Augustines and Frightened Rabbit at the Warfield – A Concert Review

     For the third time in a little less than a year, Frightened Rabbit visited San Francisco and we grabbed the opportunity to see them. This time, they were joined by Augustines. It was a good pairing – one band from Scotland and another that has the sound of being from Scotland.

     Augustines is a three-member band comprising Billy McCarthy, Eric Sanderson and Rob Allen. The band is based in Brooklyn, New York, but McCarthy explained that he was raised in nearby Santa Cruz and was excited to be playing at The Warfield, a venue he attended before moving from the area. At first, there was some skepticism regarding the level of his exuberance. However, there was little doubt that it was genuine by the end of the setlist.

     If there was a disappointment, it was with the sound system, and not with Augustines. Prior experiences at The Warfield led to more favorable impressions of the acoustics.

     The first song in the setlist of Augustines was our favorite, “Headlong into the Abyss.” Our best recollection of the setlist:
1. Headlong into the Abyss
2. Chapel Song
3. Juarez
4. Nothing To Lose But Your Head
5. Cruel City
6. Philadelphia
7. Book of James

     “Headlong into the Abyss” by Augustines

     “Chapel Song” by Augustines

     “Cruel City” by Augustines (the first single from the upcoming album)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareaugustines

Website: http://www.weareaugustines.com/

     Having the opportunity to see Frightened Rabbit three times within twelve months was similar to having a distant, but loved, relative make the trip with the same frequency. With the first visit of the relative, the attitude is one of dropping everything else and clearing the calendar of any potential conflicts – full attention to the event. Then, the second visit is announced. The excitement is still there and the calendar is cleared. Still, the anticipation is not the same as that before the first visit. With the third visit, the thought processing includes “Why so soon?” But you make time for the visit and, when the event occurs, you are happy you did. The actual event refreshes your memory as to what you enjoy about the relative. And every visit is different in some way. Despite the sound systems weaknesses, it was a good visit.  

     We believe the setlist was:
1. Holy
2. Modern Leper
3. Nothing Like You
4. Old Old Fashioned
5. Backyard Skulls
6. December's Traditions
7. Music Now
8. Head Rolls Off
9. State Hospital
10. My Backwards Walk
11. Candlelit
12. Poke
13. Scottish Winds
14. Late March, Death March
15. Fast Blood
16. The Oil Slick
17. Acts of Man
Encore:

18. The Woodpile
19. Keep Yourself Warm
20. The Loneliness and the Scream

     “The Loneliness and the Scream” by Frightened Rabbit