Frank Turner - Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, March 11, 2016

"They threw me a whirlwind and I spat back the sea.  

I took a battering but I've got thicker skin and the best people I know are looking out for me.

So I'm taking the high road - my engine running high and fine

May I always see the road rising up to meet me and my enemies defeated in the mirror behind"
~Frank Turner

Frank Turner - pre-show soundcheck

As we lined up for our early entry sound check access I'd managed to nab when purchasing tickets, Artur, my concert buddy for the evening, looked around at the gathering crowd and remarked that there were a lot of different types of people amassing for the show.  A selection of tattooed, pierced and leather clad groups, contrasted with preppy conservatives and everything in between, all across a pretty vast representation from all age ranges.  You name it, they were in line.  Artur, who had no idea who Frank Turner was at this point having graciously agreed to sub in for an unfortunately sick Jakki at the last minute, took in the large cross section of fans, and said to me:

"his music speaks to a lot of different types of people, yeah?"

The Frank Turner genre is a hard one to pin down.  Punk? Folk? Rock? Bluegrass?  A bit of a smashing together of all of the above and more, really, with no easily measurable formula.  I call him folk/punk, but that doesn't really hit the nail completely on the head either.  But the mix of genres really does seem to draw a lot different types of fans together into one room.  And I think that combo of fans suits Frank Turner just fine since his whole professional "raison d'être", based on my personal sense of him, seems to be to bring people together under an all welcoming common love of all things music.

So, to answer Artur's question......Yeah!

As our small early access ticket holders group gathered around the stage, Frank strode out and played a few acoustic songs for us, followed by autographs and photos prior to the start of the show.  I personally would have been quite happy hanging here for the night.  His acoustic performance of "Love 40 Down" and "Cleopatra in Brooklyn" just sitting at the edge of the stage, was fantastic.  Getting to finally meet him was definitely a high point as well.  (hey everyone reading this who actually knows me?  Guess who suddenly became super shy in the presence of one of her "music as religion holy 4?"  Argh!).  He was very sweet.  And hella tall.  Was a super cool and very surreal moment where things I should have asked him completely escaped my mind.  Things like.. how he enjoyed his first trip to the Maritimes (In February, he did shows for the first time ever in my former homes of Halifax, Fredericton and Moncton!)  Or... asking to see his newly inked New Brunswick tattoo!  Or, you know, seeing if perhaps he was looking to hire a diminutive blonde show mascot to join the tour since I will shortly be unemployed and available!  (umm, I suppose it was probably best I didn't blurt that one out, but it would have been totally about the music, I swear, and I can't think of a better rock 'n roll story than a complete career path switcheroo from the banking world to professional Frank Turner show attendee!)

Stumbling away from our meeting, we were then stopped by a couple of ladies who I assume were part of Frank's team, who wanted to do a brief interview.  Now... I was still attempting to process having just met a musician I admire greatly, so can't say I was too clear in answering the questions asked.  OK, OK, I admit to having no idea what I answered for the question "What does Frank Turner mean to you?" other than that it was a big exorcist vomit of nonsensical mumble jumble wordiness.  My brain was on overload, so the pairing of Lindsay + eloquent thought output was just not happening and I may as well have been speaking Swahili.  By that point, we decided to get a few beers into me STAT to put my head back on straight for the show to come.

And what a show it was!

We positioned ourselves directly in the fray just slightly to the right of the stage.  This was my 5th Frank Turner show and the first time that I've been directly in the thick of the crowd.  (for the prior 4, we've done seats (Queen Elizabeth Theatre), roomy outdoor field viewing from afar (TURF), upper VIP balcony (Sound Academy), and bench/table (Horseshoe Tavern)).  Being smack dab in the middle of a sea of Frank fans was a whole heap of fun!  We immediately made friends with our neighbors and engaged in big sing-a -longs together for the duration of the show.  Being on the vertically challenged side of things (a fancy way of saying I'm f-ing short), I was only able to see Frank and Tarrant regularly for the duration of the show and missed out on being able to watch the rest of the band.  (I do need to take a moment to give a shout-out to the Sleeping Souls, Frank Turner's band extraordinaire).  Ben Lloyd, Matt Nasir, Nigel Powell and Tarrant Anderson, are all amazingly fantastic musicians with big entertaining personalities.  While my primary focus was on Frank, for this show in particular since my positioning only allowed a limited viewing of the stage, watching Tarrant's bass playing gymnastics also provided me with great joy - that man is truly in his own zone when playing and I loved every minute of it.  I can honestly say, I've never seen anyone play the bass with quite the same frenetic zeal as he does.

