Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit are a Scottish indie rock band from Selkirk, formed in 2003. The line up consists of lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and lyricist Scott Hutchison, guitarist and bassist Billy Kennedy, guitarist Andy Monaghan, drummer Grant Hutchison and guitarist and keyboardist Gordon Skene. Since 2004 the band has been based in Glasgow.

Concerning the band's line-up, Scott Hutchison notes that: "the initial line-up in Frightened Rabbit was just myself. I had really only been messing with my 4 track for about 6 months before I started playing some shows on my own. Some of the songs still didn't have words and I was mostly just mumbling nonsense half the time. Grant joined a year later, making the outfit much noisier. Billy came along about 6 months after this and actually made it a bit less noisy. He's very calming like that is Billy. Andy has been in the band since January, and adds all the extra details we were missing before. Still not sure if we're finished gathering members."

History

Beginnings, Sing the Greys and The Midnight Organ Fight

In 2003 singer/guitarist Scott Hutchison used the name Frightened Rabbit as a stage moniker for his solo shows. The project became a full-fledged band with the addition of his brother Grant Hutchison on drums in 2004, and guitarist Billy Kennedy in 2006.

The band released their debut album Sing the Greys in May 2006 on local label, Hits The Fan. The band were offered a deal from Fiction Records but ultimately decided not to sign with the label. In January 2007 The Self-Starter Foundation brought the band to the east coast of the United States for a short tour. The band returned to the United States in March to play SXSW. Brighton indie label Fat Cat Records released a remixed/remastered version of the album in the USA in Oct 2007 distributed by Caroline Distribution. The band then embarked on a full American tour. The album was released in the UK in Nov 2007

Earlier in 2007, the band had recorded a new album, The Midnight Organ Fight at producer Peter Katis's Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This album was released April 15, 2008

After recording The Midnight Organ Fight, the current quartet line-up was completed with the addition of guitarist/keyboardist Andy Monaghan of Piano Bar Fight (who have previously played as support to Frightened Rabbit). In an interview, Scott mentions that he: "met him on New Year’s Eve, in Glasgow, in a bar. I was really hammered and I was like ‘why don’t you come and play some shows with us man?’ and he was like ‘Yeah!’ The next day I got a text like ‘Do you remember… did you say something about this or is it my imagination?’"

The band supported Death Cab for Cutie during their November 2008 UK & Irish tour, and released a live album, Quietly Now! in October.

The Winter of Mixed Drinks

Whilst touring in support of The Midnight Organ Fight Scott Hutchison noted that he was "excited at the prospect of being in the studio again," and that stated that he "can't do another break-up album 'cause I haven't had one this year! Maybe it'll just be a little less focused on me."

Hutchison subsequently announced plans to head to Crail, Fife to write material for the band's third studio album:

the theme I'm going for is pushing yourself out to the edge of things and being alone, feeling lost and not knowing where you are, which is how I've felt recently. It's not all fun and games, but hopefully it'll just be less obviously personal and brutal than the last record. Less oppressive.

In May 2009, a video appeared online of Hutchison performing a new track, entitled "Swim Until You Can't See Land". The song was later revealed as the first single from the forthcoming third album.

In October 2009, the band members unveiled the album's title, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, and announced the arrival of a fifth band member, Gordon Skene (formerly of Make Model). According to Scott Hutchison:

A lot of the new record is heavily layered and it felt like too much for the four of us to do. We need another member to get them at their full impact. I dunno, we're kind of bored of each other. We just need to add some fresh meat.

The Winter of Mixed Drinks was released in March 2010.

The band have been chosen personally by Belle & Sebastian to perform at their second Bowlie Weekender festival presented by All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK in December 2010.

Members

• Scott Hutchison — lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2003—present)
• Grant Hutchison — drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004—present)
• Billy Kennedy — lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2005—present)
• Andy Monaghan — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2008—present)
• Gordon Skene — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2009—present)

Discography

Studio albums

• Sing the Greys (2006)
• The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)
• The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010) #61 UK, #84 US

Live

• Quietly Now! (2008)

Singles

• "Be Less Rude/The Greys" (Nov, 2007)
• "It's Christmas So We'll Stop" (Dec, 2007)
• "Head Rolls Off" (Mar, 2008)
• "Fast Blood" (May, 2008)
• "I Feel Better" (Sep, 2008)
• "It's Christmas So We'll Stop" (Dec, 2008)
• "Swim Until You Can't See Land" (Nov, 2009)
• "Nothing Like You" (Feb, 2010)
• "Living In Colour" (Jun, 2010)

External links

• Template:Myspace
• Template:Amg
• Frightened Rabbit The Self-Starter Foundation profile

Interviews

• Frightened Rabbit talks about being Broke and Breaking HalfCute.com, January 17, 2009.
• Band interview The Pop Cop, August 27, 2007.
• The Midnight Organ Fight interview The Pop Cop, March 21, 2008.
• Interview with Scott Hutchison outside some sex shops in Soho by DIRTY webzine. June 8, 2008.
• Scott Hutchison talks about the music he's listening to currently imeem, July 2008
• with Scott August 3, 2008.
• Interview with Scott Hutchinson March 30, 2009.
• Interview with Greg & Scott Hutchinson April, 2010.

Video

• PUNKCAST#1095 live @ Micheline's, Brooklyn on Jan 15 2007. (RealPlayer, mp4, DivX)
• Three solo acoustic songs recorded for Bandstand Busking