As I left The Parish Wednesday night, I lamented the fact that Frightened Rabbit's performance didn't measure up to We Were Promised Jetpacks' inspired set. It was an easy observation to make: We Were Promised Jetpacks performed with such energy and intensity that it would be hard for any band to follow. Frightened Rabbit frontman, Scott Hutchinson, acknowledged this himself. However, as I look back on the evening, my initial reaction seems shallow, as Frightened Rabbit's show is the one that now stands out as being the highlight of the night.
I say this for several reasons. First was the music. At this point in their developments, Frightened Rabbit's songs are more developed, have more emotional depth and lyrical sharpness and match the sing/shout-along quality that folks love from We Were Promised Jetpacks. While Frightened Rabbit's show lacked the youthful energy of We Were Promised Jetpacks, it showcased a band that is gaining in confidence and becoming more comfortable in their own skin. Their 2010 release, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, takes a musical step toward mainstream success, and Frightened Rabbit appears ready to make that leap. That is not to say that they were brash or aloof. Rather, they projected a humble sincerity that fits their emotionally direct lyrics.
It took a day or two for these qualities to sink in. And although I initially considered their show slightly underwhelming, it now come across as a deeply rewarding performance by a band on the cusp of something big.
Setlist
Skip the Youth
The Modern Leper
The Loneliness and the Scream
The Wrestle
Old Old Fashioned
Swim Until You Can't See Land
Nothing Like You
My Backwards Walk
Keep Yourself Warm
