Dunn's Music Spotlight

So many times in the music industry, extremely talented bands go unnoticed and unsigned by record companies. Their hard work and hopes never realized or heard. Having worked with many bands over the last 25 years I have seen many struggle to have their music heard, some successful and some not. With that in mind, from time to time, I will be spotlighting local (within Southern California) unsigned bands to help them in their quest.

With that said, this week I am focusing on a real jewel of a find, "The Maxfield Rabbit". The band will not divulge the origin of the name and that is fine with me. The name is secondary to what turns out to be very satisfying to the ears. It is not often nowadays that we get music that is accessible to many people generally divided into different camps. The Maxfield Rabbit breaks down those walls.

The band describes itself as alternative pop rock but I think it covers a lot more ground than that. It would be at home on any alternative, rock, or adult station. It is immensely satisfying on many levels to the point where you can put in the CD and play it from end to end and by the time it is over you find yourself wanting more. I receive many demo CD's from bands wanting my input or are hopeful that I can pass it along to someone who may be able to help them out. More times than not, after listening to a few cuts I can tell if I am going to like it or not. Rarely is a band consistent in their ability to write and record a couple of good songs. The Maxfield Rabbit, in their freshman attempt, has come up with 13.

All the songs on their CD "Evermore" are produced and written by the band, along with help from Scot Gaines and Michael James. The standouts for me were the jaunty "Turning You On", the smoothly seductive "It's Alright By Me", the rocking title track "Evermore" and the haunting duet "Drunk". But as I said before, there is not a bad song on the CD.

In order to make this kind of musical statement you have to have a strong and talented musical unit and The Maxfield Rabbit has got it. The back line is as solid as a rock and that they do. That would be Christopher LaCagnina on bass guitar and Robert Jolly on drums. The guitar work is shared between two hot guitar slingers Roger LaPlant and Allen Moreno, who is a former resident of Temple City and currently resides in Pasadena. They also supply the back up vocals. Even though LaPlant takes the lead on a couple of songs, the lion's share of the vocals rest on the red maned shoulders of Julia Albert.

Ms. Albert's vocals are nothing short of amazing. Her range is a virtual roller coaster of highs and lows, drawing comparisons to Alanis Morissette, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush. What is truly amazing is that she and this fine group of musicians are unsigned by a record label. The professional way that they have packaged and marketed their CD is better than most record companies do, so perhaps the record companies are jealous.

To get a hold of a copy of "Evermore" is simple. You can go to their web site at www.maxfieldrabbit.com and order it or you can pick one up at one of their many live shows. They have two coming up in January and if you can find the time I strongly suggest you go. They are all close and listed below.

UPCOMING SHOWS FOR "THE MAXFIELD RABBIT"
January 14, 10:00 p.m., The Muse, 54 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA, 626-793-0608
(Call for cover charge)
January 27, 9:45 p.m., The Gig, 7302 Melrose Ave., Hollywood CA, 323-936-4440,
(Call for cover charge), Music industry showcase open to the public
If you are a local band and would like to submit your tape or CD for a possible Music Spotlight article please send it to Dunn's Music Spotlight, PO Box 1541, Temple City, CA 91780. All submissions are not returnable and there is no guarantee that an article will follow a submission. Please include a phone number and contact name so I can reach you for background information.