Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit played two Rough Trade shows (pics, setlist & review from early show)

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Ahead of the release of their new album Painting of a Panic Attack, Frightened Rabbit came to NYC for two shows at Rough Trade last night (3/29). The early show was one of the venue’s “in-stores” (which just means that there’s no opener, you have to buy the record to get in, an it’s usually a shorter set) and it was being taped for WFUV (which we quickly learned meant Scott Hutchison couldn’t swear). Scott was interviewed by someone from WFUV before the show started, and he talked about writing the album over email with the band while he was in LA. He also talked about working with producer Aaron Dessner (of The National), and called him one of the most analytical musicians that he’s ever worked with.

After the Q&A, the rest of the band came out, and they sounded great. They opened with the album’s second single, “Get Out,” and debuted some stuff off the album that hasn’t been released yet, but we got old favorites too like “The Modern Leper” and “Head Rolls Off” from the 2008 fan favorite The Midnight Organ Fight. (During the former, the crowd groaned when Scott had to change “fucked” to “messed” for the WFUV taping.) Scott’s funny on stage too, in a self-deprecating kind of way. After debuting the new song “Woke Up Hurting,” he said “this next one’s a related song, it’s called ‘I Wish I Was Sober’… what do you expect? It’s a Frightened Rabbit show! If you wanna feel good about yourself go see The 1975 or something.” They both sounded great, but the highlight of the evening as far as new songs went was album closer “Die Like A Rich Boy.” It was just Scott and his acoustic guitar for that one, and it was the kind of sad, honest song that had you paying attention to every word he sang — all the things that made us fall in love with Frightened Rabbit in the first place.

For all the depressing songs, his stage banter continued to be hilarious and on point. Later in the set he said, “Hopefully some of you got to get off work early for this. I know in New York everyone works ’til like 10… maybe not Frightened Rabbit fans though. Can’t get jobs ’cause you’re just sitting in your house crying.” (Truuue.) They ended the set with “The Woodpile” off their last album, Pedestrian Verse, which had almost the whole room cheering from its opening notes.

Last night’s early show will be archived on WFUV.org in April. The late show was opened by quirky and charming crooner Cut Worms, who has more shows coming up. Frightened Rabbit also return to NYC for a much larger show at Terminal 5 on May 5 with Caveman (tickets).

More pictures from the early show at Rough Trade (including one of the setlist), below…

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade

Frightened Rabbit at Rough Trade