Garage Rock for Geeks: Austinist <3s White Denim

White Denim are sort of an anomaly in Austin: they aren't iPod dance-rock, they don't have a gimmick, and they haven't been consumed by the scene's self-conscious rock elite. They seem to be making it based on the purest of rock 'n roll fantasies: a live show that makes people turn around and smile at each other, and songs which catalyze that in more ways than one. But describing their sound can be difficult.

Paging Captain Beefheart. Captain? We think we've found your long-lost adopted grandsons. And they've been listening to Nuggets.

We've had some good-natured arguments before about this, and to their credit, have reached no solid agreement. The subtle goofiness of a non-self-referencing Jon Spencer Blues Explosion meets The Creation meets psychedelic gospel hootenanny on PCP. Add a dash of mid-to-late era King Crimson, a heaping tablespoon of the raunchiest Kinks and Yardbirds tracks (Dave Davies on vocals, ladies and gents), and puree until completely fucking insane, periodically checking to make sure that the blender doesn't burst into flames.

At the same time, we hear some of Jim O'Rourke's guitar experimentation circa Bad Timing with a healthy dose of good old fashioned pick-less rock 'n roll guitar work a laBuckingham or maybe even Strummer & Jones. The bass sounds like it was built by Albini & Weston, and the drumming hints at both experimental percussionists and more traditional jazz drummers. We think of Buddy Rich vs. Animal on the old Muppet Show every time we watch them play.

The live show is equal parts cocksure rock and genuine thrill when the audience engages. No one is yelling imperatives at you, yet you feel compelled to clap and dance and stomp and yell along with the songs you know. For many, just finding yourself drawn in to a live act like that is enough to come away feeling like you've enjoyed yourself, but beyond the fun aspect, the songs are, for the most part, far more complicated than they might initially appear. When watching White Denim play, it might be tempting to call them garage rock or post-punk or something like that, and it's partially true because of the spirit of the whole thing, but those classifications intimate a certain simplicity which patronizes the complexity of some of the compositions. It's not rocket science, but it's heavily influenced by jazz, utilizing complex rhythm changes and time signatures. The live show is engaging and brilliant not just because the songs are great, but also because of the three guys working so hard to play them. When it works, there are looks of "Holy shit I can't believe we pulled that off," and that's hard to find in this town.

Anomaly is right. Hopefully this is an harbinger of things to come for our scene which, of late, has produced some alarmingly self-conscious bands. White Denim, though, definitely have the bite to back up the bark, and the great thing is, they're not the ones barking. We are. For more. Get a helping yourself, come with us to see them tonight @ Emo's:

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This preview was compiled from conversations between music writer Joshua Huck and music editor Paige Maguire

White Denim w/ The War Against Sleep, Red Leaves, Ringo Deathstarr
Emo's (6th & Red River)
Thursday, May 31
10 PM