A Free Man

A Free Man is stopping back in th UK for a couple of hours before heading on to the sun, sand and sea. Seemed a good time to fit in a quick chat with an exciting British band. Frightened Rabbit are a quartet anchored by brothers Scott & Grant Hutchinson. They hail from north of Hadrian’s Wall and bring a little bit of Scots angst to their music. It’s power pop tinted with strong folk and lo-fi influences. The boys caused quite a stir in Austin last month and were kind enough to join me on the virtual couch to talk about their music, their mates and how to piss off a Scot.

AFM: I’ve only recently been turned on to your music and I’m really enjoying it. It’s a swirling, lo-fi, folk-tinged pop sound – that is regrettably uncommon on the Kaiser Monkeys ruled British Isles right now. Where are your musical influences coming from?

FR: Anything we’ve been listening to that particular day. We’re all big fans of pop music, and get a kick out of taking pop principles and twisting them ever so slightly. We all love The Band, TV on the Radio, The Twilight Sad and Band of Horses. To name a few…

AFM: What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of being in a band with your brother?

It’s not something that i think about a great deal - I suppose he doesn’t always feel like my brother as much as just a very close friend that it’s ok to argue with on a regular basis.

AFM: Where does the name Frightened Rabbit come from?

Again, its a family thing - my mother used to say I had a frightened rabbit look about me when I was wee and I was thrust into social situations with other children. Did not really enjoy that kind of thing and I still struggle with social situations today.

AFM: Scotland is home to some of my favourite British artists – Bert Jansch, Jesus & Mary Chain, Belle & Sebastian - The Bay City Rollers. Who’s the best act to come from Caledonia?

There’s a lot to be proud of… I personally feel like Idlewild have been producing great music for a long time now, but the Bay City Rollers were so very pretty. Tough call…

AFM: You guys made your second trip to SxSW this year. How did that go? How do the American audiences receive you?

FR: Americans always seem to tap into our music very easily, without the same concern for whether its ‘hip’ or not that exists over here. We’ve yet to have a shitty trip to the US and we hope to take in the delights of SXSW many more times over the next few years.

AFM: What British bands are flying under the pundits’ radars? Who should we be paying attention to that we’re not?

FR: Glasgow wise, I’d say We Were Promised Jetpacks and El Padre won’t be flying under that radar for too much longer. Great bands. UK wise, I love a Leeds band called Sky Larkin.

AFM: Fantasy time. One show, one night. What venue, anywhere in the world, would you choose and what two acts (living or dead) would you ask to support you?
FR: I’d take the Barrowlands in Glasgow, with Right On Dynamite from NYC on first, then The Twilight Sad. I’d rather have my buddies there than anyone else.

AFM: What’s the best song that you’ve written? Or is that like asking a parent what’s the best child they’ve spawned?

FR: I feel very proud of a song called “Poke”, it’s on the new record. It was one of those ones that just appeared from nowhere and I still can’t figure out how I wrote it. It really does justice to a very weird yet wonderful part of my life.

AFM: I asked my Scottish colleague what she would ask a band from Selkirk – “Selkirk is south from the borders, ask them if they see themselves as Scottish or closer to English or maybe they’d get offended?”

FR: We are Scottish! Its about 50 miles from the border and even people who live 1 mile from the border count themselves as Scottish. Very, very offended!

AFM: Your second long player “Midnight Organ Flight” is due out on April 14. What has changed since your debut? What differences will fans notice between “Sings the Greys”?

FR: Sonically, its a bigger more produced affair. Lyrically its a little more intense. I’m happier with it.

Bonus: Who’s the best sibling act: The Jackson 5, Donnie and Marie or Lynyrd Skynyrd?

FR: Jackson 5 had some good moves. Great hair. Great clothes. Everything we are not, i’m afraid. Wish i had those moves…

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We all do. I’d be particularly grateful for the hair. Thanks to Frightened Rabbit for taking the time to talk to A Free Man. Their second LP “Midnight Organ Flight” comes out Monday. It’s available for preorder from FatCat Records or Amazon. They’ve also got a live EP available exclusively from eMusic. Frightened Rabbit is currently on tour in the UK and come back to the US in May and June. Check their myspace for dates.

MP3: Frightened Rabbit - “The Modern Leper” (Live)
MP3: Frightened Rabbit - “Head Rolls Off”