Frightened Rabbit holds a very special place in my heart, well more specifically, ‘The Midnight Organ Fight.’ That album was the soundtrack to one of the most significant times in my life – magic/soul encompassing love, heartache, more love, gut wrenching agony – you know how that story goes. Basically, Scott Hutchinson is the ideal playmate for longing, misery, sadness, and whiskey hangovers…all the good stuff. I saw Frightened Rabbit a few years back, before ‘The Winter of Mixed Drink,’ which is a slightly more cheery set of songs than its predecessor. Going into this show, I expected to indulge in meaningful lyrics and attached memories with the sold out crowd in NYC – and check.

This show was definitely more lively and upbeat than anticipated. After opening the show with “The Modern Leper” Hutchinson confessed to the crowd (while holding up his pants) that he forgot to buy a belt, this is when a very nice crowd dweller offered up his own, and the lead singer took him up of the kind gesture. The show moved right along with a setlist that included some dance happy tunes like, “Old, Old Fashion”, “The Twist”, “Music Now” as well as a couple from their latest, “State Hospital” and “Boxing Night.” While it might be like a mother picking her favorite child (yes, it is exactly like this), the rendition of “My Backwards Walk” definitely resonated with me that particular evening, such a raw passing of emotion.

Then for the initial portion of the first encore Hutchinson took the stage alone, with his acoustic guitar and gave an expectedly depressing (but oh so lovely) performance of “Poke” and “Good Arms vs. Bad Arms.” But the crowd, chanting for more, obviously didn’t want to leave this moment behind…so Frightened Rabbit obliged and ended the evening with one last song, “Keep Yourself Warm” (“It Takes More Than Fucking Someone, To Keep Yourself Warm”…and goodnight).

Overall, this was a fantastic show, had just enough sadness and plenty of fun.

The band is still touring, and I highly recommend checking them out if they pass through your neck of the woods.