The Frames
Live in Doyles (19 September 2006) and HMV (22 September 2006)
Review
Snapshot:
The Frames spilt opinion, they have people at extremes of both sides
of the fence, but they're always disputed and they're always there and their
live performances are always agreed upon as being something really worth
witnessing. And as I found out recently, that's no word of a lie.
The CLUAS Verdict? 8 out of 10 (Doyles: 9 out of 10; HMV: 7 out of 10)
Full review: I've been in Ireland just over a week and I've seen The Frames twice
already. My first ever Frames gig was on Tuesday 19th September at the Doyles'
Ruby Sessions and the second was the instore at HMV on Grafton Street on Friday
the 22nd, and I must admit I was introduced to something good. A convert if you
like to Ireland's secret superstars.
What you notice about The Frames over here is that they split people right down
the middle, but no one I spoke to at the gigs and thereafter, the Joe Public in
the streets, in the pubs and at the Cluas benefit gig could say they weren't
good live. And it's very true that they are a formidable live act.
Playing in support of their new album 'The Cost', the Doyles show was a very
intimate acoustic performance with people all crammed into a little room
upstairs and almost no need for microphones or amplification, and the HMV gig
was an electric rendering with the crowd interspersed amongst shelves of films
and DVD boxsets. At both they played straight through the album's running-order
and then took a few requests.
Doyles was one of the most fantastic things y'ever seen, not knowing these songs
they seemed instantly recognisable, you knew the words when you came out of the
pub; I haven't been so impressed by a band I was previously unfamiliar with
since seeing Stereolab, and I subsequently bought up their back catalogue and
they became one of my all-time favourite groops.
The gig was beautifully quiet and close, Glen's voice was on form, Colm's
fiddling was fantastic, the subtle percussion was calmly driving the whole thing
along and the songs were simply superbly pulled off. 'Song For Someone' started
the whole caboodle off and it was gorgeous, a strained vocal leading into the
chorus that sets your ears alight.
'When Your Mind's Made Up' was absolutely special and 'Sad Songs' and 'True'
were straight-off classics, but it was 'People Get Ready' that really stole the
show. Causing goose-bumps to prick up on the back of your neck when that chorus
comes in, that chorus, the chorus to win a thousand hearts: 'We have all the
time in the world to get it right/We have all the love in the world to set
allight.'
It was a lovely show ending in a few rare snippets, including 'Boobies'? And
then it was to HMV, a little different, a little weird for the band who didn't
like the bright glaring lights and the tape that separated the audience from the
group, which was soon removed by Glen. They played through the songs again,
'Rise' sounding much more prominent this time with an electric and electrifying
twist, 'The Side You Never Get To See' too was fabulous after its confused
introduction, resulting in Glen figuring he "used to be charming", but now is
just "mental".
No, he certainly hasn't lost it yet. From buying that semi-acoustic guitar in
1992, to now when it's a near worn-out contraption of wood and metal that's been
a vehicle for so many great songs over the years, well, it's got life left in it
still! They end the gig with 'Precarious Aiming', which is great way to go and
they're done. The crowd of adoring fans hang around for the signing afterwards,
some for an hour or more. The truly devoted still have as much to believe in as
ever. Here's to The Frames latest incarnation.
Daniel
Bristow
