White Denim - "Exposion" Available Now!

Austin trio White Denim finally released their debut record Exposion via their direct fan-to-band subscription site. It seems like this record has been around forever, but honestly that's not a bad thing. We caught them in NY last week and their live show was just as kick ass as the record. You can get the digital download or order vinyl through the band's website. Subscribers will get things like a limited 7", limited live tracks, videos, artwork by Steve and the album, which is also available in FLAC format.

White Denim

Mercury Lounge
NY, New York
10.19.2008

Due to lack of photos on flickr and general assholery on the part of the Stark staff, we have no photos of the show last night.

White Denim - "Sitting" - mp3

CMJ week unofficially kicked off for Stark last night at the Mercury Lounge with a full dose of White Denim, Amazing Baby and Papertrigger.

All we can really say is that we hope Amazing Baby stuck around for White Denim's set so they could see what a real rock band looks and sounds like. (Unfortunately, we saw them cooing with their rhinestone-studded, headband-wearing groupies out at the bar.)

White Denim sounded like an inverted, crazy-ass, 2008-version of the Allman Brothers. Lead singer James Petralli captured a fantastic amalgamation of Greg Allman's southern-soul and growl all while sounding completely cutting edge and modern. The Austin, TX trio focused largely on their instrumental sections, employing tasteful loops, and complex song structures -- the vocals were just the icing on this delicious, bourbon-infused cake of a night. Drummer Joshua Block covered the part of both the Allman's drummers with ease and style. (There's no quicker way into our hearts than a damn good drummer). The set was amazingly tight and their stage energy matched the excitement of their music. Sometimes the hype machine is correct - White Denim might be the best thing we see all week. They play in NY again tonight at Union Hall.

White Denim just released their debut, Exposion today via Topspin -- a direct band-to-fan service also employed by David Byrne and Brian Eno on their recent release. Go HERE to sign up.

**A quick note on the openers...
After a rather unfortunate set by Papertrigger, Amazing Baby took the stage. They basically looked like Spinal Tap, compared to White Denim. Their cliche of the night was TIEDYE (WHOO!) and vintage Jim Morrison-beaded necklaces. Their back-up singers were still off-key and they still don't have good songs - nor do they have a good drummer.
Too harsh? We don't think so.