"Like The Pogues gig on the other side of Xmas, The Frames at Vicar Street on New Year’s Eve is now a fixture of the season and quite the place to be."
Fancy yourself a bit of an artist? Well the Frames are looking for a creative soul to dream up their next t-shirt design – with lots of prizes for the winner.
There was much celebrating in the Hansard household this weekend as the independent Irish movie that Frames mainman Glen stars in, Once, picked up the ‘World Cinema Audience Award’ at the Sundance Film Festival.
I may be wrong but this seemed to be a year when, despite a new album, Frames hysteria cooled somewhat. ‘Sad Songs’ is another okay single – sincere in the extreme, just not particularly exciting or memorable. Time for a rethink maybe.
There are no saints in love. That’s a lesson The Frames’ mainman Glen Hansard learned the hard way – and which he articulates in the bittersweet love songs that make up much of the band’s new album The Cost. Hot Press hits the road with the band for an extended interview, conducted in radio studios, backstage areas, tour buses – and one very dedicated fan’s house.
Dublin’s newly-opened Gallery Number One was the venue last Sunday as The Frames played an acoustic gig to celebrate the publication of Zoran Orlic and Janine Schaults’ photo-book on them, Behind The Glass. View the photo gallery here!
Believers view Hansard & Co’s brew of emotive folk-tinged rock as a shining example of durability and authenticity in image-obsessed days. Atheists see it as the grim apotheosis of the strain of phoney singer-songwriting that was especially virulent in Dublin at the latter part of the last decade. Agnostics remain largely unmoved. The Cost, it has to be said, is not a record that will inspire many cross-camp defections.
The lead single from The Frames’ soon to be released seventh album The Cost is a double A-sided affair which will easily keep their faithful happy and might even win them a few new fans. ’Falling Slowly’ starts gently before building to a gorgeously anthemic, sing-along chorus and soaring finale. ‘No More I love Yous’ sees the band using the traditional quiet/loud formula but with their own twist, while Glen’s singing has never sounded as heartfelt and passionate.
Not since Dylan went electric has such debate raged over artistic choice. The revolt has begun. Walk outs, heckling and cries of “worst Frames gig ever” marred the first and the last nights of The Frames' three sell-out gigs at Vicar St. So irked was Glen Hansard by fans’ calls for ‘Revelate’ and ‘Star Star’ that, at one stage, he angrily announced, “How about you be the audience and we’ll be the band. Okay?” This wasn’t the happy Frames of past.
Those who missed out on Snow Patrol's outdoor concert in Dublin need not worry - because The Frames have announced their own special gig on the same day.
Sometimes I wish Glen Hansard’s guitar would explode, or that half way through a terrible rendition of ‘Pavement Tune’ the band would lose their way and let the song fall apart. A mistake of some sort would be nice, if only to prove that The Frames are mortal when it comes to playing live.
The fans took For The Birds to their collective bosom, and it went multi-platinum, establishing Hansard and co as the pioneers of Ireland’s burgeoning independent scene.
Still riding high on the post-release wave of their Burn The Maps album, The Frames will play a series of hometown shows at the intimate Olympia Theatre
Following the huge commercial success of Set List and ‘Fake’, The Frames look poised to ascend to rock’s premier league with the upcoming worldwide release of the Burn The Maps album. Kim Porcelli joins the band on the day of their triumphant show at Marlay Park to discuss the pros and cons of pop-stardom, the departure of dave odlum, the abiding influence of mic christopher, and the challenge of creating their most eagerly anticipated record yet.
For 14 years The Frames have conducted the business of their art like filmmakers who reached a détente with the studio system through operating on a one-for-us/one-for-them basis.
You have to hand it to The Frames. Even Bruce and U2 baulk at starting new campaigns outdoors in front of 17,000 people – although Glen Hansard might claim that this is a farewell to Set List arms rather than the unveiling of Burn The Maps.
In one of Irish music’s worst kept secrets, The Frames played Whelan’s recently, road testing some new songs and being joined on stage by a number of special guests. John Walshe reports from ringside.
The Frames and BellX1 stormed the palisades of Groningen recently as part of the Eurosonic Festival. John Walshe was there to see it happen and to revisit the spot where the great Mic Christopher met with his tragic accident. Plus: the latest news and reaction to the Frames’ new record deal
EXCLUSIVE!! The Frames have signed a deal for most the world with Anti, the left-field wing of hardcore label Epitaph which is also home to Tricky and Tom Waits.
