First, I was likely not the typical attendee for the Frightened Rabbit show on May 6th at the Electric Factory. I am in my 50's, and was directed by my oldest son to review Frightened Rabbit about five years ago. When he was young, I influenced his musical tastes to some extent, and he has tried to pass along like a favor some of the artists that capture his interest and fancy.
So, I have been a fan for about four years, but I haven't really been fully engaged until Pedestrian Verse. In simple terms, I loved that album, and that interest prompted me to back an familiarize myself with the earlier output.
So, in short, I expected the show to be fantastic, and yet it exceeded expectations. The set choices were spot on perfect, with the exception that I would have loved to hear "Poke." Of course, I could name quite a few I would like to have heard, but that is true with all great shows.
I think the compelling and most favorable dynamic was that they did not try to recreate the polished production values of the record. For some songs, that would be desirable, but the quirky and intriguing element of their music is that it is organic - riffs, bridges, reprises, and leitmotifs somewhat grow out of themselves, and so the stage show treatment for some songs requires a shift in presentation.
I am too old to sing, and yell, and dance, and jump as much as I did. My wife, who is only passably familiar with the songs, had a great time as well.
After a Springsteen concert in the late 1980's, and a Skynyrd concert in 1976, this one may well be third on my all time list. I had that much fun.