The Fray has kept its wits during rapid rise
By Chris Nixon
For The Union-Tribune
November 9, 2006
In four short years, The Fray has elevated from a regional band kicking around Denver to gold records, TV soundtracks and videos plastered all over MTV and VH-1. The reason why? The foursome crafts infectious pop songs with hummable choruses.
It also doesn't hurt to make a few friends along the way.
“We just tried to make as many friends as we could in the Denver area, whether they were in another band or a booking agent or bar owners or local press or on local TV news,” said drummer Ben Wysocki, recalling the band's early days in the Mile High City. “It really can't hurt to know somebody.
“It got to the point where we had spread ourselves pretty thin around Denver, almost to the point of playing too much around town. People may have been getting a little sick of us. But you almost have to get it to that point for everything to spread beyond Denver.”
And it did spread beyond Denver. After earning the title best new band from Denver alternative weekly Westword (think the Reader, but better), The Fray earned a record contract with Epic and started on its journey to popular notoriety. But before record contracts, bands need to earn their chops if they want to weather the storms of popularity.
“Every band has to do their time lugging their own crap around in their own cars, setting up and playing for five or 10 people,” said Wysocki, speaking from a tour stop in Orlando. “It gives you perspective, and helps you be appreciative when a lot of people start coming.”
Wysocki, vocalist/pianist Isaac Slade and guitarists Joe King and Dave Welsh traveled to record their debut with John Mellencamp guitarist Mike Wanchic. Located in Bloomington, Ind., the location provided The Fray privacy and the focus needed to complete “How to Save a Life.” The resulting 12 tracks reveal four young, clean-cut guys putting together pleasing piano pop ready-made for radio, video channels and TV soundtracks.
The single “Over My Head (Cable Car)” found its way onto the NBC sitcom “Scrubs” along with ABC's “Grey's Anatomy,” propelling the band into the national spotlight. The Fray warmed up for Weezer and Ben Folds before headlining the current (mostly sold out) tour, which stops at SDSU's Open Air Theatre Saturday.
Humble beginnings, earn your chops, record an album, sudden rise to fame, 21/2 tours. That's a lot to pack into four years. The fast track to fame wrecks many bands, getting lost in excess or believing the rock-star myth. But Wysocki and his mates have their heads on right.
“We consider ourselves husbands first, and that keeps us really grounded,” Wysocki said. “We may play a show for 6,000 people, and then call our wives after the show. And they're just waiting for us to get home and take the trash out. I'm still just Ben to her, and that's a really important thing.”
“This job is a privilege, and our whole band feels like it's a privilege,” Wysocki continued. “There are a lot of bands that we've known that would just dream to be where we're at and doing what we're doing.”
Chris Nixon is a San Diego music writer.
