Single Review: White Bike – “While You Were Away”

In the second track of their planned three-song E.P., White Bike—Portland’s newest indie-rock five-piece—delivers the type of nervy, kinetic hype song The Transformers might play in their heads when going into dance battles. Helmed by Arianna Rose, paired with Tango Alpha Tango’s Nathan Trueb, White Bike already carries the confidence and swagger of a firmly established band.

“While You Were Away” starts with layered drums and static-scuzzy bass on a search and destroy mission. Shared vocals glide into the fray and anyone’s a goner. But that’s not enough for White Bike, oh no, no, no. Enter the first of two sauntering, heavily distorted guitar solos, rattling-off biting one-liners like an amiable party-hardy-er. Band Of Skulls and The Kills comparisons aside, this song wouldn’t sound out of place as the B-Side to Eyelids’ recent cover of Stereo Total’s “Holiday Innn.”

“While You Were Away,” released digitally at the end of July, comes on the heels of their first single “I Like You.” While the pastural pop of that song brings the sugar, “While You Were Away,” brings the salt. It’ll be interesting to see what spice White Bike brings to the receipt on their third charm.