The Fray might have been born of hard work, but the band came of age thanks to the Internet.
A classic word-of-mouth campaign enticed rock fans to check out the Denver band that gained initial buzz through local gigs and a local radio station?s listener campaign. The result: a 2004 contract with Epic Records.
But unlike some bands that are signedby major labels and then almost immediately hit a plateau, The Fray?s star ? and fan base ? keeps rising.
“I remember on our first headlining tour, we would play cities where we weren?t on the radio at all, and the venue would be full of people singing our lyrics,” said co-founder and guitarist Joe King. “Some people think we came out of nowhere quickly, but we had been working hard for four years before the mainstream public had heard about us.”
The band?s still working hard, currently on a major tour. There?s no resting on its laurels for this group, despite a recent Grammy nomination and several songs reaching the top of the charts.
“The grass roots is where music lives and breathes, where it finds its energy and its passion,” guitarist Dave Welsh said.
The grass roots is also where the band has found musical inspiration. Consider that the incredibly popular “How to Save a Life” was inspired by co-founder and pianist Isaac Slade?s experience as a mentor to a crack-addicted teen. The song resonates with many listeners.
“Some people actually formed a nonprofit organization called ?Save A Life.? They lost their son to a tragic car accident and apparently ?How To Save A Life? was the last song he downloaded,” Slade said. “A girl lost her mother to suicide. She wrote me and said it helped her deal with her mom?s death.”
The band recently saw footage of two high school kids performing the song at a talent show.
“Something so simple as two high school students playing our song at a talent show doesn?t seem like it would be a huge moment, but it was,” Slade said. “That was me eight years ago, learning my favorite songs, from my favorite artists, and playing the songs that moved me. It just hit me that someone was now doing the exact same thing as I was but with my music.”
If you go
The Fray with OK Go and Mae
» Venue: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
» Time: 6 p.m. gates; 7:30 p.m. show, Thursday
» Tickets: $25.50, $40.50
» More info: www.ticketmaster.com; 401-547-SEAT