I also continue to be amazed at the non-stop high energy show that Frank Turner puts on, night after night.  They played an incredible 2 hour 30 song powerhouse of a setlist complete with running, jumping, dancing, crowd surfing, motivational mid song audience directing and some kick ass acrobatic instrument playing.

As is always a big part of a Frank Turner show, he engaged the crowd in a "we're all in this together tonight" fashion.  In addition to recruiting us as backup singers for various bits of songs, he actually had us sit on the ground during  "Photosynthesis" with instructions to jump up once given a signal by Nigel to dance and sing "like we're out of our fuckin' minds!"  He preceded this request with an assertion that he regarded us all as friends and that "friends can ask friends to do weird shit, right?"

...Remember me mentioning the cross section of people earlier?  The punks and the nerds and the rockers and the old and the young and the keen and the jaded and the everything in between?  Yeah, we all sat down on the ground.  And all jumped up and danced and made friends with our fellow music lovers and sang together.  Hey, when Frank asks us to do weird shit for the purpose of musical solidarity, we're all on board!  I will NEVER get tired of Frank's philosophy of music as a uniting element.

Check us out!

With such a vast setlist, there was really something for everyone within it.  I absolutely overlove the new album (the title alone, "Positive Songs for Negative People" even struck Artur, a hard core metal fan, as brilliant).  So it pleased me to hear "The Opening Act of Spring", "Josephine" and "Get Better" performed live.  The show closer of "Four Simple Words" with its harder edged punk format was the perfect high energy send off, and even got my metalhead sidekick on board (he really liked that one!)  We left the venue, as Frank intended, with sore throats from singing, feet tired from dancing, and having made new friends from strangers.  I even lost my sweater sometime through the night and simply laughed about it and figured that it was a sign of a good sweaty in the moment show when a band magically causes you to lose items of clothing without you even noticing.

Now that I've had a few days post show excitement, I've had the opportunity to give some thought to the question: "What Does Frank Turner Mean to You?"  Truth be told, I'm still not sure I can come up with anything that would be precise enough for a soundbite.

But I will say this by way of *attempted* explanation...

All art is completely subjective, and the love of it can't always be neatly quantifiable.  I suppose that Frank Turner's music triggers something on an emotional level within me that makes me love it so very much.  His songs tend to have lyrical content dealing with the drive of the human spirit, which hits me right in the sweet spot.  A few examples:  "Photosynthesis" gets me pumped up for difficult meetings where I need to channel my inner badass.  "Anymore" and "Plain Sailing Weather" have in the past comforted me with empathy in the loss of a relationship.  "Get Better" is a rousing theme song for picking yourself up and dusting off and getting back to your inner invincible self (a song that I try to put in my ears as much as humanly possible).  "Four Simple Words" just makes me gleefully happy any time I listen to it (and the slowed down theatrical bits are super fun to belt out in the car!  Trust me - try it!)   "I Still Believe" sums up how important music has always been to me in my life and I complete "get" the point he's making in that one, etc., etc., etc...  So many of his songs I identify with in such a strong way that they all mean a lot to me for very different reasons. Add to that Frank's complete authenticity - the fact that he truly seems to love what he does and does it relentlessly and passionately and with great respect for his fans... and he has my complete and utter reciprocal respect as as well.

Thrilled to have another Frank Turner show in the books.  Looking forward to the next.  Come back to Toronto soon Frank!

