Whitney with Midwest Death Rattle, Turner Hall Ballroom, 12/1/16

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Whitney is not the type of band that you'd expect to play break-up songs.  With poppy melodies that nuzzle themselves into your head, Whitney blends together a unique indie pop-rock sound with psychedelic guitars, bright brass fills, driving keyboard riffs, funky drums and falsetto vocals.  Most songs about yearning for lost love don't involve bopping dance-along beats, but the core duo of Max Kakacek (guitar) and Julien Ehrlich (drums and vocals) pulled this off in grand fashion before a packed house at the Turner Hall Ballroom on a Thursday night.  Joined with a keyboardist, bass player, second guitarist, and horn/percussion specialist Will Miller, Whitney delivered an upbeat, fun and engaging performance.

The band themselves may have been a little shocked with the large crowd they drew.  "Last time I was here with one of my bands this room was about a third this full," Ehrich quipped part way thought the band's set, "Thank you so much for coming out to see us and bringing your friends."

photo by Will Piper

Ironically, Whintey may be outdrawing Kakacek and Ehrlich's previous critically acclaimed band, The Smith Westerns, which broke up in 2014.  With yearning lyrics aside, Whitney's music is contagiously catchy, unique and original.  Tracks like "Golden Days," "The Falls," and "No Matter Where We Go" from the band's debut album,  Light Upon The Lake released earlier this year, were well-received and translated even better live than they did on the record.

In addition to playing the tracks off of Light Upon The Lake, Whitney shared a couple of homages to musical influences, including a clever take on Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You," and a fun and horn heavy rendition of, NRBQ's  track "Magnet."

While all accomplished musicians, Whitey has a rawness about them that makes their shows palpable and real to the audience.  They are polished, but not overly scripted.  On numbers where they were able to jam and improvise a bit, the band showcased their best work.

Opening for Whitney was the wall-of-sound Milwaukee-based rock group known as Midwest Death Rattle.  With loud forward bass and driving guitars, Midwest Death Rattle let their presence be felt in the Turner Hall Ballroom.  Vocalist/guitarist Nick Perow's powerful range coupled with the band's uniquely quirky arrangements and stage presence made them an engaging and fun support act for Whitney.  Drawing comparisons from everyone from Drive by Truckers to Cold War Kids to City and Colour, the band self-described online as "weirdos making music" were immensely entertaining and a fun act that I hope to see again.

photo by Will Piper