Frightened Rabbit - Glasgow Barrowlands 03/12/10

I first saw Frightened Rabbit over four and a half years ago.  They were the opening act for The Spinto Band at the now closed Barfly in Glasgow.  At the time Frightened Rabbit were just Scott and Grant Hutchison, two brothers from Selkirk with a handful of songs from their as yet unreleased album Sing The Greys.  From then onwards began my love affair with Frightened Rabbit.  Since then they have gone on to release three studio albums, as well as a live record, pick up another three members along the way, play to adoring audiences all over the globe and even soundtrack popular US dramas such as Chuck and Grey’s Anatomy.

I feel immensely proud to have witnessed the rise of such a genuinely incredible band, and since the date was announced months ago I knew this would be a particularly special occasion for fans and band alike.  I was not mistaken.  The band come on stage to a heroes welcome, the kind of deafening noise that only a Friday night crowd in Glasgow can create.  They open with third album opener Things and from Scott’s first line, the crowd, arms aloft are already ecstatic.  The noise only increases as every single, self-loathing word of This Modern Leper is sung by two thousand rapturous fans.  The band themselves seem somewhat overawed by such a vocal reaction, Scott thanking the crowd in a genuine and sincere manner at nearly every opportunity.  Every song is met with complete and utter adoration from all corners of the venue, with even the occasional crowd surfer which is something I never thought I’d witness at a Frightened Rabbit gig.  Particular highlights include Scott’s solo version of Good Arms Vs Bad Arms, the crowd helping out with more than able backing vocals, and first record favourite Be Less Rude.  If the noise thus far had been deafening then I genuinely cannot find words to describe what was to come during set closer Keep Yourself Warm.  The band were left somewhat redundant as nearly every single person in the Barrowlands sang as if their life was on the line.  It was truly the loudest vocal participation from a crowd I have ever heard.  The band came back for their inevitable encore, which featured a solo version of Poke from Scott which as usual was hauntingly beautiful, and favourites The Twist and The Loneliness And The Scream  which ensured more loud sing-a-longs long after the band had left the stage.

Last night was the nineteenth time I have seen the band and all things considered was probably the best.  Frightened Rabbit have probably meant more to me over the past few years than any other band ever have or quite possibly ever will and to seem them perform in that manner to such an adoring crowd was a truly special moment for me.