The Rabbits @ Public Assembly (Northside Fest)

The Rabbits have been one of Staten Island's steadiest and best bands for a couple of years now, and as such they've been part of a couple of previous Pop Tarts events. Now the band is close to finishing up their debut full length and so interest around them is really bubbling up once again. Friday night they played a set mixed with old and newer tunes that really got the backroom of Public Assembly going. It was hot and sweaty back there but that didn't phase Adam Ferretti who doffed a rabbits cowl after the first song and kept it on for the rest of their set.

Watching these guys rock out I'm reminded about how far the Staten Island music scene has come. There was a time about three or four years ago right when The Rabbits started off as Dead Rabbit where most people were super bored with the music coming from the Island. Then this band came along and suddenly dozens of other bands also sprang to life (including more then a few featuring members of The Rabbits). Of course there are other bands that deserve just as much credit for reviving the Staten Island music scene, bands like Murray and Monty Love, but I remember watch Dead Rabbit for the first time at Martini Red and being blown away by the band.

Now they are so much better then they ever were then, they have sharpened every aspect of the band and tightened up all their tunes to form a band that really knows how to create their own music. It's all awesome stuff that you should definitely check out if you missed it on Friday night.

I took video of the band's set but my vimeo account is at its max and imeem won't let me embed so I can only link to it. Check out video here!