Rabbit Season In Charlottesville

For Frightened Rabbit of Selkirk, Scotland, last Wednesday's show at IS was the last stop on their first US tour. Because their lyrics on their 2008 release, The Midnight Organ Fight make suicide seem like a viable solution to most everyday problems, it was only fitting that they arrived on stage visibly and proudly wasted on January 28th. Though recently propelled into the mainstream media by appearances on NBC's Chuck and ABC's Grey's Anatomy, Frightened Rabbit still maintains a raw, anthemic sound. Some may be tempted to label Frightened Rabbit's super-catchy tunes as generic indie pop, but a closer listen reveals lead-singer Scott Hutchison's piercing, layered lyrics, which truly elevate the band to another level.

The band chose to open with perhaps their best known song, "The Modern Leper." With its quiet, folksy introduction crescendoing into a rollicking ballad, it set the scene for the rest of the show. The band played nearly all of The Midnight Organ Fight, only recounting two songs from their relatively obscure 2006 album Sing the Greys. All of their songs sounded nearly perfect, almost more authentic, because they were so drunk. Though Hutchinson's singing could be characterized by some as sub-par, his drunken yelps only added to the pain and suffering that the majority of his lyrics convey. Altogether the band sounded as though they were on the verge of collapsing from emotion and blissful intoxication, yet they pulled off all of their songs with impressive precision.

Easily, the highlight of the night was "Poke," an acoustic tear-jerker. After a break in the set list, Hutchinson walked up to the edge of the stage, and with nothing else but his voice and his guitar, ushered the entire room into silence. Even though "Poke" always sounds desperately emotional, in person it was utterly staggering to a higher degree.

Throughout the evening, the band seemed visibly confused as to why they were playing in Charlottesville, Virginia. It didn't help that the IS Venue was still working out its sound difficulties-the sound cut out completely several times during the opening act and once during Frightened Rabbit's set, and it was obvious that the band was becoming frustrated. During a more lighthearted moment, Hutchinson made a joke about Virginians having three thumbs (due to inbreeding, you know) and elicited a few congenial boos from the crowd.

Clearly this performance had some kind of extra meaning for the members of Frightened Rabbit, given that this was their last stop on a tour that launched them into fame. At the end of the encore, Hutchinson dropped his guitar and crashed into his brother, drummer Grant Hutchinson, and rolled around on the floor in a manly embrace before exiting the stage for the last time.

All in all, Frightened Rabbit exhibited more energy and style than the low-key crowd or the small IS Venue should have allowed. With couches, chairs, and tables gracing the pit by the stage, the IS looks more like an underground smooth jazz club or a speak-easy. However, not so timidly, Frightened Rabbit blew up the club with their hard-hitting but equally lulling and folkish performance.

Frightened Rabbit played at IS in Charlottesville on January 28th