JACKS On The Road: Frightened Rabbit @ O2 Ritz, Manchester 15/03/2018
JACKS ventured from its Merseyside roots again to catch Frightened Rabbit celebrate The Mignight Organ Fight turning 10 at the O2 Ritz in Manchester.
Frightened Rabbit’s sophomore album The Midnight Organ Fight (TMOF), turns 10 this year and the Scottish band have hit the road to celebrate the milestone. Playing the record in full, it’s a special moment for the band and fans to be a part of. Supporting them on the tour is Charles Watson.
Watson and his band came on stage and created a tranquil atmosphere. With gorgeous synthizisers and smooth beats, it was like as if Bon Iver experimented with blues. Along with enchanting hooks, his music was a warming start to the night. The aurora he created was only enhanced by the way he was shrouded in smoke throughout his set.
When Frightened Rabbit finally came on stage, their was an electricity in the air. The O2 Ritz’ thunderous welcome for the Scots was matched by the band launching into the uplifting ‘Living In Colour’. Building up to the main reason everyone was there, it was followed§ by songs from their Pedestrian Verse and Painting of a Panic Attack albums.
Once the opening chords of ‘Modern Leper’ echoed out, it was like going back in time to 2008. The Midnight Organ Fight is a stunning record, with it’s moments of heartache, insecurities and joy. From the uplifting ‘Old Old Fashioned’ to the intimacy of just frontman, Scott Hutchinson and his acoustic guitar during ‘Poke’, the crowd and band were entwined as they revelled in nostalgia.
Midway through the night, Scott took a moment to thank the audience. Thanking them for buying the record back in 2008, or even those that burnt a copy for their friends. He said that it was truly down to the fans who made the record, with all its perfections and imperfections so special. It was in moments like that and during the likes of ‘Keep Yourself Warm’ and ‘Floating in the Forth’, where you could see how much TMOF still meant to everyone in the O2 Ritz’ that night.
Once the album was complete and they took a breather, chants broke out demanding more. With that, the encore brought on a continuous rise, concluding with a hair-raising rendition of ‘The Lonliness and the Scream’, which continued well after the band had left the stage.
From singing every word and chanting every note, to making the ground shake with thunderous stomping, it was a euphoric night and there was no better way to celebrate. Happy birthday to The Midnight Organ Fight.