Previous Frank Turner show blogs:

Sound Academy - December 3, 2013
Queen Elizabeth Theatre - shared bill with Joel Plaskett - May 18, 2012


Set List:

1.  The Next Storm
2.  The Road
3.  Losing Days
4.  Eulogy
5.  If Ever I Stray
6.  Try This at Home
7.  Peggy Sang the Blues
8.  Ace of Spades (motorhead cover)
9.  Josephine
10.  Polaroid Picture
11.  Least of All Young Caroline
12.  I Am Disappeared
13.  The Opening Act of Spring

Frank Solo

14.  The Way I Tend to Be
15.  Balthazar, Impresario
16.  The Ballad of Me and My Friends

17.  Reasons Not to Be an Idiot
18.  Glory Hallelujah
19.  Mittens
20.  Long Live the Queen
21.  Happy Birthday
22.  Recovery
23.  Out of Breath
24.  Photosynthesis
25.  Plain Sailing Weather
26.  Get Better

Encore:

27.  The Real Damage (solo)
28.  Tell Tale Signs
29.  I Still Believe
30.  Four Simple Words

Frank Turner - Sound Academy, Toronto, December 3, 2013

Photo by: Stephen McGill, AUX TV
http://www.aux.tv/2013/12/photos-frank-turner-at-the-sound-academy/

So December 3, 2013 was date night with my boyfriend.  (ok, so he's not *really* my boyfriend, but Frank Turner became my official "Substitute for Love" since I first encountered him as the opening act for Joel Plaskett in May of 2012 (read about my intro to Frank here).  We DO have a relationship...you know... through his music... he just doesn't happen to be aware of it is all.  It's all cool and not restraining order worthy, I swear!)  I've been following his music since that show, and have eagerly grabbed up every album put out.  He holds a place in my "Music as Religion Holy Four" (along with Glen Hansard, Matthew Good and Dave Grohl).

His album Tape Deck Heart came out in April of 2013 and I bought it release day and formed a special bond with it.  This album, is without a doubt, a break up album of epic greatness.  Regardless of my personal mood or current circumstance, I tend to gravitate towards albums that possess lyrics and tone that are created as a result of some sort of intense feeling, as I'm able to form a real emotional connection with the songs that way.  It became infinitely more meaningful to me months later, as it was the soundtrack for my own personal breakup.  I definitely found some solace, camaraderie and catharsis by listening to it, and THAT, right there, is one of the many reasons that I love music so very very much.  Frank, as any good (boy)friend would, was there to successfully sing me right out of my funk.  He's the bestest!

When his tour through Toronto was announced, it was a no brainer that we'd be attending his stop at Sound Academy.  Not a huge fan of the mosh pit, we were able to acquire VIP balcony tickets and have now been officially spoiled.  Can't see ever attending a show there and not going VIP.  Separate entrance.  Separate bar.  Separate bathrooms.  Separate water view outdoor deck.  Seats.  Balcony view of stage. (spoiled I tell you!  I felt so swanky and superior!)  The convenience of the bar made for a few more beers than I'd normally consume at a concert, but it was all good and all fun.

He had two openers for this show.  Billy the Kid was up first.  Was just her and her guitar - she was pretty good.  July Talk were next and were an interesting sound.  Alternative vibe, with a guy and a girl fronting with a white hot sexuality coursing between them, so tangible you felt like you could reach out and touch it.  Got the crowd riled up pretty successfully.  Would see them again.

Then Frank came on starting the night off with "Photosynthesis", one of my very favorite tunes of his, with its unique fusion of punk attitude with folk sensibility and rocked up roots instruments.  It set the tone for the night as an über high energy ride for the duration.

A Frank Turner show (this is our third) is ALWAYS high energy.  Frank confessed to being under Doctor's orders to take it easy due to a back injury, but that didn't stop him from bouncing around like a hopped up Tigger (see cover photo above... ).  The only concession he did make for his back injury was to not play guitar for this show (save for one tune in the encore), but without the guitar strapped on to ground him, he was all over the place, running, jumping, crowd surfing and flying across the stage.  Watching his completely untethered acrobatics contributed to the enjoyable energy created.

