Portrait: Arum Rae

Arum Rae

July 6, 2012

Arum Rae of White Dress Performs "I Got Visions" in a Van

It seems like the only time I ever post on this blog anymore is to share some news about White Dress. It does take much to get me motivated enough to conjure up new material for the Blog From Mars. But Arum Rae's band has a special power to make me post. So here is a great clip of Arum Rae taking it solo for Jam In the Van with a new tune "I Got Visions". Great song, and as always her voice is magic.  She rocks my socks.

White Dress - "Five Feet of Road" @ Beauty Ballroom 02.22.12

Here's some footage of White Dress from their show at the new Beauty Ballroom a couple weeks ago. As always, they rocked. And thankfully I've been named an official groupie by the band. They're my favs!

White Dress Offer Free EP Download

Austin is currently in the grips of its growing annual new year's tradition Free Week.  Among all the free madness, my favorite Austin band White Dress is offering their self-titled EP as a free download. This release gets my highest recommendation. Imagine if Amy Whinehouse fronted a White Stripes-esque garage band. Snarling guitars, bluesy/soulful harmonies; that's pretty much what comes to my mind when I hear the sound they have on here. Seriously, check this out. It's FREE, so you have no excuse not to.

GET IT!!!

White Dress on Daytrotter

Always a great place for anyone to discover new music, Daytrotter is giving one of my most favorite Austin bands some much deserved exposure. Garage-blues duo White Dress is the latest local act to be featured on the site. Their four song session recorded at the "Big Orange Studio"is up for grabs right now and features several songs from their self-released, self-titled EP.

The stripped sound of White Dress is a bit gritty, yet haunting as well. This for the most part is the result of the mesmerizing Arum Rae whose vocals command with a grrrl punk sneer edged with Amy Winehouse-like soulfulness. They are one of those bands that instantly grip upon first hearing them. At least that's what happened to me. And now it can happen to you, thanks to Daytrotter.

So jump over to there now to get a taste of this awesome band. If you aren't a member, you can easily sign up for a trial membership to scoop up the session.

White Dress is also about to embark on a east coast swing for the next couple weeks. Tour dates are below, which includes a date in my native Philadelphia. So if any east coast folk are are reading, jump on this show. You will thank me for it later.

12/8 The Atheneaum / Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association Alexandria VA 7pm
12/9 Night Cat Easton MD 8pm
12/10 Tin Angel Philadelphia 10:30pm
12/12 TT the Bears Cambridge MA 8:00 pm (opening for Gary Clark JR.)
12/13 Mercury Lounge NYC 9:00 pm (opening for Gary Clark JR.)
12/14 Rockwood Music Hall NYC 11:00 pm
12/15 Brooklyn TBA
12/16 The 8 x 10 Baltimore MD 8:00 pm (opening for Gary CLark JR)
12/17 Red Palace D.C. 8:00 pm (opening for Gary Clark JR)
12/18 The Box Charlottesville VA 10pm