Genre: Folk / Rock
Location: New York, NY, USA
When Rob Frail lost a software gig in 2003, he listened more closely to the voices that were harmonizing in his head and wrote their songs. Think Bob Dylan meets David Byrne.
An audacious reference, but those who hear his music agree. Armed with a rhyming dictionary, and a fear of failure, he put fingers to keyboard and imagination into overdrive. He evolved into a "method songwriter", with the ability to project himself into a situation and articulate the emotional results.
To date, 11 of his songs have won over 20 songwriting awards, including four Honorable Mentions in the Billboard World Song Contest, genre-hopping among Folk, Rock, Reggae and Country. Call it The Audacity Of Scope.
What his songs have in common are equal senses of humor and humanity; a commitment to groove; and complacency-challenging lyrics that engage the emotions and reward the intellect. His attention to linguistic detail can be summed up as No Syllable Left Behind. His influences are Rock of all ages.
More important are Frails' riveting depictions of universal human conditions, as articulated in songs about:
• an Iraqi mans' 21 year plight to get the last laugh on Saddam Hussein (What Did I Miss?);
• the pervasive perversion of the media by its' corporate pimps (My So-Called Democracy);
• the working classes' disposability by the corporate kleptocracy, where justice is blind – to greed gone wild (The Other Side Of Somehow, a 2010 Billboard Song Contest winner).
And then there are his serious songs.
But most important are the reactions of those who hear Frails' music. At this point in a bio, you've likely heard words like 'unique', 'authentic', and 'electic.' In keeping with Frails' disdain for the trite, let's call it 'u-thenti-clectic'. Reviewers at Taxi, many of whom are Grammy winners or nominees, have said:
• Bold & very "Dylan-esque"!!! AWESOME - so universal!!!!
• I am FLOORED by this song's lyrics. This is brilliant writing - the soul of Muddy Waters.
• Blows my mind lyrically - stunning story telling.
• Cool music. Sounds like Talking Heads.
In particular, Jack Douglas, producer for John Lennon, The Who, Aerosmith, Patti Smith, et. al. had some definite feelings about Frails' music when he reviewed it in July, 2010:
Overall Comments
• I am going to keep my eyes open and try to catch you some time in the city.
I really enjoyed your music. It is very unique and I had a good laugh.
What Did I Miss?
• Very inventive! Totally unique.
This Is Why Life Sucks
• You had me up dancing a jig on that one.
With longtime jam-mate, guitarist and vocalist Tom Connolly, and various rhythm sections, Frails' band Shoot The Messenger has appeared regularly at top venues in New York City, including CBGBs, Arlenes' Grocery, The Bowery Poetry Club, The Back Fence, and Shrine.
Festivals appearances include MEANYFest, NYC; Mid Point Music Festival, Cincinnati, OH; Singer/Songwriter Cape May, NJ.
During performances, Frail is known for vocally harmonizing with his guitar lines, and quoting jazz artists like Wes Montgomery. Frail has a strong jazz streak, and takes lessons and inspiration from jazz-rock fusion legend Larry Coryell, a big supporter of Frails' own jazz-folk fusion efforts.
Shoot The Messengers' first CD, The Other Side Of Somehow, was released in Feb, 2011. So order it from ShootTheMessenger@gmail.com, go listen at ShootTheMessengerMusic.com, and see Shoot The Messenger live to experience the band that defined euthenticlectic.
Band's Interests:
The intersection of Love & Tragedy; Theatre Improvisation; The Simpsons; The Media-Industrial Complex.
Similar:
Belle & Sebastian, Keane, Elvis Costello, Frank Zappa, The Grateful Dead, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Larry Coryell, et. al.
Influences:
Dylan, Talking Heads, Beatles, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bob Marley, that guy who cut me off on the BQE June 8, 2006.
Members:
• Rob Frail,
• Tom Connolly,
• Brian Carter,
• Peter Schmitz
Official Website: http://www.shootthemessengermusic.com/
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/indexcfmfuseact...