As per usual, Frank is all about crowd interaction.  He bantered with the crowd a bit and explained to us that he had learned a few things about the city ahead of this show.  Yonge street being the longest street in the world.  Casa Loma's 'only real castle in North America' distinction, (and showing his inner history nerd questioning whether it could be considered a "real castle" having never been a defensive structure).  And of course, he knew all about our douche bag Mayor where he expressed confusion on whether our system was just messed up and we couldn't oust him, or if we were just "bad ass motherfuckers that don't care" about having a crack smoking mayor.  See vid below for his "all about Toronto" chat.

In addition to the visually awesome kick we got from his stage show, more importantly, the music itself was completely mint.  The set list offered a heap of Frank Turner fan favorites and a few rare gems that were great to hear live.  As mentioned, he kicked off the night in high gear with "Photosynthesis" and kept things going with one of my favorite tunes off the new album, "Plain Sailing Weather" with its aggressively self punishing lyrical content.  Favorite moment had to be the back to back one two punch of "The Road" followed by "If Ever I Stray" as it launched the crowd into hand clapping, fist pumping, party mode solidarity.  And of course, "Long Live the Queen" as a Frank Turner show staple, with its high tempo, speed lyric story of loss and celebration of life, didn't disappoint.  (Frank must have some wicked breath control to be able to pull that one off live so flawlessly).  I'd have really loved to have heard "Fisher King Blues", my current fave off Tape Deck Heart.  It would have been amazing to be able to "feel" this tune in the live setting with it's poetic lyrics and wonderfully melodic, layered instrument and vocal build.  But was pleased to get "Broken Piano" as a mournful, heart beat like percussion close-out to his set prior to the encore.  The brilliant, deliberately slow building construction of both these songs speaks to me musically on the album versions, so was glad to get one of them live at least.

Was a fantastic ride of a show, closing off the encore with "Four Simple Words" with it's cabaret style book ends fusing into full out punk rock juicy centre, complete with the beefy security guards at front of stage swaying along to the slowed down portions.  Great ending, leaving the audience in a state of feel good happiness.

I adore Frank's tall, lanky, cool nerdiness (if you follow this blog at all, you'll see that particular pattern of affection I have for the "geek cool" trait - it is the highest order of compliment I could give when describing someone I admire).  There's something incredibly attractive to me about musicians who are intelligent enough to be informed and well spoken, comfortable enough in their own skin to embrace their personal quirkiness with confidence, but laid back enough to not be obnoxious about it.  That, in my humble opinion, is what "cool" is all about.  Frank fills all these marks and puts out a brand of music that pulls me in and keeps me content with what it says and how it makes me feel.

Best boyfriend ever.  So much fun.  Come back again soon Frank!

Set List:
Photosynthesis
Plain Sailing Weather
Peggy Sang the Blues
Losing Days
Try This at Home
Glory Hallelujah
Reasons Not to Be an Idiot
The Way I Tend to Be
Wessex Boy
The Ballad of Me and My Friends
Oh Brother
I Am Disappeared
The Road
If Ever I Stray
I new Prufrock Before He Got Famous
One Foot Before the Other
Long Live the Queen
Recovery
Broken Piano

Encore:

Oh Lonesome Me (Neil Young Cover) - Frank Solo on Guitar
I Still Believe
Four Simple Words

Joel Plaskett/Frank Turner - Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, May 18, 2012

Joel Plaskett

Frank Turner

 Man, I was not in the frame of mind going in, as I was musically "full up" heading into this show.

We had just taken in The Avett Brothers a few nights prior, and were still in re-live mode in a very big way as it was mindblowingly good.  My brain was unfortunately set to "temporarily closed" to any new music.  Further, I must confess to being a bad Maritime girl.... while I knew of and liked what little I did know of Joel Plaskett, and was aware that he is most definitely a maritime music staple and for good reason, I'd never seen him live and didn't really know a whole lot about him or his music.  What I did know was that he was from "home" and that my maritime compadres, whose musical tastes I trust completely, really love him.  There were a few songs here and there that I had come across and enjoyed, but that was about it.  In truth, my quest to see him stemmed a lot from his appearance in the movie "One Week".  He seemed quirky and talented, which is just how I like my musicians.  It was more personality driven in wanting to see what kind of live show he put on with absolute faith that the music would be good.  So off we went to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto to take in the first of his two night stints closing off his tour.