Easily the most radio-friendly of their singles to date, ‘Fake’s chorus could convince even Hansard-haters that Glen & Co. have something very special indeed.
Late in November of 2002 The Frames played four nights in Vicar St, Dublin to capacity audiences. The highlights of those gigs have found their way on to their first official live album, Set List [hotpress.com member offer]
The Irish band most likely to steal U2's live mantle, The Frames couldn't be better placed to run away with this year's Witnness, what with 13 years of stagecraft and a number one live album under their belts. It's a long way from the Clifden Blues Festival... Archive interview, 2001: We talk to Glen Hansard
The industry may not have always liked them but their fans couldn’t be more passionate. Ten members, four studio albums, three managers and two major labels later, The Frames still managed to add up to more than the sum of their parts. Peter Murphy, with help from Glen Hansard and other key players brings the story of the band up to date in this, the final part of our two-part special [Photo Mick Quinn]
From “Outspan” to Glen Hansard, from Grafton Street to Hollywood – and onwards to Lisdoonvarna 2003. A portrait of The Frames as a most unusual band. Part one of a two-part special feature by Peter Murphy. [Main Photos: Mick Quinn]
The Frames announce two in-store gigs (featuring Glen Hansard) to celebrate new live album set List - and, not least, an end-of-summer one-day extravaganza in the RDS
Set List is the sound of a band at the peak of their powers, from Colm’s stunning fiddle-work to Joe Doyle’s perfect backing vocals, with the boy Hansard as magical Master of Ceremonies, effortlessly guiding musicians and audience through their paces.
"When the group shift the dynamic completely and segue into a typically skyscraping rendition of ‘Revelate’, the effect is dizzying. And as Glen howls, “My human fate/My revelate” with all the fury of Prince Hamlet after being confronted by his father’s ghost, it makes you think Pat McCabe was absolutely spot-on when he pointed to Hansard as being one of the most gifted lyricists around."
The Frames design a customised videotape sleeve to go with their upcoming No Disco special… and you can get your hands on it, exclusively in the May 8th issue of Hot Press
The tracklisting of the upcoming Frames live album, Set List, revealed in full - in a hotpress.com exclusive. Also: tidings of a Frames radio documentary on Today FM, a No Disco special - and did somebody say Glastonbury?
The Frames' American star is in the ascendent with a fawning New York Times review, new album in the pipeline, a live album in the interim and a one night stand at Vicar St. Phew!
It’s what every remembrance should be: not a reflection on the ache of losing him, but a celebration of our insane good luck at having had him in the first place.
What on paper could have a some sort of post-modern Raggle TaggleFest 2002, turned out to be one of the most moving celebrations of friendship and music this city has ever seen
New EP, new DVD, 'New Partner', new broadcasts, new gigs, and a bit of help for a new groom: read on for loads of assorted tidings of great joy from The Frames
The Frames enlist erstwhile Mary Jane Simon Good to temporarily fill ex-guitarist Dave Odlum's sizable shoes. Meanwhile: a foothold in the UK, a triumph in the Czech republic and a moment of glory in Rolling Stone...
A glimpse into Glen Hansard’s tour diary while on the road with The Frames' fourth album For The Birds (2001) - including reflections on their first landmark Olympia show (March 30th, 2001)
The Frames
Hotel Curracloe, Wexford
Preaching to the choir is for the godless. The Frames, possessors of possibly the largest ‘choir’ in Ireland in the form of a fanbase more devout than most religions, have nevertheless always seemed to prefer to shun the easy option.
The Frames were the envy of the class of 1990, jammy dodgers who had a deal before they were a band, forced to evolve in public at an unmerciful rate. By the time most acts get ready to demo their first batch of songs, Glen Hansard and co. were on their second album and record deal.
The Frames were the envy of the class of 1990, jammy dodgers who had a deal before they were a band, forced to evolve in public at an unmerciful rate. By the time most acts get ready to demo their first batch of songs, Glen Hansard and co. were on their second album and record deal.
The shoes fit. Their suits are made to measure and the skin's all their own. Finally, after more schizophrenic shifts than a busload of Hannibal Lectors, The Frames have found their own identity and they're not afraid to bask in its glories.
The margin by which The Frames have so far failed to forcibly etch both themselves and their music onto the minds of the plain people of Ireland remains a source of disappointment, great upset and mystery.
