wht.rbbt.obj. - Romeo Bravo Bravo Tango

​wht.rbbt.obj.

Romeo Bravo Bravo Tango
self-released; 2024

4.0 out of 5

​By ​Dino DiMuro
​

wht.rbbt.obj. is a Chicago blues-rock band with a confusing name and new EP titled Romeo Bravo Bravo Tango. I reviewed the band’s last EP “Whiskey Hotel Tango” and got to know the smoky, sexy alternative rock of married couple Frank and River Rabbitte (and by now you’ve perhaps guessed that their name is a compression of the phrase “white rabbit object”). With this release the band hopes to push their sound even further while maintaining their unique style.

“Your Love’s A Crime” starts with the solid, room-tone drum kit I’ve come to expect, followed by quavering Leslie- speaker guitars and deep bass. River Rabbitte’s voice is capable of sounding great in many genres, and in this blues-pop song she’s affecting a murky, insinuating stance, switching to tender sexuality at the drop of a beat.

Her powerful voice at times reminds me of all-time greats like Patti LaBelle or Tina Turner. Frank Rabbitte’s concluding solo is pitched low but is note-perfect. “Heavy Petting” brings the sensuality front and center with a hot, rapid beat and taunting, yearning vocals by Ms. Rabbitte. On this track I’m getting more of an 80’s New Wave Dale Bozzio-like feel, especially in the choruses. “The Ballad of Kitty Collins” is a hard rocker (though maybe hardest for me, as my headphones were cranked all the way up!). Ms. Rabbitte lets herself run loose across the track, chased by a bit of echo. The guitars are heavily riff-based, slicing and dicing through the song with slabs of power chords and a fuzz-heavy lead solo.

“White Rabbit Black Sheep” has a Velvet Underground or Iggy Pop menace, establishing a laid-back grunge riff over which River Rabbitte pontificates with abandon, somewhat similar to Grace Slick. The bizarre, eastern-influenced guitars put this track firmly in the psychedelic camp. I love the crazy synth break in the middle, unless that’s an electric guitar through an especially cool stomp box. “Dirty Love” is (perhaps sadly) not a cover of the Frank Zappa classic, but has a lot of the same creative spark. The main driver of this tune is an elliptical guitar riff, fuzzed to a muted nub and sharing the exact sonic space with the bass.

​Ms. Rabbitte is back on the sexy train in “Heavy Petting” but much heavier and with lots of labored breathing between lyrics. This is a driving track where the level of compression grips the song in a metallic vise, and though it’s a bit distorted in headphones, the power is undeniable. Think early Kinks had Shel Talmy walked away and let the kids run the studio. This is another compelling chapter of the “White Rabbit” mythos, ready to blast listeners with sheer power and personality. Jump in and see!

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