Augustines and Frightened Rabbit Take On Webster Hall [10/24/13]

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After scoring interviews with Frightened Rabbit and, more recently, Augustines, we were beyond excited to see that both bands were to play Webster Hall. Together. There was no way we were going to miss this shared the bill, and we were not disappointed.

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Augustines, Webster Hall

Both bands brought the noise, but it was Augustines who left us with the urgency to tell everyone we know to see this band live. The trio took the stage promptly at 7:45pm, and rocked our socks off for the next hour. Each song was bursting at the seams with emotion and an electric pace. They played a handful of tracks from Rise Ye Sunken Ships, as well as their new single “Cruel City” and two additional tunes from their upcoming sophomore release, Augustines. Each song had an anthemic air; even the stodgiest gig-goer nodded their head. They played a slowed down version of “Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love),” and the emotion that emanated from vocalist Billy McCarthy was chill-inducing. Their set was over too quickly (in a good way), and they ended on “Book of James,” which rocked and resonated through the crowd. It’s also worth noting that the scratchy-like-a-wool-blanket vocals of McCarthy were very clear and even more impassioned live. These guys are a must see.

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Frightened Rabbit, Webster Hall

Frightened Rabbit gave a solid performance, dipping into their four record and a handful of EPs catalog with a unique set for fans. Sure, they played a bunch of songs from their latest Pedestrian Verse, but they also pleased ears with several selections from The Midnight Organ Fight and even Sing The Greys. Vocalist Scott Hutchison did a brief solo set, which included the sing-a-long “Poke” and a personal favorite (that we had yet to hear live in the previous four times seen), from A Frightened Rabbit EP, “Fuck This Place.” Hutchison’s parents were also in the crowd. It was their first time in New York, he quipped, and went on to say, “I’m not playing this song because they’re pretty old” and off he went with the circle-of-life themed “Heads Roll Off.” Their set was tight, but the crowd was hard-pressed to respond with much physical body movement. That is until the end, when the band laid into it, closing out their set with some crazy lights and distortion in “Acts of Man.”

We shot a video (albeit shaky) of the acoustic “Fuck this Place.” Check it out.