THE LAUNCH BOX: Frightened Rabbit

The Launch Box featuring Frightened Rabbit

If you like: the Vaselines, the Twilight Sad, and the Clean

Frightened Rabbit is a Scottish band, formed in 2004, originally consisting of guitarist Scott Hutchison and his brother Grant, a percussionist, when they began recording demos of songs they had written. The brothers added a second guitarist, their friend Billy, and the trio began performing in Glasgow’s pubs and music venues. Frightened Rabbit began work on their first album, initially planning to record at the home studio where they’d done their original demos but eventually opting to record at Glasgow’s Diving Bell Studio.

Frightened Rabbit released Sing the Greys through their own label, “Hits the Fan Records,” in 2006. It got great reviews, and Universal picked it up for distribution in the U.K. and the U.S. through the independent label Fat Cat. They became more popular in America after they played a well-received showcase at the 2007 South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas, and the U.S. release of Sing the Greys only increased Frightened Rabbit’s popularity. The band’s second release, Midnight Organ Flight, arrived in April of ’08. They added keyboard player Andy Monaghan to the lineup shortly before releasing of the album. The live album Quietly Now!, also known as Liver! Lung! FR!, appeared in 2009.

While their third studio album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, was in the works, they added band member, Gordon Skene, and the album dropped early in 2010.

In preparation for their fourth album, they released the EP State Hospital in September 2012. It was their first release through Atlantic Records, the major label the band left Fat Cat for in 2010. The EP held lyrical similarities to their earlier music, and served as a teaser for Pedestrian Verse, the full-length album that arrived in February 2013.

It was also their first album written fully collaboratively, the others having been primarily the work of front man Hutchison. While enjoying this new creative process, to the extent that he decided he never wanted to write a Frightened Rabbit record the old way. He also wanted to continue writing solo, which began the Owl John project, releasing an eponymous album in 2014.

the album saw the band continue with the collaborative process they had employed on The Winter… Featuring the single “Death Dream,” which released in April 2016.

Frightened Rabbit announced via social media their fifth album, Painting of a Panic Attack, released on April 8, 2016. The band followed the album news with an album trailer showcasing album track ‘Lump Street’. The album saw the band continue with the collaborative process they had employed on The Winter… Featuring the elegiac single “Death Dream.”

Why the name “Frightened Rabbit?”

In 2003, vocalist and guitarist Scott Hutchison used the name Frightened Rabbit, which came from a name his mother gave him in his youth due to his chronic shyness, as a stage moniker for his solo shows, and was carried over after the formation of the band.

Fun Fact:

During early shows, the band would give out their email address for those interested in receiving a free demo. After a time during which few demos were sent out, Scott said that he would send out biscuits with the music, which led to a rise in requests for the demo. This led to a lasting impression with the recipients.

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Info from: Allmusic.com, Wikipedia