Ruby the Rabbitfoot stepped on to the 9:30 Club stage Wednesday night as the opener for Of Montreal, making a striking first impression in her bright blue and red bolero jacket and skirt. As she begins her set with the song “Second Wind,” Ruby’s splashy look and punkish peroxide locks contrast with the subtle introspective nature her sound.
Punctuated with tight electronic rhythms and bright sounding keyboard flourishes, Ruby the Rabbitfoot’s music is nevertheless moody and contemplative. Equally balanced between romantic optimism and cheeky cynicism, this is a sound suited to a Sunday afternoon journal writing session. Yes, it’s very pleasant, as the sunbeams cut through the curl of steam rising from her coffee mug, but the words she commits to the page nevertheless look back on a love affair that could have gone better.
Beach flowers aren’t supposed to last, says Ruby Kendrick, a.k.a. Ruby the Rabbitfoot. They are beautiful but ephemeral — much like falling in love.
Ruby sings sweetly and sadly of losing love on the lead single “Beach Flowers,” and indeed most other songs, from her new album Divorce Party, released August 12 via Normaltown Records. You can hear perfectly pitched sorrow in her voice when she sings of being lonely, but her nervous excitement is palpable when she sings the end of the song’s refrain: “The water’s so fine, you won’t believe it exists.”
Watch the official music video for “Beach Flowers” by Ruby the Rabbitfoot on YouTube:
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Ruby embarked on a tour after the release of her album, continuing through September as the opening act for of Montreal. That tour stops at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday, Sept. 7, and you’re going to want to get there early to experience Ruby sing in a her delightfully sexy style, reminiscent of R&B performers, but with a strong pop presence that skews gothically romantic.
“I want this to be a soundtrack for anyone going through a transition,” Ruby said of Divorce Party. “Even though there’s this connotation of disruption and heartbreak, divorce parties have a celebratory energy. Every person that we love teaches us, so when it’s time to part ways I think it’s beautiful to appreciate everything we’ve gained from the experience. I wrote these songs in a period of separation from a love. I want to release them into the world as a celebration of all that I learned during that time. It’s my Divorce Party!”
