Filipino fans to get the best of The Fray

MANILA, Philippines –The American alternative-rock band the Fray is set to rock the Smart-Araneta Coliseum this Saturday night.

The Colorado-based quartet composed of lead vocalist Isaac Slade, guitarists Joe King and Dave Welsh, and drummer Ben Wysocki, were scheduled to perform in Manila last June, but their show was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and was rescheduled to November 10.

Performing for the first time in the Philippines, Slade said the band was very excited, as he had been hearing stories about how Filipinos were known to be the craziest fans in town.

In a press conference held at the Holiday Inn in Ortigas Friday, Slade shared his encounters with Filipino fans in some of the band’s tours.

“Once when we came out, there were three people that did not look like everybody else, and they were so excited and were screaming and shouting…and I asked Are you Filipino?,” Slade exclaimed with excitement.

“There was also another time when Filipinos asked for a photo opportunity with us…I felt like Madonna…It was great,” he said.

He also compared American and Filipino fans, saying that in America “usually they cheer at the beginning of the song and the end of the song. But in the Philippines, they cheer every 30 seconds…It makes us feel so excited.”

King, for his part, noted how sorry they were that it took them 10 years to come to the Philippines.

“We didn’t know we had Filipino fans until four years ago…and we thank the Internet because of that,” he said. King also gamely shared his admiration for Manny Pacquiao.

When asked about his impressions of the Philippines, King just said “My first impression is Manny Pacquiao. My last impression is Manny Pacquio. I just love him.”

Slade remarked that Filipino fans need not worry because “you’re getting the best.” He said that the band has changed a lot over the years, and gained a lot of insights from years of making and recording songs.

But he noted that what he loved best was the unique feeling of singing out live, and giving the audience the real deal.

“We spend years making the song, but then we step on stage and we have five minutes. It’s like theater, because you have one moment.  I love the immediacy and the fire,” he said.

Band’s evolution

Since the massive successes of their piano-driven debut singles “How to Save a Life” and “Over My Head (Cable Car)” in 2005, the band continued to wow its audiences and gain a steady following with the subsequent hits “Look after you,” “You Found Me” and “Never Say Never,” which was also featured in the movie Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Their cover of Kanye West’s hit “Heartless” from their sophomore album also did not fail to entice their audience.

Best known for their catchy pop-rock melodies and deep, emotive lyrics, the band has been nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or a Group and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 2007.

Their third album entitled “Scars and Stories,” which was recorded in Nashville’s legendary Blackbird studio with veteran producer Brendan O’Brien, had been described as a breakthrough from its ballads — offering strongly emotive music but with more edge and a “darker” sound.

Since its release in 2011, the most recent album debuted at number four on the Billboard Hot 200 chars and produced two hit singles – “Heartbeat” and “Run for Your Life.”

New songs, new confidence

Slade said the band was excited to release its new album by December, saying that the new record has a “new confidence and clarity” combined with “innocence.”

“I love the songs.I love the recording. If you love us or you hate us I think you know we’re doing it on purpose,” he said.

King for his part said that the songs were “reflections of who we are. ..what we’re struggling on, what we love, and what we hate.”

Slade ended by saying that the members of the band started out as “very divided, very different people.”

“But over the years we have been more committed to each other, and with that commitment we have gotten closer and closer,” he said.