Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes ~ September 24, 2014 @ Blind Tiger

The Love Experience



Soul music begins playing slow and low, and quickly increases in tempo as three women in matching short blue velvet jumpsuits, complete with short blue sheer capes, come prancing out on stage. Choreographed and on point, the girls dance in front of two giant fans, capes blowing in effect, until the lady of the evening flows on stage backwards cloaked in a long flowing black cape. Clairy Browne turns wearing only a black patent leather S&M teddy, her long black and pink cape flowing behind her like a 1960’s superhero, unapologetic for her brazenness. With a voice of a goddess, Clairy immediately hits the crowd with some sexy soul sound.

This is how Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes set the tone for their recent show at the newly opened Blind Tiger on lower State Street.

Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes is a nine piece
rhythm and blues band from Australia, reminiscent of the late Amy Winehouse. Forming in 2009, the band has made a huge splash stateside with their alternative spin on soul music since performing at the SXSW conference on 2013. Warner Anderson, hired by Blind Tiger as an artist booking consultant, is responsible for bringing them to Santa Barbara. “I was searching through some Australian bands touring in the US when I came across this Heineken commercial featuring Clairy Browne and her Bangin' Rackettes’ “Love Letter,” according to Warner, “I fell for the song and was hooked!” It is easy to see why. 

Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes brought their A-game to the small crowd at Blind Tiger. Clairy Browne interacted with the audience, asking Santa Barbara to “come along with me on the love experience…” With songs like “Walk of Shame,” “Far Too Late,” and “I’ll Be Fine,” we went along with them through the experience of a sexual women looking for love in today’s world. Before performing the song “She Plays Up to You,” Clairy took a minute to admit she suffers from jealousy and it made her turn on women, her “sisters”, in the past, and asked the women in the crowd to come together and unite in sisterhood. All eyes on Clairy, one wondered how she could ever possibly suffer from jealousy of another woman. 

The energy, professionalism, and originality of this band shone through the entire performance. I can’t wait to see them when they come to SB again, which Warner promises to make happen in 2015. I would follow Clairy Browne and the Baggin’ Rackettes on a love journey anytime!