. But other people do.
SS: If you had give each band member a nickname based on their worst habit, what would it be?
Matt: Smoker, Smoker, Smoker, Drinker, Cheesefingers, Brian Betancourt.
SS: Do you guys have a favourite venue(s) to play? (What marks it/them out from the rest?)
Matt: The Bottletree in Alabama is great. Really the only thing you need for a good venue is a stage that is large enough and nice people who don't treat you like you’re trying to rob the place. Some of these venues operate like they have State fucking secrets or some shit. Nobody likes going to a show to be treated like a prisoner. This goes for people on and off the stage.
SS: 'The Plot' has been part of my gym soundtrack for nearly two years now, (I have had many a Rocky moment fueled by your music). If you had to choose a movie that would use It's Frightening as a soundtrack what would it be?
Matt: Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome
SS: What's next for White Rabbits? Have you already began working new tracks, new ambitions?
Matt: Right now we are getting our Mad Max on. Hitting the road looking for that gasoline. Currently trying to write songs in hotel rooms without any instruments that will someday inspire countless generations all over the world.
Words: James Conlon
Photography: Burak Cingi