Black Rabbit

Black Rabbit

Black Rabbit is a group from Burlington, Vermont, active from 2011 to the present. The act is identified with punk rock, garage pop, breakcore, drum and bass, rock, electronic and thrash metal.

History

The name is used by more than one artist, including a Vermont band and a Dutch death/thrash metal act from Apeldoorn. The Burlington group begins in 2008 when Tyler Rambie and Riley Statler, the guitarist and drummer of Old Bones, start jamming with John Carpenter. After working through Black Keys covers, they add bassist Mike Lalonde and form Workhorse. The band then develops originals such as New Blues, Mammoth and Restless, plays a series of low-profile bar gigs, and starts building a studio and recording in southeast Calgary.

Geoffrey Brown joins as vocalist in the summer, establishing the lineup. Later that year, Tar and Feather and Been To Jail appear on CKXU. In 2010, with a dozen local shows behind them, Black Rabbit plays Sled Island 2010. In 2011, the group releases its first demo EP on SoundCloud and plays two Major Matt Mason shows. It also performs in southwest Calgary and at the Auburn Saloon, where a 14-song set is recorded as a Christmas present. In 2012, the name appears in connection with Pale White Records.

The group’s listed tag also connects it to a further Black Rabbit reference: Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. begins his music career playing local bars with a band of that name before moving on to Orfax Rainbow.