Over 20 years since their first show at The Fox Theater in Boulder, The Fray has returned to kick off their headline tour, aptly named "The Fray is Back."
In so many ways, the venue feels exactly the same to Joe King, Dave Welsh, and Ben Wysocki as it did back when they were playing those early shows—even signing their first record deal on the stage. The Fox has updated the couches in the green room, but everything else feels like it did to them 20 years ago, right down to the smell of the carpets.
Outside the theater is a different story. Wysocki described the whole area around The Fox as unrecognizable, pointing out the new hotel some of the band is staying in while in town.
Sitting down at the bar before the show started, the trio laughed and joked around as they reflected on those early days and early mistakes—think panic ordering cranberry vodkas when asked what they drink—before quickly switching their tone to one of immense gratitude.
“It’s unique to have the opportunity to start again,” says Wysocki.
They started what became The Fray back in high school. Now that they’re in their 40s, a lot of life has happened, and what is true for the band is different now than it was back then.
To this day, their biggest goal is to write true songs, accurately capturing their current moment in time. This authenticity has brought them a deeply committed fan base and the opportunity to be a large part of people’s stories.
During the show on July 26, a couple held up a sign for the band. The Fray was their first concert, “Look After You” was their first dance at their wedding, and The Fray was playing when she gave birth to their two children. When the beginning notes of “Look After You” came on, the crowd gave the couple a little space to dance and sway together, clearly lost in a memory.
Before the show even began, there were fans lined up outside for the VIP meet and greet. At the front of the line stood Melissa Snell, who missed that first show but has made up for it since. They’ve been her favorite band for 19 years, and she says The Fray came into her life at the right time.
“Their music really helped me get through a hard time when I needed something to pull me out,” says Snell. “It’s always good to have a concert to look forward to.”
It’s clear that both the band and the audience were looking forward to this show. On stage, you sense the camaraderie between the bandmates and their joy at being reunited.
King shared a sentiment with the crowd that he’d also spoken about at the bar before the show.
“There’s so much we don’t control,” says King. “But what you do control is what’s within you.”
There’s not a lot a band can control, from the machine that is the music industry to how they’ll be perceived by fans and critics. Time and perspective have helped King realize that making and playing music they love is what they can control. Putting their best out into the world is the dream for them.
The Fray is currently touring the US and will be back in Colorado on October 17th to play Mission Ballroom in Denver. Their single "Time Well Wasted" is available now, with more music coming soon. The EP "The Fray Is Back" is set for release on September 27th.