Pepper Rabbit: Older Brother

I was instantly charmed by Pepper Rabbit. So much so that, after hearing only two songs from their debut album Beauregard, I decided to attend their show in Columbus on Oct. 19 (pictured above). I was not disappointed by the band’s brand of psychadelic folk, which employs everything from banjos to clarinet to horns to glockenspiel.

“Older Brother” is truly what sold me on both the album and on seeing the band — who hails from Silver Lake, California — in person. It might be the most sparsely arranged and straightforward song on Beauregard. Xander Singh voices a heartbreaking tale of losing a best friend and trying to fill the void of that loss. I’ll put the lyrics here because I think they’re beautiful.

We both sat, on our beds, in my room.
And we talked about what was coming soon.
All the (pink powder) wont cover up what we did.
Doing wrong when, we were just kids.

And I think that you’re the older brother,
that I never had.
I wish I could reach out and touch you.
Dont worry, i’m not sad.
I know you’re just where you want to be,
and everyone’s a hundred grand.
Save some space for me,
and say hello to your dad.

I will look after your sister I swear.
I’ll write her when she’s lonely, and send it off in the air.
I will keep her safe, until i’m dead.
She’ll always have a place to rest her head.
You dont have to worry about it now,
you dont have to live with that frown.
I will hold your memory close to my chest,
though I wish you hadn’t said it was best.
Could you have stayed just one more night,
for all of us to say good bye.
But I love your troubles are now gone
and you still feel so damn warm.

The date in Columbus happened to be the night before the group made its College Music Journal Music Marathon showcase debut in New York City. Inside sources tell me their performance in The Big Apple was memorable, which is no surprise, because they were quite good in Cbus as well.

Oh, and they’re now touring with TWJ favorite The Rural Alberta Advantage. Convinced?

Give these songs a spin.

[Buy Beauregard here]

[MySpace/Kanine Records]

Pepper Rabbit by The Wounded Jukebox

–Sean