Taking our seats, we noted that there was a "special guest" opener for the evening and proceeded to look him up to see what we were in for (opening bands are always either hit or miss...it's a good night if we can discover someone new).  Frank Turner, was described as a British "folk/punk" musician.  Needless to say, we were intrigued.  What exactly is "folk/punk" anyway, and how does it fit together with Joel Plaskett?  How did these two end up on the same ticket?

As explained to us by promoter Jeff Cohen, who introduced the show, each were looking for someone to tour with.  Cohen, as a huge fan of each of the artists, thought it would be cool to put the two together for Joel's tour.  I bow down to Mr. Cohen for his brilliant marriage of these two artists, without which, I would likely have never known who Frank Turner ever was.  (and that, my friends, would be a travesty).

I'll be reviewing this show in two parts, because unlike a lot of my past show blogs, I've got a whole lot to say about the opening act.  So without further ado....

Frank Turner

Now as mentioned, I had never heard of this man before looking at his name on my ticket about 10 minutes before show time.  But from what I gathered in my short presence in his stratosphere, I believe that he can be described in one word:  Authentic.

Truth be told, I was smitten with him right off the bat.  (he's only 30, so not (ahem), in a "cougar-y" way, just in an admiring, "I really dig what you do" way).  I'm a total sucker for a man with dimples, a Brit accent, and lets face it, any man that has anything to do with good music, so put these attributes together, and I couldn't help but be completely charmed. (so maybe just a wee bit cougar-y...)  I had entered the theatre not "all in" for this show, but by the time he finished his set, I was wide awake and raring to go, synapses firing, messaging my music buddies during the break wondering if they had ever heard of him.  (and they had.... way to bogart the Frank Turner, guys, jeez!)

His style was completely raw and unpolished, in the best possible sense, and with huge amounts of heart.  I fully believe that he talked and played from the stage as he would if he were sitting around with his friends, which contributed to the "real" feel of his show (and that for that night it really felt like we *were* his mates).

Even with just a guitar for accompaniment, he was able to fill the entire theatre with his exuberance.  High tempo strums combined with intricate finger picking were enhanced with his awesome forceful vocal delivery and crowd motivating lyrical content.  He was a big fan of crowd participation, and drew everyone in to several sing-a-longs.  And he had his own following - people who were there just to see him and knew every word to every tune and bellowed along with him.  (as a note, I'll be among that lot the next time he graces Toronto).

I've since downloaded his albums and am enjoying the re-live of what he performed for us live - total ear worm goodness.  Favorites at the moment are "Long Live the Queen", which I mentioned to a co-worker I want played at my death party (I don't want a funeral...just a party...bring my urn!) Her reply to this statement was "think kind of highly of yourself to have a song with the lyrics "the Queen is Dead" featured so prominently don't you?"...to which I replied "I'll be dead, can't you humor me this once?".  Aside from the aforementioned banter, it's a great tune. Also love "Substitute", my new personal anthem. The entire album is mint actually, but really, can anyone be surprised that I would connect so strongly with an album titled "Love, Ire & Song"?  "I Still Believe" and "If Ever I Stray" off the album "England Keep My Bones" are also in heavy rotation.  It's all yummy good really, and how can one NOT fall instantly in musical love with a man who claims that Gene Simmons is "a giant anus" for documenting his female conquests and being compelled enough in this belief to write a song about it?  (see set list below).

I'm now also a fan of the folk punk genre and plan to dive into it a little further.  Little less angry than classic punk.  But a lot of the same sensibilities and ideals as far as non-conformity.  It had the characteristic repetitive guitar riffs, but also contained a good deal of really great melody throughout to grab you and hook you in.  There are some truly poetic lyrics, interchanged with some rousing, fist pumping anthemic belt out choruses that take over your brain for days having listened to them.  (Have been sitting in meetings this week shouting (in my head of course), "I won't sit down.  I won't shut up.  But Most of all, I will not grow up!" and it's making me grin wide to the point where I'm constantly asked why I'm smiling).  Punk, folk, rock.....regardless of what genre he is dropped into, as bellowed out by Frank before our last great sing-a-long to "Photosynthesis", it's all rock and roll, and:  "Rock and roll is about one really simple fucking thing.  It's about a room full of people who are friends and who are equals, who came together without a barrier between them.  To sing.  To Dance. To Drink.  And to have a GOOD fucking time!  That's why we're here.  THAT's what rock and roll is all about".

