The Fray @ 9:30 Club
What does it take for a band to sell out the 9:30 Club on their first visit to DC? Maybe the fans were confused on the venue and thought it was the highly anticipated DCist-sponsored Unbuckled show actually held at DC9 last night. While that would have been nice, I think it was something else that brought in the droves of digital camera wielding suburbanites and city folk alike. It was something else they thirsted for on this Thursday night.
Around 8:15, The Damnwells, a alternative rock band straight out of Brooklyn, took the stage in front of an already nearly full room. The disinterest of much of the crowd toward the band was unfortunate, as The Damnwells put on a surprising, well, “damn” good set. Upon first listen the occasional fast-paced, rhythmic drum beats and soft but catchy guitar riffs eased me into focusing my attention on them. Yet while the instrumentation proved solid, lead singer Alex Dezen’s vocals were lacking energy and his lyrics were left muffled and drowned in the sea of sound. That said, I will definitely give them another chance and pick up their album -- unlike the second act of the night, Cary Brothers.
What did wonders for The Shins, seems to have also boosted the star status of bands like Cary Brothers (and their song, "Blue Eyes"). It was clear that many people were there to see this band for one reason alone. It’s a great song, but for that to be your one strong connection to your fanbase, places you on the verge of one-hit-wonder status. And Cary Brothers (the name of the frontman, and not in fact two siblings) went so far as to announce that the next song might remind people who they were. The rest of the set was decent but easily forgotten, especially once the headliner took the stage.
There are moments when you realize you are experiencing something rare, an intimate performance by a group on the rise to larger venues and a wider audience. Anyone fortunate enough to catch Coldplay at the 9:30 Club years ago probably felt the same way as I did last night when The Fray taught the District an hour and a half musical lesson on How To Save A Life. With Isaac Slade center stage at the piano, surrounded by his band and one small lit tree, they began with the title track, an emotional arrangement describing the tragedy of losing a friend to addiction. Slade’s involvement as a mentor to a crack-addicted teen made the song all the more real and haunting. From the beginning and the immediate “sing-along” feel of the show, the widespread appreciation of their talent was clear.
A downside to a live performance by a group with only one album is the limited number of playable tracks. The Fray worked through almost all of their songs with the exception of “Hundred,” a piano heavy number that the band avoided with good reason. The piano was out of tune (or so it seemed). Throughout the night, and mostly on only higher notes, Slade looked frustrated with the sound and yet worked through the obstacle with professionalism. The audience didn’t appear to mind, or even notice aside from a few head turns. While it was disappointing that a technical flaw would keep us from a night of aural perfection, the band surprised us in other ways to make up for any letdown.
Slade stood up from his seat and asked if it was weird to see him in the front of the stage at a mic. After reminding us that the band was from Colorado, they broke out into a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” that provided a nice classic rock element to the show without taking away from the audience’s interest in their own work. Guitarist Joe King was impressive vocally in several of the songs in which he took over as the lead. When a very recognizable melody sounded from the piano, it was as if a trigger went off sending an electric pulse of energy through the room. “Over My Head (Cable Car)” was the radio friendly moment many were waiting for. The Fray’s Web site hosts a video of a performance of this single with the crowd singing much of the song themselves. Being amidst the crowd was all the more powerful with stage lights soaring out across the smiling faces and with “eight seconds left in overtime” this song was still on your mind.
The encore took a softer tone at first and then moved into the highlight of the evening. Slade introduced the finale with what at first appeared to be nonsense…“Ohh oooo ohhh…be my baby” he spoke through the silence, and it wasn’t until he sung the words “Look After You” that we knew what he was trying to do. Anyone who didn’t know the song, at least now knew the infectious chorus in which Joe encouraged everyone to partake. Soon with everyone involved and in the second cover/rendition of the night, Slade began to accompany the crowd’s singing with “You Are So Beautiful”. After bidding a personalized adieu shouting “You are so beautiful…Washington DC and the surrounding area... .” He hinted that they would be back again in May or June. One can only wonder if it is just a coincidence that the HFS-tival falls around the same time this year, and if they will grace our presence on the main stage or one of the smaller stages (fingers crossed).
Photo by Nicole M. Popovich