This past Sunday night, Da Bear, May Day, and I arrived at the Cat’s Cradle in Carborro expecting an awesome show. The opening bands included Bad Veins and Maps & Atlases – sadly, we got there just as Bad Veins ended their set with the song “The Lie,” but we were able to enjoy Maps & Atlases’ set in its entirety. Opening with “Witch,” we were immediately impressed with the musicianship of the group, both in performance and composition.
By the time Maps & Atlases finished up their last number, the crowd was eagerly anticipating Frightened Rabbit. Kicking off their set with the song “Skip the Youth” off of their newest release, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, they quickly shifted into a crowd favorite, “The Modern Leper” from the 2008 album The Midnight Organ Fight.
Continuing through an amazing set list including “The Twist” and their current single, “Swim Until You Can’t See Land,” Frightened Rabbit barreled through, hit after hit.
With the show coming to an end, there was no doubt of an encore. Scott Hutchison returned to the stage to sing an acoustic version of “Poke,” and then the rest of the band emerged to finish the night with “Living in Colour” and the notorious “Keep Yourself Warm.”
The authenticity and ferventness of Frightened Rabbit’s performance created the kind of communal experience that defines the purpose of a concert. I definitely recommend seeing them if you come across such an opportunity in the future – otherwise, you may end up wishing you had a “backwards walk” of a different kind.