Until You Can't See Land

Frightened Rabbit (not to be confused with frightened Eddie Rabbit)
Varsity (Hadn't been in there since the remodel, very very nice, although i worry about the people on the catwalk)
May 10, 2010 (damn...this month has been hectic)

Funny story about FR. A few years ago, they were the opening act for a Fineline (blech) Pinback (sorta blech) show that was the payback for the Elvis Perkins show (opening for CYHASY) that we missed because 1)superfan insisted on another drink 2)posted showtimes apparently mean nothing. And we only caught the tail end of the show (is this irony, a bummer or just plain stupidity?; after alanis i'm never really sure anymore) so, they were etched in my mind (enough so that i went out and bought Sing the Greys) but i forgot the genesis of my appreciation.

Ratchet the clock ahead 2 more releases and now i'm paying attention. And was super stoked (is that phrase even allowed anymore?)

And i'm a little underwhelmed. Liked the show, didn't love it. And i was the only one there who wouldn't have married the band during or after the show. (and of course, multiple folks would marry Scott in a hearbeat...some even if it wasn't legal)

I'm not 100% sure why i'm still single on the show.

I really love the new album and i really loved Sing the Greys (even though it's only really got an ep's worth of songs) I could sorta do without Midnight Organ Flight, but I don't hate it. So it's not the songs.

The anthemic, sorta U2 ish (and can we agree that U2 is getting more ish-ish all the time?) folky undertones, bleeding hands acoustic guitar strummy thing is definitely my bag. Get the catharsis out of here approach is fine enough (although i was sweating just seeing Scott and the gang sweating). There was a little same-ness to the presentation (slow build to aforementioned scream therapy, even on the acoustic solo song) but meh. Whatever samey-ness they had in style, they more than made up for with energy and sincerity. so it ain't that.

and the crowd. oh, my goodness, was that ever a great crowd, full of fans. scott was so blown away (i know i'm not allowed to use that phrase, but i'm a rebel) by the appreciative audience, that i was blown away by his blown away-ness, especially when you compare that to that evil Julian Casablancas...."you're my favorite crowd (checks itinerary taped to floor) minneapolis" and yeah, of course, there was a backpedaling tall guy right in front of us, but really, great crowd for a sold out show. (and i was definitely charmed by the pair of girls in front of us; there's something extraordinarily beautiful about friendships that sort of render couple-dom, sexuality determinations moot---they held hands, they hugged, they bought each other beers, they sung badly off key to each other----and they both wanted sweaty scott in their arms.) so clearly the crowd didn't dull the show for me. and of course, company for me was great as always.

and no, sleigh bells (am i wrong about them? should i try them again?) didn't open, nor did a place to bury strangers. the first act didn't really thrill me, but it was short. and the second act, Maps and Atlases was very good in a proggy, punky, math rock kind of way. (i'll take your foals and raise you a phish---take that superfan!) so, i my mind was set right (well sorta maybe other externals, but i'm in denial about that so i wouldn't say that either)

dunno. good not great to me. i'm gonna stop pondering and just blame it on the rain.