Review: Frightened Rabbit w/ Wild Belle @ Park West in Chicago, IL. 8/3/2013

One of the best parts of Lollapalooza comes right after Chicago’s Grant Park closes: the after shows. And when you can couple the magic of a beautiful venue, with an artists magnetic personality and captivating storytelling, you’ve reached another level of “Lolla Heaven.”

On Saturday evening, Frightened Rabbit and Wild Belle took the stage at Chicago’s Park West, the 1920’s vaudeville turned concert venue whose romantic character seemed to weave its touch through the evening.

A crowd gathered on the small dance area below the stage while the rest of the show-goers grabbed one of the many booths or stools dotted throughout the venue. Though furbished for the 21st century, the layout of the club is reminiscent of days gone by and you can almost see a leading lady from Hollywood’s Golden Age capturing the crowd on the stage. It was like the ghost of those classic starlets touched Wild Belle’s Natalie Bergman when she took stage. Her mesmerizing voice held the crowd as she seductively swayed behind the mic, caressing it for dramatic effect. It seemed a contradiction at times, her 90’s inspired artist look (floppy black hat and high rise shorts included) with Reggae inspired tunes and moves right out of the 40’s. Add to that her brother Elliot alternating between synths and sax and you have quite the unexpected amalgamation–and it works.

If Wild Belle mesmerized the crowd, Frightened Rabbit got them jumping. The five member Scottish band carries with them the complete aura of their haggis-eating, tartan-wearing, story-telling culture, whether in the very rhythms of the music ringing out in ceilidh-like beats, the subtle Scottish brogue or story-telling lyrics. The men also exude the manliness one equates with Scottish culture, with beards and stockiness evoking William Wallace-like warriors. Besides, as drummer Grant Hutchison picks up steam during the show, his face transforms into a grizzly bear-like menace. You can just picture him running over hills in a kilt throwing javelins.

And then, lead singer Scott Hutchison brings a gem to the crowd–a new song. As the rest of the band members leave the stage, Hutchison sets the scene. Reassuring the crowd over and over again that he does not condone violence and “thinks it’s bullshit,” he launches into the inspiration of this new, enthralling tune.

“I wrote this next song when I was going through a major love affair–as many people do–with Game of Thrones. And I thought about–and I don’t condone violence, it’s fucking terrible–but I just feel like sometimes, men in particular, don’t really fucking fight for their women anymore.” To this, the crowd cheers and you can almost hear the girls’ quick breath intake. “I don’t mean physically fight, but I mean that if it matters to you, you should go and get it. And I’m not really fucking good at doing it.” With this foundation he emphasizes: “So, this song is a fiction. It’s all bullshit. I thought it would be awesome to try and write a super violent love song. And so this is it. This is about as violent as I was comfortable in making it.”

Following a little more banter and a fellow Scot calling out from the crowd, “Good on ya!” Hutchison launches into “Candlelit.”

Love’s checkered past
Is littered with violent acts
And the blood that fills kindless paths
Each drop drawn in her name.

In this modern age
The image of father has changed
But if you’re ready I’m willing to wage a gut-wrenched war
For a minute of your time

I’m done playing stone paper scissors
Gonna take that stone and bring them all down with it
Steal some scissors and cut some throats
Put pen to paper and write you a note
I won’t get in line
I will not wait for this.
With my bare hands I kill
Just to be candlelit
with you.

I have no checkered past
And I’ve never been a violent man
Maybe you’ve changed all that
Each scar I carve is in your name

So let the suitors come
I can see them off one by one
Open every last artery up
Just for a second of your time.

I’m done playing stone paper scissors
Gonna take that stone and bring them all down with it.
Steal those scissors and cut some throats
Put pen to paper and write you a note
I won’t get in line
I will not wait for this.
With my bare hands I kill
Just for the privilege

Look at the blood bath
Look at the mess I have made
With my bare hands I kill
Just to be candlelit
with you.*

And so, as the ladies swoon and testosterone builds in the guys, Hutchison shares his epic “fiction,” drawing out the romance of his land, his culture and his history–and of course that of Game of Thrones. With themes of valor, honesty, heroism and love, coupled with their Scottish rhythms, it’s hard not to love Frightened Rabbit’s bard-like music and even more appreciate it in a romantic setting. The beauty and history of the scene did nothing but enhance the magic.

Ending with the epic notes of “The Loneliness and the Scream,” Frightened Rabbit sent out a wistful crowd with Hutchison’s bard-like lyrics and Scottish rhythms inspiring elation and creativity. Truly, a great treat.

Check out Frightened Rabbit’s “Candlelit” from Park West. You can compare it to this first version performed in Salt Lake City.

A note on the lyrics:
**Coupled with the Scottish brogue and crowd, these are as best I can make out. If you have corrections, let us know!

Review and Photo by J.L. Greene

Frightened Rabbit (Official)
Wild Belle (Facebook)

Reviewed by b3