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Paul Thomas Saunders
Frightened Rabbit brought their imitable clutch of uplifting, hair-raising anthems to Birmingham’s Institute Monday, along with some formidable support acts and a beautiful sense of levity.
Paul Thomas Saunders kicked things off with a vast, ethereal set, daubing intricate soundscapes amongst the gathering crowd, journeying between haunting resonance and majestic walls of sound, really making a strong impression with his brief time.
Lanterns on the Lake
Lanterns on the Lake were next up, and damn if they weren’t beyond excellent. The Newcastle five piece performed a criminally short but stunningly poignant set, containing some real moments of soul-wrenching beauty. They are definitely a band to watch out for in the coming year.
Frightened Rabbit
Not to be outdone by their exquisite choices of support, Frightened Rabbit hared out of the blocks. Opening with ‘Holy’, ‘Modern Leper’ and ‘Nothing Like You’ they had the crowd tethered from the get go with their upbeat tempos, spine-tingling refrains and flat out Scottish cheek. They had an amazing, laidback rapport with the audience, with lead singer Scott constantly drifting into vague, matter-of-factly conversations with the crowd, including discussions into the adult nappy rash and crowd-sourced dance routines.
Frightened Rabbit
A brief acoustic interlude led to Hazel Wilde of Lanterns on the Lake dueting with Scott on a truly breath-taking rendition of ‘Fuck This Place’, and as the rest of the band returned to the stage and rode the momentum home with ‘My Backwards Walk’ and ‘Acts of Man’ it felt like a true privilege to see them in such an intimate and modestly sized venue as The Library, as it’s certain that they will continue to add to their sterling reputation and masterful catalogue.
Photographs by Rob Hadley.
