On The Verge

White Denim

Austin, Texas
Indie Rock Guitar Heroes
www.whitedenimmusic.com

White Denim made its name on Austin’s underground rock circuit, but it’s unfair to classify the Texas-based trio as simply an indie rock band. James Petralli learned to play guitar by listening to jazz, jam and fusion greats like Stanley Clarke, The Allman Brothers Band and Bill Frisell. Now, along with drummer Joshua Block and bassist Steve Terebecki, he’s has figured out a way to integrate those influences into an experimental, guitar-heavy, garage rock sound that owes as much to ‘60s psychedelic-rock as it does ‘80s post-punk. “We have a really open sense about how music is relative,” admits Petralli. “We definitely love simple garage music, but we also listen to more technical music like Hendrix as well.” The band’s 2008 full-length U.S. debut Exposion and its 2009 follow up Fits helped White Denim make waves on the hipster rock circuit, but the group’s high-energy live show and long, soaring solos should also net the trio a wider audience. “We don’t really sensor ourselves in the studio very much—we use a lot of pianos and background vocals and all that kind of stuff. So onstage, we just kind of see what tunes really have a lot of potential to pack a punch.”