The Frames
Red Eyed Fly, Saturday, March 19
A band’s SXSW raison d’être is their showcase, but ofttimes day parties and in-stores pop up. Such was the case for the Frames, who closed out the Misra/Overcoat day party at this Red River rock venue. One might think torrential afternoon showers would keep fans away, but the club’s capacity bulged as Centro-matic’s melodic rock wafted down Waller Creek. Almost on cue, the rain stopped for the Frames, a Dublin/Chicago sixpiece whose lead singer, Glen Hansard, opened with “This is the fifth time we’re playing during SXSW.” The band opened with “A Caution to the Birds” from their top-notch new disc, Burn the Maps, and had the crowd bouncing by their third tune, a muscular rendering of the Pixies “Where Is My Mind.” Answering requests, Hansard called for “What Happens When the Heart Just Stops” from 2001’s For the Birds, dedicating it to Nicolai Dunger, who’d played earlier at the party. Looking lovely in a dark suit, the Swede singer jumped onstage, Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboy in hand. The 1-2-3 of “Finally”/”Pavement Tune”/”Fake” wasn’t slowed by Hansard’s broken string and wardrobe malfunction, Dunger called back for a closing version of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” It was the Frames’ last gig of their American tour, and the lads went out in style.
This article appears in March 25 • 2005.