Fray Drummer Discusses the Anatomy of a Hit

John J. Moser Wysocki says. Moreover. For McClatchv-Tribune to keep the raw sound, the re- Ben Wysocki proffers several cording was done explanations --none of them very con- with no post-pro- vincing --why 's latest single. duction. -There's

- ," has become an energy live even bigger than summer's Over My that is kind of ir- Head (Cable Car)." replaceable in the Finally, the drummer for the studio. and we piano-rock band laughs and just absolutely , gives in to the obvious. It might just loved The Elec- be 'Grey's Anatomy' that made it a tric Factory. We bigger hit," he says during, a phone were there for our interview from a St. Louis theater first time opening parking lot. for Ben Folds and Bingo! Fact is, after the video for just kind of fell in

- How to Save a Life" was shown on love with the the top-rated ABC-TV drama's season place. - premiere. it raced to No. 3 on For a band Billboard's Hot 100 (it is No. 5 this in the midst of week). eclipsing "'s" such a whirl. life peak at No. 8. can be pretty hec- Television exposure certainly tic--especially on has been a component of The Fray's occasions such as success. as shows use their moody, today, when they emotional. atmospheric music to em- play two high- The Fray's video, "How to Save a Life," was shown on the top-rated ABC-TV drama "Grey's Anatomy." Photo phasize dramatic scenes. HBO even profile concerts. courtesy of Handout/Allentown Morning Call/MCT used "How to Save a Life" over a mon- Asked tage of "The Sopranos" to promote the about it, Wysocki pauses and laughs. to one religion," explains Wysocki. from a primer for substance abuse in- acclaimed series. "Yeah, like this whole experience has "It's kind of like just pinning your- tervention. Singer-pianist Slade has The Denver band also has played just really turned our lives upside self to one political agenda. said it was inspired by the suicide of a virtually every late-night talk show down--in a good way and in bad ways "If our goal is to connect with crack-addicted teen to whom he was a (Letterman, Leno, Conan, Craig as well. We're having to learn how to people, then I think that's the wrong mentor, but Wysocki says "the song Kilborn) and on Thursday performed deal with it. If you're not ready for it, way to go about it. Our strategy is just and the subject matter kind of goes be- on "Good Morning America." it can really screw you up." to write as honest as we can. ... We're yond that." _ The Fray's music, packed with Wysocki, (vocals. going write songs about God and our The band has been writing new — piano melodies and percolating melo- piano), (guitar, vocals) and faith, were going to write about girls songs for a new disc. and Wysocki says drama that has drawn comparisons to Dave Welsh (guitar) are all in their and we're going to write songs about he expects The Fray's next album to Coldplay, clearly has struck a chord early to mid-20s. They find ground- having bad days, and it's just like be just as emotionally charged as with listeners. ing in their families (all are married, that's all part of the game. - "How To Save _a Life." The group's 2005 debut disc. Welsh most recently. in August). That's true of "How To Save A "How To Save A Life" (Epic). hit plati- "We're all in the same boat," says Life," whose lyrics are essentially (c)2006. The MomingCall (Allentown Pa.) num. and last August The Fray re- Wysocki. We might have just played 0111111MININIIII•111■111M11111111•1111111111111111111.1101111111. leased a live EP recorded on May 26 to 6.000 people or something. but we at The Electric Factory in Philadelphia. get off stage and call our wives and "Live at the Electric Factory: they're waiting for us to get home and Bootleg No. 1" is available only take the trash out. - BUZZARD' ITREAT through download on iTunes or select And though band members are independent record stores. all Christians. they are not a Chris- "A lot of the inspiration (for the tian band. "We didn't start out to write EP) came from us starting to like some religious songs, Christian songs. or of these songs better live than on the religious lyrics or Christian lyrics or record, because I think we are learn- anything like that because I think it ing better how to play them now•" gets dangerous when you pin yourself

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