Frightened Rabbit - Live
[Glasgow Tramway Theatre]

"Scottish Indie"; two words that are forever destined to be linked. Like fish ’n’ chips, like peas in a pod, like Amy Winehouse and controversy, those two words are so closely linked that they have more or less formed a separate musical genre now. Much like the C86 period twenty years ago, Scotland’s music scene is brimming with new and exciting bands, headed by the likes of Glasgow’s The Twilight Sad and closely followed by Frightened Rabbit, who are currently enjoying the fast track to critical acclaim with their recently released 'The Midnight Organ Fight' record.

Arguably their biggest gig to date, the Selkirk-based quartet showed very little signs of nerves, with frontman Scott Hutchison commanding the stage, engaging in banter and dealing with a particularly pushy Northern Irish heckler in a succinct fashion. But it was the tunes we came to see and Frightened Rabbit have them in abundance.

Driven by cleverly arranged harmonies between Hutchison and drummer brother Grant, the likes of 'Keep Yourself Warm', 'The Twist', 'Fast Blood' and 'Floating in the Forth' are absolutely anthem-sized. Dealing with equipment malfunctions without any hints of a problem, 'Poke' was a particular highlight, a poignant folk-ballad featuring gorgeous, bittersweet harmonies, while later the band found time to pay homage to their mates The Twilight Sad, throwing in a snippet of their signature song 'And She Would Darken the Memory' for good measure.

It would appear Frightened Rabbit are likely to hit the big time anytime soon and are clearly equipped to do some in terms of musicianship and on-stage charisma, their intelligently crafted songs deserve a bigger audience. We can all rest safe in the knowledge, therefore, that for every bland NME flavour of the week, for ever mundane, soulless Snow Patrol aping act, for every Simon Cowell backed chart song, there’s a Frightened Rabbit waiting in the wings ready to pounce.