A-fucking-men Frank Turner.

****

Now count it down like musicians...are you ready?:  one,  two.....One.  Two.  THREE.  FOUR!  

Enter Joel Plaskett....

Now one may think that having been soooo taken with the opening act, that it would negatively affect my enjoyment of the main event.  Not so.  Frank just got me warmed up and ready to receive, with every musical pore in my body on high alert and ready to absorb.

As expected, Joel Plaskett and his band, were all kinds of über goodness.  His show was one big, feel good jam that had the entire audience on their feet dancing for the duration.  In a theatre show with assigned seating, it's quite a feat to immediately get everyone standing, and have the crowd flow into the aisles and to the space in front of the stage to dance along.  Way to go Joel Plaskett - you turned the Queen Elizabeth Theatre into a kick ass party complete with a wicked soundtrack!

The music was a mix of acoustic vs. classic rock and roll tunes.  I loved this - I went in expecting a lot of singer/songwriter type acoustic fare (and wasn't disappointed - there were some wonderful stripped down tunes included in the set list).   Yet Joel and his band rocked the house for a good portion of the show, wailing away on their instruments in true rock show fashion and producing some high energy, top notch music.

He was the most interesting man to watch - he is all tall lankiness, and when he moves, it is with a cool flowy smoothness.  His stage presence kind of reminded me of Tom Petty, in that it was so easy and relaxed, but radiating "cool" (If you've been to a Tom Petty show, you know what I mean).  When he spoke, it wasn't in a hollery way - it was upbeat, but in conversational tones.  Comfortable in his skin.  In his element on the stage.  A highly skilled musician.  Charismatic and real.

The quirkiness I was looking for was evident as well.  There were several lengthy chatty moments that filled me with delight - explanations of their various tour vehicles over the last decade and a half that were extremely amusing detailing the sleeping arrangements in each (i.e., each bunk had a name, and one bunk was referred to as the shits....nobody wanted to sleep there, 'cause "it was the shits"), how he came to have two dancing monkeys mounted on a bench attached to a foot pedal (dancing monkeys are always funny), and the story behind "Love This Town" that extended into a good 10+ minutes in the middle of the song (to the continuous strum the guitar of course - "if they treat you wrong, get them back every night in song").  Wonderfully entertaining.  I love musicians with personality that let us into their lives a little.  These entertaining little stream of consciousness segue ways always make me extremely happy at a live show - they are the three dimensional bits that you can't get from sitting at home and listening to an album.

Two very different artists I was baptised to this night - so very different in their styles, yet similar in a lot of ways.  Both highly talented musicians.  Both passionate about their music.  Both highly into interacting with their audience.  Both on my list of must sees going forward.  Fantastic night of music all round.


Frank Turner Set List:

I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Try This at Home
Peggy Sang the Blues
Wessex Boy
I Am Disappeared
Substitute
New and still untitled song
Long Live the Queen
If Ever I Stray
Wherefore Art Thou, Gene Simmons?
English Curse
I Still Believe
The Road
Photosynthesis

Joel Plaskett Set List

Tough Love
Waiting to Be Discovered
Deny, Deny, Deny
You're Mine
Heartless, Heartless, Heartless
North Star
You Let Me Down
Harbour Boys
Beyond, Beyond, Beyond
Love This Town
Face of the Earth
Nowhere With You
Lightning Bolt
"Work Out Fine" with interlude medley featuring Lee Dorsey's "Rain Rain (Go Away)," April Wine's "Oowatanite," The Rivieras' "California Sun," Manfred Mann's "Doo Wah Diddy," Sam Cooke's "Cupid" and Eagles' "New York Minute"
Through and Through and Through
"Maybe We Should Just Go Home" with interlude medley featuring Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?"
Extraordinary
Encore:
I'm Yours
Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
Come On, Teacher