The Fray is back! Fans packed The Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ on October 9, brimming with nostalgia while eagerly anticipating The Fray’s return to the stage after a 10 year hiatus from touring. The band is touring in promotion of their new 6-song EP, The Fray Is Back, their first new release in a decade. Members Joe King (vocals/guitar), Dave Welsh (guitar), and Ben Wysocki (drums) are joined on tour by the talents of Dane Poppin (bass) and Kai Welch (keys) as they begin an exciting new chapter in their storied career with King at the helm.
Contemporary folk artist, Rett Madison (she/they), kicked off the night with a 7-song set which included tracks from their 2023 album One for Jackie, an album dedicated to their late mother, 2021 album Pin-Up Daddy, and more recently released singles. Rett opened their set with “Apocalyptic Folk Song,” noting that they were “starting on a high note with a song about climate change and corporate greed.” Rett took the time between songs to explain the inspiration behind each track, and although many songs were inspired by past traumas, the audience found themselves laughing along with Rett as they shared their stories, showcasing not only their humor, but also their ability to connect with them, even when discussing such deeply personal and challenging experiences. Rett’s soulful vocals, which are described as “imbued with blues and an understated twang,” had the audience in awe, hanging on every word. The Appalachian star went on to perform a “song about everyone’s favorite emotion (shame; ‘Shame is a River’),” a “murder ballad (‘One for Jackie, One for Crystal’),” and others before ending their set with the titular track from their 2021 album, “Pin-Up Daddy.” The audience was buzzing as Rett left the stage, excited for The Fray’s big return to an Arizona stage.
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The lights dimmed, and a backdrop appeared, depicting a flickering screen with static and bursts of snowy distortion and colorful distortions reminiscent of an old VHS tape being rewound, before landing on a black screen with the words “The Fray” scrawled across the wall. Cheers erupted from the audience as The Fray exploded onto stage, opening their set with “Angeleno Moon,” a track off of their recently released EP. The band immediately launched into their monster hit, “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “Heartbeat,” and “Closer to Me.” The band played nearly continuously with little to no rest between songs, until about midway through their set. Joe King hopped over the barricade to dance with fans during a high energy performance of “Hurricane.”. Upon return to the stage, the band took a moment to reminisce on 23 years as a band. King noted that they never imagined they would be here starting a new chapter and expressed his gratitude for the fans’ continued support. After the short break addressing the crowd, the band got straight back to it, launching into their next song with renewed energy, keeping the momentum high and the audience fully engaged. After explaining the backstory to how this song was born, the band treated the crowd to “All At Once,” explaining that this was the first time they had played the song in 10 years and that they had not yet played it on tour. The set continued with a mix of favorites from their entire discography, as well as new material. The band covered Selena Gomez’s “Lose You to Love Me” before ending their set with “You Found Me.” The band returned with a 3-song encore, including a cover of Lead Belly’s “Goodnight, Irene,” which featured Kai Welch on accordion. The night ended with “How to Save A Life.” While fans can often be spotted leaving the venue before the end of the encore, nobody budged as the set came to an end. The crowd remained in the main room, cheering loudly for the band as they took a bow before exiting the stage.
With the exit of former co-founder and lead vocalist Isaac Slade, many fans have been skeptical about the band’s comeback and whether or not they can recapture the magic that made The Fray so beloved in the first place. However, after witnessing their performance, it’s clear that the band has more than enough talent to thrive without their former singer. They crushed the set with fresh energy, proving that their sound and stage presence remain as strong as ever. There is no question- The Fray is back!
Catch The Fray as they continue their tour through the US, ending in Nashville, TN, on October 20. Tickets can be purchased here.
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