The Fray's New Tour Inspired by U2

Facebook.com/TheFrayThe Fray's tour in support of their new top-10 album Scars & Stories is now underway.  The band says their approach to playing live was hugely influenced by some dates they did last year as an opening act, for U2. 

Last May, the Fray performed with Bono and the guys during four dates on U2's massively-successful U2360 tour, and Fray guitarist Joe King says watching Bono in action really inspired them in terms of how to connect with the audience. "Each night they, obviously, are playing for 80,000-plus people in these massive stadiums but they break it down to the individual," Joe explains. "And Bono, his whole thing is picking out one person that he's going to sing his whole show to."

Joe adds, "There will be someone [in the audience] that'll catch [Bono's eye] and the whole show, in his head and emotionally, is directed to that person...everything becomes about that one individual and that's how they connect, and I think by doing that every person in that stadium feel like it's theirs."  The Fray may not be playing to 80,000 people, but realizing how the biggest band in the world can make a show feel intimate is the true lesson learned.

Another thing the Fray picked up from U2 was the concept of group unity.  According to Joe, that's how the band keeps things interesting, even when they have to play "How to Save a Life" every night for what seems like the zillionth time.  "You keep it fresh by doing things that you enjoy offstage, 'cause it's not just about onstage," he says.  "The more tight you are as a group backstage and outside of that stage, that's what makes the stage unique and strong and powerful. That was another thing I learned from the U2 guys." 

Joe explains, "Every time before the show, [U2] just made sure things are right...they made sure they were all good and it's unified. And that makes the difference." 

The current leg of the Fray's tour runs through the end of this month, and then picks up again in April, finishing up in May in their home state of Colorado.

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