Los Angeles Newcomers Rocket Specialize in Dizzying Attention to Detail
Photo Credit: Tanner Deutsch
As a debut record, “R is For Rocket,” the dazzling alt-rock release from the Los Angeles quartet Rocket, is almost shockingly professional and self-assured. The sonic palette is clean and crisp, the vocals are bright and shimmering, the track list flows effortlessly and the overall production evokes the work of seasoned veterans—not young neophytes.
While there is always something endearing about a loveably ramshackle affair, it’s equally nice to hear a band at the height of their powers—to bear witness to a group confident enough in their abilities and talents that they don’t need to bury their final product under a wave of feedback and dissonance.
For Rocket, that poise stems in large part from an overriding sense of purpose—this young foursome poured countless hours of preparation and attention into their inaugural release because they felt they really had no choice. From the beginning, it was band or bust.
“From the literal beginning—from our very first days together, we never really had a Plan B,” said guitarist Baron Rinzler, whose band will play at Bottom of the Hill on Friday, November 21. “This was never going to be like a side project for us. We planned to take this thing and see how far we could go with it. It was incredibly fun for all of us, but we were always very serious about being a band.”
The four members of Rocket—Rinzler, bassist/vocalist Alithea Tuttle, guitarist/producer Desi Scaglione and drummer Cooper Ladomade—all group up together in Los Angeles, bonding over a love of DIY music. They spent many a night attending shows at The Smell, the legendary all-ages venue in downtown LA.
But while the Smell was famed for ushering in abrasive noise rock acts like No Age and Health (seriously, wear your earplugs when seeing those bands live), Rocket’s sound is distinctly more accessible. There are plenty of loud, amped-up moments on “R is For Rocket,” but the album is teeming with earworm melodies, juicy riffs and blissful vocal harmonies. The band’s closest predecessor is probably the Smashing Pumpkins—whom Rocket toured with in Europe this summer. That band and other 90s influences are frequently mentioned in connection with Rocket (and yeah, guilty as charged here, too.)
“We all grew up listening to 70s classic rock that was on the radio,” said Rinzler. “And then we got into the power pop bands and groups like the DBs and of course we all love the Smashing Pumpkins. It’s a little strange at times that so many people mention the 90s alternative rock influences, because we really all have very eclectic listening habits right now. I really think we’re just making music for our time—continuing the thing that other bands started before us.”
What sets Rocket apart from their peers is their uncanny attention to detail. “The Choice,” the inspired opening track for “R is for Rocket,” is an immediate tone setter, offering a preview of the full suite of sounds to come on the record—controlled blasts of feedback, gliding guitar lines, syncopated percussive movements and lilting vocals from Tuttle. It’s a formula the band weaves in and out of on the album before arriving at the title track, the record’s monstrous closing track that is more than six minutes of Sonic Youth-inspired squawk.
Even for that wending, amorphous coda, there seems to be a distinct course of action—no unnecessary notes, no needless musical meandering. Every note played and tempo change executed was carefully planned.
“Before we even go to record anything, the song is done—about as done as it can be,” said Rinzler. “We wanted to make sure that before we got to the studio, we knew exactly how we wanted to play everything. When you have access to that kind of equipment, you really have to take advantage—and we wanted to make sure we were fully prepared for that experience.”
That approach has helped Rocket earn plenty of plaudits for their worthy opening album. The band has received glowing reviews from Rolling Stone and Stereogum and after opening up for the Smashing Pumpkins (an experience Rinzler called “absolutely amazing”) the group is looking forward to embarking on their first ever headlining tour.
With their roots in Southern California, they’re particularly excited for their San Francisco stop at Bottom of the Hill.
“We love San Francisco—every time we play there, we have a blast,” said Rinzler, who said he’s looking forward to snacking on some Banh Mi at Saigon Sandwich in the Tenderloin. “We’ve always been the opener so we have a few nerves about being the headliner, but we’re all super excited. We can’t wait to come up and play.”
Show Details:
Rocket with World’s Worst and Rotten Charms
Where: Bottom of the Hill
When: 8:30 p.m., Friday, November 21
Tickets: $15, available here.