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By Candace Pacheco
cpache17@mscd.edu
The soulful ballads and entrancing melodies of The Fray create an appealing pop/rock style that keeps teenage girls (and maybe some guys, too) asking for more.
Frontman Issac Slade's voice is like a light, cool breeze on a hot summer day, soothing and capable of raising goose bumps. Joe Kings' backup vocals entwine with the lead as if they were one voice with two melodies. Their ability to sing with great vigor and simple grace gives them the versatility to have a soft sound along with some edge. The twang and fast riffs of guitarist Dave Welsh, and the light tap of the drums from Ben Wysocki match perfectly with Slade's folk/jazz style on the piano. They create an atmosphere perfect for daydreaming and soul searching.
With help from radio stations around Colorado, The Fray has received a great response and a ton of airplay. It was only a matter of time before The Fray would get signed and now Epic Records has done exactly that.
Their debut album, How To Save A Life, includes well-known songs "Heaven Forbid," and "Dead Wrong," plus "Vienna," which previously appeared on The Fray's Reason EP. The new album will also feature their hit "Over My Head (Cable Car)," a song full of effortless melody and dulcet tones that manages to sound like a charging train.
Epic has given The Fray the opportunity to tour with bands such as Weezer and The Pixies, but they still have time for their local fans. At a recent performance at the Gothic Theatre, they talked to the crowd about life and family and gave a shout-out to one of their grandpas in the audience. With their heartwarming lyrics, laid-back attitude and a sound that appeals to everyone from teen girls to grandparents (at least their own), The Fray is on its way to something big.
The Fray will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Paramount Theatre for its album release. Tickets are on sale now for $15-17.50. Don't miss out because once stardom arrives, it could be a while before The Fray comes back to play Colorado.
