Frightened Rabbit @ theFactory, Sydney (3/5/10)

Mon 9th Aug, 2010 in Gig Reviews

In the rush of Bears (both ‘Grizzly’ and ‘Boy &’) and Horses (‘Band of’, ‘Foals’) currently prowling about, it would’ve been easy to overlook the lesser known, more timid leporidae. Skittish and shy, the Frightened Rabbit has earned a loyal following for its habit of singing earnest anthems. Native to Scotland, this peculiar breed has visited our warmer climate many times, greeted by ever-growing and damn-near-fanatical audiences.

Such fanaticism was on display at the Factory, with crowds arriving early to secure their territory in front of the stage. Sydneysiders Sierra Fin started off proceedings, and did an impressive job. Though their stage presence sometimes showed signs of rehearsal, and the songwriting fell just short of the grand scale they deliver sonically, Sierra Fin were charming and lively. A casual observer might have believed them to be the headline act, based on the crowd’s enthusiasm.

Frightened Rabbit are the opposite, having grown into a bigger sound and more dynamic stage presence as the band evolved from Scott Hutchinson’s solo act to the five-piece that now bears the name. The band shows signs of rapid growth even over the five months since Frightened Rabbit toured with the Laneway festival.

Building up from its slow intro, Frightened Rabbit kicked into the muscular riff of Skip the Youth with the force and enthusiasm of a reinvigorated band, Scott bouncing and throwing himself into every chord.

At the familiar opening of The Modern Leper, the crowd let out a mighty howl of appreciation, singing along in full voice with every word. Every track from 2008’s Midnight Organ Fight was met with similar vehemence, with a much of the Winter of Mixed Drinks material receiving a slightly more muted response, the latter packing much the same force as its predecessor but lacking the same heartbreaking emotional intensity. As much love as there was in the room for Scott Hutchinson (metaphorically and, in the case of one keen fan, literally on offer), his pain earned more fans than his relative contentment.

Given the calibre of their live show, though, Frightened Rabbit are not going to be short of fans any time soon. Each member of the band made such a full-blooded display that the energy was inescapable. Grant in particular cuts a compelling figure, hunched over the kit and howling along with his brother like a percussionist Hulk.

Scott, too, seems to enjoy the job of being a rockstar much more than he once might have, joking with the audience and generally looking impressive. The slumping, worn out figure from a few months ago was replaced by a tall, broad-shouldered man with a broad grin, and his confidence reflected in the music.

The evening’s crowning moment came at the encore, when Scott re-emerged to play a heart-rending version of Poke. The audience, caught somewhere between stunned silence and the desire to sing along, was rapt, and few could say they weren’t moved by this aching performance.

The way they’re growing, it can’t be long before Frightened Rabbit claw their way up from middle-bill treasures to much-loved headliners. Don’t miss them the next time they tour – here’s hoping it’s soon.

Check out the photos from the gig