HIP, YET HIDDEN.

July 22, 2009
HYH depends on friends to let us know what's happening in their corners of the world. This is from contributor Carolyn Bersnak, a performer, writer, and sushi fanatic living in Brooklyn, NY.

Glaswegian (aka "of or relating to Glasgow, Scotland") bands are all the rage right now, at least in this girl’s Williamsburg apartment:

"THE ACTUAL, PHYSICAL CD"

My roommates and I can’t seem to get enough of Scottish bands lately, especially, Frightened Rabbit. I’m still coming off the high of seeing them live for the first time at the Village Voice’s Siren Festival on Saturday, July 18 at Coney Island.

Frightened Rabbit first came to my attention in March when I hosted David and Stephen, two friends and music enthusiasts from Scotland. After hours of sightseeing and wandering endless city blocks, my houseguests and I found ourselves at the (former) Virgin Megastore at Union Square (sidenote: I greatly miss their amazing DVD sales. Troop Beverly Hills for $5? Yes, please!)

While perusing the music section David asked if I knew of Frightened Rabbit and when I replied that I did not, his face reflected pure horror. "You must buy this CD now!" Being the frugal, budgeting artist that I am, I promised I would buy it later on iTunes. I was completely genuine with my promise but this would not suffice. David doubted my sincerity, insisting it was the type of album in which one MUST own the actual, physical CD. We argued for a moment over who was going to buy it and in the end, he bought it for me as a gesture of gratitude for my hospitality.

The next morning, as the Scots (David and Stephen) were en route to Austin for SXSW (South by Southwest, a renown music festival), I awoke to a lonely apartment. I put my new Frightened Rabbit album, Midnight Organ Fight into the CD player (they aren't obsolete yet!) and lounged on the sofa. David was absolutely right. Everyone should have this album. What stood out to me immediately was Scott Hutchison's heavily accented and emotive voice. While it catches your attention, it is the combination of catchy melodies and brutally candid lyrics that suck you in.

On a weekend trip a few days later, I made sure to grab the CD. This is kind of album that you can’t wait to listen to in the driver’s seat of a car and hit the open road, with the windows rolled down...a feeling us New Yorkers miss out on way too often! Within hours of my departure, my roommates called me, demanding its whereabouts. Obviously, they were just as hooked as I was.

Several months later, I often pose the same question to my friends, “Do you know Frightened Rabbit?” When I hear "No...," my face lights up (instead of David's innocent disdain) and I enlighten them with a Hip, Yet Hidden band that is worthy of a myspace page visit AND possession of the actual, physical CD.

Check out Frightened Rabbit on their U.S. tour with fellow Scots and Fat Cat Record labelmates The Twilight Sad and We Were Promised Jetpacks this fall.

Sep 13 Morrison, Colorado
Sep 14 Lake City, Utah
Sep 15 Boise, Idaho
Sep 16 Seattle, Washington
Sep 17 Portland, Oregon
Sep 18 San Francisco, California
Sep 20 Los Angeles, California
Sep 22 Tucson, Arizona
Sep 24 Austin, Texas
Sep 25 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sep 26 Birmingham, Alabama
Sep 27 Atlanta, Georgia
Sep 28 Tallahassee, Florida
Sep 29 Orlando, Florida

HYH PICKS MUSIC

SCOTTISH BANDS:
Frightened Rabbit
We Were Promised Jetpacks
The Twilight Sad