BPD member K Sarasara send this to us:
Let me begin by saying that this is the third show I've gotten to be backstage at. To hang with the bands and to watch them perform from the back is like nothing else. Backstage Pass Direct, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now that the unpaid endorsement is out of the way, let me tell you about the show.
The Fray, formerly a quartet, now a touring sextet with bassist and multi-instrumentalist on board, succeeded in delivering a 90-minute set behind Scars & Stories, their third studio effort that's still a few weeks from release. And despite fans not knowing much of the forthcoming material, The Fray churned out slick, polished, melodic pop that while not edgy is still quite infectious.
Led by Isaac Slade – who split the 16-song performance between his black baby grand piano and pacing the front of the stage – The Fray opened with Turn Me On as guitarist Joe King added harmonies to the mid-tempo tune.
Sonically resembling the likes of Coldplay, Keane and even Radiohead when Slade reaches for Thom Yorke-like high notes, The Fray's piano pop came to life on the swaying 48 To Go and The Fighter, the latter sure to be a future single and set list staple. The real show stopper from the new record though was without question The Wind, a solid U2-tinged anthem that hits its stride quite early.
Throughout the night The Fray blended the old and new fairly strongly, never repeatedly catering with crowd-pleasers but not driving the new songs down the audience's throat. Nonetheless, singles like You Found Me, All At Once, Ungodly Hour (with King on lead vocals) and the obligatory How To Save A Life all served their purpose.
The group began the homestretch with Heartbeat, the first single. As mentioned on their Facebook site earlier, the band told fans to record the song's performance on their cameras and send the footage to the band so they could make a “mash up” video. On cue hundreds of cameras appeared with Slade taking a fan's camera on stage with him for band close ups. The song ended with Slade on top of piano as the group fleshed out the rather beefy track.
Equally entertaining was Happiness which Slade did unplugged on acoustic guitar and off mic. Asking for quiet, which created a symphony of shh-ing, Slade nailed the song with some help from a girl in front who the front man gave kudos to.
The Fray concluded the relatively early night with Over My Head (Cable Car), wrapping up an excellent gig.
Thanks for the commercial, K Sarasara. Your check's in the mail!
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