venue
with side of face
with The Frames By Tyler McNally, Jayplay Contributor
Acclaimed Irish band, The Frames have kicked off a lengthy U.S. tour to promote the international release of their most recent of seven full-length albums, Burn the Maps. Given the geographical limitations and college budget (not including international phone calls), my only opportunity to catch up with the band before the tour was an email interview with bassist, Joseph Doyle.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of touring in the good of' U.S. of A.?
Joseph Doyle: Cheeseburgers.
Q: How does touring in Europe or Australia generally compare to touring in the States for you?
JD: It's enjoyable waking up in a different country to a different language with different food and a very different culture every day when touring Europe. It's strange that when you spend so long driving around America, you can wake up in a different city but generally on a whole it remains the same.
Q: Do you prefer playing a larger venue with the possibility of a larger crowd or a smaller venue with a much more intimate setting and interaction with the fans?
JD: I enjoy both. Obviously the smaller venue allows you to be a bit more adventurous and challenge people a bit more and bring the crowd closer and have really good rappor with the audience. But having said that, walking out on stage to 15,000+ people is instant atmosphere as well and one could get very used to playing to lots of people, especially indoors where all the energy is kept inside.
Q: Burn the Maps is getting some fantastic reviews. Does that put a ton more pressure on you for the next album to be just as critically acclaimed?
JD: No, not at all. I don't think we've felt any pressure when it comes to making records at all. At least not with the last two records. If there ever is, then the pressure comes from within; to do a song justice by writing it well or playing it even better and progress in-step with each other.
Q: Do you feel like international acclaim has been long coming or right on time in relation to where your career is as a band?
JD: We're a slow burner on a long road. Previous to Burn the Maps, none of our records ever really got a proper release abroad, so it's a step in the right direction. Of course, it's very enjoyable to travel abroad and play to people who genuinely like your music.
Q: Which album are you most proud of as a band? Does one stick out as being more complete or closer to exactly what you envisioned?
JD: For the Birds is the one that turned out mostly as we'd planned. Dance the Devil turned out least like we planned and Burn the Maps is somewhere in the middle in my opinion. But having recently listened to those records (which is unusual for me). I have to say I enjoyed and was proud of them.
Q: How are you coping as a band in the digital age that facilitates illegal downloading?
JD: Very well, thank you.
Q: Occasionally, just occasionally, there is some good stuff circulating on the radio here, but sometimes it's rare and hard to find. As an experienced international band, how do you approach entrance into an American market which right now is inundated with artists like Gwen Stefani, 50 Cent, and Toby Keith?
JD: To be honest, they don't really even register on our radar. We don't see ourselves really in direct competition with any of them...or anyone for that matter really.
Q: Burn the Maps was released internationally in February. Are you working on a new album now or have plans to get into the studio soon after the tour?
JD: We have just finished on a new batch of songs that we're all very excited and enthusiastic about them. We can't wait to get into the studio and start to record them because I think we're going to have a really strong cohesiveness and potentially my most favorite record yet. Studio
time is now booked for February/March 2006 when the touring and other commitments stop.
Q: You are both Irish and in a rock band — the envy of so many Americans, myself included (those of us with any Irish lineage at all, no matter how pure, seem to hold onto it for dear life). Any advice for aspiring American-Irish wannabe rockers?
JD: Yeah it's nice growing up in a culture where music plays a huge part in the fabric of life, but we all draw from our own cultures in different ways and I'm sure it's just as relevant coming from the U.S.A. as it is to come from Ireland.
Q: What are you listening to right now?
JD: Arcade Fire, same as everybody else.
Q: Your lead singer Glen Hansard's guitar was stolen while touring in Prague. I have diabetes and my insulin was stolen from
me in Prague. So...what's the deal with Prague? But seriously, any other horrid touring stories that have kept you wary on the road?
JD: Evidently there are a lot of diabetic guitar playing thieves in Prague, huh? Of course we do have touring stories — usually involving exploding buses, extreme weather, gun wielding promoters, alcohol — all the usual stuff you come across day-to-day touring.
Don't miss The Frames this Saturday night at the Granada. Exploding buses, extreme weather, gun wielding promoters and alcohol are bound to be a good time. Josh Ritter is set to open. Doors open at 9 p.m.
10.06.05 Jayplay
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