The Framework at the Drake Underground

This is the fourth The Framework show I’ve been to. From humble beginnings in the summer of 2007, The Framework’s popularity has snowballed — as evidenced by the large crowds and interest garnered at each of their monthly shows. Limiting themselves to only one live show per month, as not to “cheapen” their sound, seems to work well for all: the crowd buzzes with energy, and the band feeds off of it to deliver a captivating and entertaining performance.

Although the stage at the Drake Underground was probably one of the smallest of the venues they’ve played, it still offered enough room for front-man Ryan Kash and his crowd-pleasing animated gesticulations. Rounding out the vocals is Chris Graham, a solo artist in his own right, who takes the lead on some songs including the ever-popular Wasted. Their voices are very different but complementary; Kash and Graham exploit this as they layer their vocal talents into one cohesive sound. Their songwriting, studded with catchy tunes, lyrics and hooks, shows a definite and strong collaboration.

Rounding out the 5-piece band are Rayanne on synths, Scott Winter on bass, and Tobias Smith on drums, contributing to the band’s UK-inspired sound. This show at the Drake featured a few new songs, including Dynamo and We Are the Trend, which have a distinctly more indy-pop feel, in the same vein as their very first song, She Thinks I’m Famous.

If the strong turnout and loyal following at their shows is any indication, I think they’ll soon be famous too. This is one up-and-coming band you won’t want to miss.

Check out The Framework on MySpace, or Facebook.

15 March 2008 | grc | Music | Comments