Rabbit in the Moon Reunite in Miami

Some of my earliest memories of electronic music—what I experienced through headphones and what I saw with my own eyes—involved Rabbit in the Moon. Like three guys dangling candy out the back of a white windowless transit van, Bunny, Monk and Dave Christophere lured me into their world with mind-altering remixes of my favorite saccharine pop tunes: Sarah McLachlan’s “Possession,” Stone Roses’ “Fool’s Gold,” Garbage’s “Queer.” Their “Phases of an Out-of-Body Experience” sampled Tori Amos’ “Precious Things” and came out in 1994, my freshman year of college. It was a staple song in my radio show, and when you attend a small liberal arts college in upstate New York—where Little Earthquakes was the de facto soundtrack in every girl’s dorm room—well, you get the idea. Still, I had yet to experience Rabbit in the Moon live.

I can’t remember if it was at a Nocturnal Wonderland or an EDC, but when I finally got to see them live and in their element, it was life-changing. It was a different type of crowd interaction—more like a rock concert than a warehouse party. I’ll spare you the verbiage and just have you listen and watch for yourself.

But enough about me; let’s talk about you. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re either attending the Ultra Music Festival or know someone who is. This year, Bunny and Dave are reuniting for a special Rabbit in the Moon performance at 8:50 pm Sunday night on Ultra’s Live Stage. For heads like me, it’ll be a trip down memory lane. For anyone who has yet to be baptized in glowstick juice and take the proverbial leap to the next echelon of the electronic music experience, I’m excited for you.

I caught up with Dave while he was packing up his gear for the trip to ask him a few questions. He’s super excited about the gig. So is Bunny. Just do us all a favor, and don’t punch him in the nuts.

Rabbit in the Moon is all about creating a visceral, interactive experience for the audience—a human interaction that goes deeper than just visuals and LED. That’s not something many of today’s artists are doing. Why has that always been so important for you?
We have always seen our group as a visual live music experience. The music is the most important, but the show is a visual representation of the audio experience in our music. The alpha needs an omega.

And where does that inspiration come from?
From artists like Salvador Dalí to musicians like Nine Inch Nails, Laurie Anderson, Peter Gabriel, Rush, Meat Beat Manifesto, and David Bowie—people that pushed boundaries in their days.

I’m sure you’ve been to more WMCs and Miami Music Weeks than you can count. As a native, can you talk about how important and unique Florida has been in the history of electronic music?
WMC is the checkpoint of things to come that year, where all of the most talented electronic producers come to share their stories, their music, and their vibe—to be seen and to see what everyone is up to. Florida’s music scene is unique, full of great artists. And more importantly, the fans there are what keep the vibe alive. When they love a DJ, they follow them till the wheels fall off. It was one of those special places in the US you can’t describe with one sentence. If I had to use one word, I’d say “pure.”

How are you planning on refreshing the set on Sunday?
Our motto since we started has been to evolve with the underground, so that’s what we did. We’ve taken a leap forward, mostly playing new music, with a few pieces redone to our liking. We pushed our own envelope and are very happy with the results so far. We can’t wait to unleash the Kraken!

How have you seen audiences change over the years? When you talk to people before or after shows, what stands out as the biggest difference between yesterday’s raver and today’s raver?
There is no difference. People that love electronic music are all part of the evolving scene. The music will change, but the vibe remains the same. Whether you play for 10 people in an apartment or 100,000 people on a racetrack, it’s all about creating a memorable night.

What does the word “rave” mean to you?
We never even used the word. We said “underground” or “warehouse party.” “Rave” became a catchphrase in England first, because the scene over there coined it in the ‘50s. When parties got out of the club scene and into the open air, they said “raving” ‘cause it was wild and out of the norm. In the words of William S. Burroughs, “Language is a virus from outer space.”

What’s the craziest stunt you’ve ever pulled onstage?
[There are] so many to choose from. Let’s just say Bunny has survived rain, wind, snow, lights falling on his head, getting punched in the nuts—ask John Digweed; he has it on video—to seeing millions of people smile, scream and cry over the last 20 years at our performances, and he’s still ready for more. But not the nut punches.

This reunion isn’t just a huge deal for fans; I’m sure it’s a huge deal for you and Bunny.
I think we needed a break to recharge our batteries. To have this opportunity to perform is amazing. We can’t wait to let people back into our house. We just had to build an extra story or two to fit everyone.

Follow Rabbit in the Moon on Facebook