Kevin Bronson on November 3rd, 2009

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By Meriah Doty

A lost episode of “Twin Peaks.” Some super heavy Brooklyn-style reverb. And … Al Stewart (“Year of the Cat,” 1976). These were among the elements swirling around the El Rey Theatre on Monday night as the Local Natives opened for the White Rabbits.

The two bands are a perfect fit for touring, sharing men’s choral harmonies, few quiet moments, two coasts and a heavier rock hand than their fashionable cousins Grizzly Bear.

• ||| Photos by Kessia Embry

New York’s White Rabbits almost defiantly claimed their position as headliner with an Oscar-worthy opening. Evoking a movie score, whirling, looped sounds dominated the venue as the curtain opened: The bass dips in. Whirls fade. Enter lead vocalist Stephen Patterson sitting behind a saloon-style piano. His vocals are gruff, emphatic, yet loungey. The melodies are happy and reflective. Two bass drums are danced over and beaten with the enthusiasm of a celebratory caveman. The keys are pounded ferociously. A large vein in Patterson’s neck pops out whenever he sings. And he grimaces, clinching his teeth. Every bit of the set is deliberate, emphatic.

It all makes sense, since all six members are drummers – among other things. There is palpable angst, along with a ’50s, Vampire Weekend quality to their sound. Haunting, echoey guitars offset an otherwise straightforward cheer. The Rabbits tend to build, layer and crescendo – there’s always a splashy payoff. Their encore was an especially marvelously haunting jam as Patterson and the others belted out “recognize me” repeatedly. Finally, Britt Daniel of Spoon (who produced their album) walked on stage to accompany the band in a rocking cover John Lennon’s “Shine On.” What a treat.

L.A.’s own Local Natives were subtle in comparison. They were wonderful. All five performers – only one missing trademark Silver Lake facial hair – opened with a one-chord, rocking, layered jam, a wall of instruments and voices. They slowed down their second song with a barely recognizable Talking Heads cover, “Warning Sign,” which they clearly made their own, adding skillfully discordant harmonies. Theirs is the sound of happiness breaking through melancholy (“Where the Wild Things Are” much, guys?). This performance, they announced, is on the day their debut album, “Gorilla Manor,” is released in the U.K. (There’s not date for a U.S. release yet.) With their tempo changes, extra reverb and ghostly melodies, Local Natives have a sound all their own.

Charisma-free Brooklyn-based synth-and-drums duo Glass Ghost opened and brought the house down-tempo. It’s hard not to compare Eliot Krimsky’s high, nasally vocals to Al Stewart – with some hints of Thom Yorke. The otherwise monotone set was nicely punctuated with a funky number evoking Shuggie Otis – fantasy keys setting and all.

Thanks to Buzz Bands contributors Meriah Doty and Kessia Embry for reporting from Monday’s show at the El Rey.