Reunited, Scotland’s The Fratellis ace their Toronto gig

Robin Careless —

Photos by Sarah Valant —

The Fratellis, for those of you like I who came in late, are an Indie Rock band from Scotland. Starting out in 2005, they released two successful albums, which were well received both in the UK and in North America. They last played in Canada at the 2008 Virgin Festival and soon after fell into an indefinite hiatus in 2009. They reuinited in 2012, and in October 2013 released their first new album in half a decade, We Need Medicine. The next month they kicked off their first North American tour since their reunion, much to the delight of their fans, which included a stop at the Phoenix Concert Theatre at the beginning of this month.

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Jon Fratelli singing This Old Ghost Town

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Mince Fratelli pounding out a fantastic drumline

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The Fratellis on stage at the Phoenix Concert Theatre

 

The show was absolutely sold out, with a line of eager fans streaming down the street, huddled together in the cold. There was none of that chomping-at-the-bit impatience that you run into at some shows. They had waited for five years for this band to come back to Canada, and they were perfectly happy to relax and wait a few more minutes.

The opening band was a group out of Chicago called Ace Reporter. I have to imagine that being an opening band must be so much more nervewracking than headlining, since the crowd isn’t necessarily there for you. But if that’s the case, Ace Reporter didn’t let it show at all. Instead, they rocked their smooth indie sound, which was a great way to start a show. My personal favourite has to be their Keyboardist/Tambourine-ist/Auxilary Drummer, who was clearly feeling it in a big way, and whose enthusiasm was infectious. They played a really great set, and I would recommend checking them out if you like the Fratellis.

Not to be outdone, the Fratellis were amazing to see live. They have so much energy and you can tell that they’re clearly having a fantastic time performing. There’s no sign that the years of seperation have affected them in any negative way. The crowd, undoubtably frozen from the snow outside, were a bit slow to move in the beginning. But nothing can withstand the Fratellis’ wonderfully energetic music, and they had them moving in short order. It got to the point with some songs where Jon (the lead singer and guitarist) gave up on singing, leaving the crowd to belt out the lyrics to what were clearly their favourites.

They played songs from all three albums, and the crowd adored every second of it. The thing I find really cool about them is the way their sound varies from song to song. This is especially true of their newest album, We Need Medicine. It has a very subtle, almost country twang to it, That just stands them just that much more above their peers.

The album came out in October, with 11 brand new songs (including a personal favourite, “This Old Ghost Town”.) And yet at the show they debuted not one but two brand new songs, making us the 3rd group of people ever to hear them. The songs themselves were excellent, and it shows that the band’s creative well is clearly brimming, if not downright overflowing.

Even in the face of the full tilt tour they’re neck deep into, Jon Fratelli was able to answer a few questions for me:

First things first, what brought the band back together?

Basically we just wanted to go out and play to people. We’re lucky that we have an audience to play to.

How is this album different from your previous works?

I’m not sure exactly what’s different. But given that we made our first record 7 years ago time dictates that there must be some changes. The only thing I can put my finger on is that these days I’m far more comfortable with just writing, recording and playing music just to please myself. If other people like it along the way then that’s just a bonus.

 

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Jon Fratelli rocking his guitar

 

What is the significance of album name?

It’s completely insignificant. Certain combinations of words though up all sorts of images, We Need Medicine is one of those combinations to me.

This is a relatively smaller tour, how do you like that compared to doing the big festivals?

I usually prefer our own shows to festival shows. Though sometimes festival shows catch fire and turn out to be pretty special., I’m happy never knowing or trying to second guess these things. Again I’m happy just to have an audience to go play for.

After the huge commercial success of Flathead, how was going back into the studio changed?

Studio work for us hasn’t changed at all really. We don’t tend to spend any more time recording than we need to.  For us labouring over things has never produced good results. You lose the energy and feel if you labour.

What’s next for the Fratellis?

We’ll be busy playing shows and going about the business of being a band I guess.

So there you have it. The Fratellis are back to stay, and I know that I eagerly wait their further works with baited breath. It’s not often that a band of this calibre comes back together and is as good, if not better, than before the break. Fortunately, this is one of those times, and it looks like blue skies from here.