Tomorrow we head up to Splendour in the Grass, but before we make the voyage, we thought we’d touch base with one of our favourite bands, Frightened Rabbit, who are playing at the Festival on Sunday, alongside a few sideshows around the country! Kindly taking up the interview with us was Grant Hutchinson, the drummer of the band, who fills us in on what’s been going down since we last spoke in February!
Back in February, I interviewed you and Scott (Hutchinson) while you were in Sydney for Laneway – so this is a brief follow up as we all get excited to see you back in town! Since we spoke so much has happened! First of all, your album has been released around the world – are you pleased with the response?
The response has been great. We were really happy with the record when we finished it so we felt confident in ourselves but there was a bit of pressure this time compared to the last record. We had no fans when we released Midnight Organ Fight so this time we felt there was more anticipation surrounding the release.
Both video versions of “Nothing Like You” have been released – you were quite fond of the FLIP version when we last spoke! Is that still your favourite? Which do you feel was the best received?
The flip version is still my favourite because it captures the personality of the band so much better than the other one. The whole thing was done by ourselves from start to finish so I feel more of a connection with it and I think our fans feel the same. Although the other version is polished and professional it’s not really Frightened Rabbit!!
I think the FLIP version was the only one I’ve seen on TV down here! Was that the one where you have Tumour on your shirts etc?
Yes.
Now that you’re a few months into it, what songs off the album are you most enjoying playing live?
I enjoy playing Skip The Youth most as it still has that feeling of being on the edge. It could all fall apart at any time and it has done already and I like that. Live shows are meant to have that element of uncertainty in them and without that you lose the energy.
While you’re in Australia, what can we expect from your sets?
It’s basically 50% new 50% old. We still put everything into our live show regardless of how big the venue is or how many people are there so expect lots of sweat and lots of beard!!
Splendour in the Grass is a pretty amazing lineup! Are you going to be able to spend some time there and watch the bands?
I hope so but to be honest I’m not entirely sure! We get told very little to be honest. As long as we’re there to play then that’s fine. I hope we do get to stick around though. I’d really like to see alberta cross, LCD soundsystem(again) and maybe even some Australian acts I don’t know.
We chatted quite extensively about SXSW in our last chat – how did your five shows go?
Between us chatting and actually getting to Texas our show count doubled!! It was pretty intense to be honest. By the end of it we all felt a little weary and slightly spaced out but it was well worth it. The best way to do sxsw is to just pound it and play as many shows/sessions/gardens as you can!!
I wasn’t able to see you live but I’m pretty sure I saw all of the band in crowds at one time or another. I believe you enjoyed some Les Savy Fav? Who else did you enjoy?
I was at Les Savy Fav and also enjoyed the antlers who were on just before them. We didn’t really get to see that much music to be honest. After you’ve spent the day playing 3 shows the last thing you want to do is go to a show!! It was great to see We Were Promised Jetpacks again and also the walkmen doing a stripped down set just before us in the convention centre.
How has touring gone so far this year in general? You haven’t ended up in hospital again have you?
So far I have stayed out of hospital!! It’s been really good so far. It’s been very busy but we’ve noticed another step up in the touring. We’re doing bigger venues and it’s becoming a lot easier for us. We had a bus on our last US tour and it was very luxurious!! It makes it a lot easier if you can go to bed whenever you want.
Often I ask a band what their plans are for the rest of 2010 – but it looks like you’re just running around like crazy! You’ve got the Ben and Jerry Festival next week in London, and then Austraila, and then Lollapalooza, then literally non-stop touring between Europe, the US and the UK until you finish off at the Belle and Sebastian curated ATP. Is there any time for sleep? My apologies if I just made your head hurt.
Whenever I’m home all I do is sleep so I like to stock up my hours before going on tour kind of like some sort of band hibernation! But if I wasn’t doing this I don’t know what I’d be doing so you won’t find me complaining!
The call from B&S must have been a nice one to receive though?
It certainly was! We had heard through some mutual friends that they wanted us to play but you have to take those kind of rumours with a pinch of salt. It’ll be one of our last shows of 2010 so it’s a great way to end what’s already been a great year.
And finally, what’s been the biggest surprise for the band so far this year, if you can narrow it down to just one…
We just confirmed something very exciting with another artist but can’t really mention it yet so apart from that pointless spurt of information I think the reception we received at T in the Park was a really special moment for everyone.
Check out Frightened Rabbit at Splendour or at these sideshows, on sale now!
MONDAY 2ND AUGUST THE HI FI MELBOURNE
www.thehifi.com.au, www.ticketek.com.au
TUESDAY 3RD AUGUST FACTORY THEATRE SYDNEY
www.factorytheatre.com.au, www.ticketek.com.au
Photo by Jannica Honey
