The Fray

July 29, 2007

Deer Lake Park, Burnaby

 

Triple platinum recording artist, The Fray hit the west coast Sunday night to play Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park.  Supporting acts Meese and single File are accompanying the band across their summer tour.  The Fray burst onto the music scene late 2005; their massive hits “How to save a life” and “over my head (cable car)” have pushed the Denver natives into international success.  

 

Thousands of people showed up with armfuls of blankets, lounging around the grassy, open field.  With the trees surrounding the stage, and the calm relaxing atmosphere, it felt more like summer camp than a show. However, with the pulsing of a heart monitor displayed on the backdrop of the stage, the crowd quickly rose to their feet.

 

The band played a few new tracks off their upcoming album, including “Dixie”, which Guitarist Joe King introduced as a song about living in Denver. However, it was the hits like “How to save a life” that got the crowd singing along. The band interacted well with the audience joking, and taking a few moments to take out a Polaroid camera and start snapping shots of each other, before whipping the instant photographs into the audience.

 

 Despite the large venue and the thousands of people in the crowd, the band managed to make the show a little more intimate. Gathering centre stage around the piano, they declared it was time to dance, before launching into a cover of Shakira’s “Hips Don’t lie”, which was odd, and yet they pulled it off. With an acoustic guitar, the boys were able to transform the reggae song into their own, although, drummer, Ben Wysocki humorously filled the rapping role of Wyclef Jean making the crowd erupt into laughter with the first few lines, “Oh girl, I can see your body moving…”

           

They ended the night with a three song encore, the first single “cable car”, “together” and the sweet ballad “Look after you”.  During “Cable car” the band stated they would need some help playing the tambourine, and allowed 20 or so stoked fans upfront to hop onstage and help sing along.  The stage had beautiful hanging lights, with bright florescent colors shining through giving the illusion of hanging lanterns lighting up the night’s sky. During the opening chords of “Look after you” a massive disco balls took centre stage, showering the audience in sparkling lights.  Halfway through the last track the band cut to the chorus of Oasis’s super hit “Wonderwall”. The audience was loving it, loudly singing back the lyrics overpowering Slade’s vocals, before he launched back into “look after you”.

 

A rarity with bands these days is finding one who can deliver live. The fray definitely delivered. Front man Isaac Slade voice was strong with a clear tone, never faltering, sounding great throughout the whole 90 minute set. Seated behind his piano, Slade joked about the bands relationship with the audience stating it was somewhat like dating one another. Trying to sweet talk the crowd, stating “you look nice tonight, do you think we could do this again sometime?” Cheers erupted, Slade announced he’d have to go home and finish Harry Potter, and make a new record before their next date with Vancouver. 

 

The Frays sound of mellow rock, transcended into the audience. The atmosphere was energetic and fun, yet, laid back as well. And, the Frays set was nothing short of amazing, whether or not you dig the sound, you cannot deny the Frays talent and commanding stage presence. The band continue their tour until early Aug , where they will end with three consecutive sold out shows in their hometown of Denver, Colorado, before heading across the pond for more sold out shows in and around the United Kingdom and Europe.