Frightened Rabbit , the Scottish Indie Rock outfit with soul (who seem just on the verge of hitting it big) are a growing favorite in Salt Lake City. The band started building a serious following when they played the Urban Lounge this past fall as a stop on their tour to promote their break-out album, The Midnight Organ Fight. The record packs some punch; it is a wellspring of heartfelt and gut-wrenching metaphors that lay out the story of lead singer and songwriter Scott Hutchison’s painful break up, and (often-failed) attempts to move on. Midnight Organ Fight blends hard introspection with just enough pop and catchy hooks to produce a powerful dance album that will make you wince, sigh, and smile wryly all within a matter of moments.
Luckily enough for fans in the city of Salt who were blown away the first time they were in town, Frightened Rabbit came back to town last week as part of the American tour for their new album The Winter of Mixed Drinks. The band sure knows how to play a live show, and the set blended just enough old favorites and exciting songs from the new album to keep the crowd spirited and rowdy. Though this performance didn’t have the same electrifying sense of discovery and intimacy of their last show, it did have the exhilaration of sheer people power, having sold out early in the night thanks to new fans brought in by The Winter of Mixed Drinks. This album shows the band growing up a bit, and you can hear the expansiveness of the seascape that provided the perfect environment for Scott to write throughout the album – even if it is especially prominent in tracks like ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land.” The lyrics step out of the first person and indicate a step toward self-reliance, but the Winter of Mixed Drinks still provides plenty of moments for the lovelorn, especially ‘Nothing Like You,” a song that carries over from the last record.
Luckier still for KRCL listeners, Scott was kind enough to take some time to talk to us about his favorite songs to listen to while touring, to share as a guest DJ spot for the station.
Scott: Today I’ve picked songs I tend to listen to when I’m on tour, or at leas artists’ albums I listen to and songs from those records. I guess it seemed appropriate since I’m halfway through an American tour, all these songs and albums are fresh in my mind and I guess they hold a bit of meaning.
The first one I chose was from Tom Waits‘ album Raindogs, and its one of the softer tracks – in fact, I didn’t even know he wrote this song- called Downtown Train. There’s something nice about that record and that song, where he speaks about these characters in imaginary places. I guess there’s something about being on tour where you can identify with the transitory thing, meeting people one day and they’re gone the next. Not to be too literal about it, but it is one of those songs and albums that appeals to me whilst I’m on the road.
The next song I’ve chosen is from TV on the Radio‘s album Dear Science, it’s the opening track, called Halfway Home. There’s something about it that, in the doldrums of tour, you need something to pick you up a bit – and TV on the Radio always does this for me. This song in particular has a driving, sort-of-Nine-Inch-Nails-y feel to it, and they’re also one of my favorite bands. So it’s got everything, and I’ve been a fan of TV on the Radio for a long time and this is the song I use to get my pulse going.
This is Maria the Poet, 1913 from Max Richter‘s album Memory House. He’s a label-mate of ours, and he usually does classical film scores. What I like about listening to his music, especially when we are walking around, is that it has a really cinematic feel that almost makes you feel like you are in a movie. It’s also just very calming, and you forget about your surroundings and why you’re even on tour.
This song is by a band, or artist, called Cast Spells. We’re on tour right now with a band called Maps and Atlases**, and Dave, the singer, last year released an EP called Bright Works and Baton. The song American Quilt is my favorite from the whole EP. I think it’s one of those things, whereby you go on tour with a band, and slowly – day by day – you fall more in love with their music, as you start to get to know them more as people. It’s one of those things that it’s been really rare that we go on tour with a band and by the end of it, I don’t absolutely love what they do.
My final choice is not a clever or hip choice, but it’s perfect for touring America. It’s one of those classic songs that seems to sum up a lot of what touring here means to me, and it’s by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the song American Girl. His music on the whole, especially the early stuff, it’s almost like it’s distilled American music. There’s so much – especially this one song – that is almost like the whole of The Strokes catalog in one song,it seems like he’s really influenced a lot of artists. I’ve really only just come to appreciate his back catalog. Yeah – it’s just one of those great road songs, great for the van, great for the bus, and good with the big open sky.
Finally, just to put a little cherry on top of being a super talented and charming band, the group was kind enough to donate a signed vinyl copy of The Winter of Mixed Drinks and a signed poster for a lucky raffle winner at KRCL’s Summer Fling Tailgate Party. Keep your browser fixed to the KRCL Blog and your radio dial tuned to 90.9 FM for more info about the party, your chances to win the memorabilia, and access to great bands like Frightened Rabbit.
* Photo by Jannica Honey
** Maps and Atlases was also a fantastic act. Check them out when they come back later this summer to Kilby Court.
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