The Fray cozies up to its fans
Boston Globe * January 17, 2009
by Chris Brook

The Fray had little trouble lighting up the Wilbur Theatre at its sold-out show Wednesday night. Surrounded by nearly 50 lamps, the Denver-based pop-rock quartet tore through a snappy 80-minute set, previewing songs from the band's forthcoming self-titled record.

Like any wise radio-friendly band, the Fray cautiously anchored its set around chart-topping hits. Songs like "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and "How to Save a Life" were clear crowd favorites, but not necessarily the most compelling. The band played the latter, which gained notoriety after airing on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," acoustically, relying on a rapt crowd to sing the song's refrain.

Other songs, notably the new "Syndicate," struck a balance between frontman Isaac Slade's twinkling piano and his bandmates' guitars. The song, progressive yet simple, sounded destined for Billboard's Top 40. "Baby close your eyes/Don't open 'til the morning light," Slade sang as the flickering lamps cast a golden glow over the audience.

While the stage may have resembled a furniture store, the floor lamps and hanging chandeliers lent themselves to the show's intimate environment. They only proved disorienting once, during opener "Absolute," as the show's deceptive coziness was disrupted by erratic strobe lights.

Despite a lackluster reworking of R&B standard "Route 66" in the encore, the Fray fared best when it stuck to its emphatic brand of piano rock. Seated behind a black Yamaha baby grand, Slade and the band pounded out almost 20 songs, many from 2005's double platinum "How to Save a Life."

While the band's sophomore effort has been four years in the making, the crowd's reaction to soaring single "You Found Me" showed they're clearly doing something right. If "The Fray" gets half of the reception the band's first record did, fans should expect the band to play a venue at least twice the size of the Wilbur the next time in town.

Openers Vedera delivered a brief set of polished pop, a la Rilo Kiley, albeit a little spunkier. While the band's songs could use some work, pixie-like lead singer Kristen May's vocal chops were on point.