ANDY FRASCO & WILD ADRIATIC PLAY AN INFECTIOUS GIG IN BOSTON

So after coming back from SXSW I took all of two days off before going to another show, not my smartest move which is why this review and gallery is late, but I honestly could not wait to tell everyone about this show. First to get a lay of the land, ONCE in Somerville has the feeling of where a Bar Mitzvah or a Quinceañera would take place, something that both bands alluded to all evening. Both Andy Frasco and the U.N. and Wild Adriatic are know for throwing parties at their shows that infects the crowd and makes the whole evening feel special every night.

A note for everyone reading this review, I have worked with Wild Adriatic a lot, even going on tour with them from time to time. I have not been able to in a while and it was great to see what this foursome is doing now. They have been touring almost non-stop and the way they are playing currently, it shows. There is another level of live music they have reached in terms of how tight the songs are. The rhythm section of Rich Derbyshire and Mateo Vosganian is so in sync with one another that it feels like one person playing both instruments. Adding in Scott on the keys full time for touring has also let Travis Gray’s guitar breathe and take his solos to new heights.

Wild Adriatic

As the two band were wrapping up a month on the road with one another there were plenty of sit-in’s in each other sets. It almost felt like the two bands were one at times there was so much going on with coming on and going off stage. Also hopping on stage was Scott’s old bandmate Colin Shore from Mister F for a song. Wild Adriatic closed the show with weaving between their own “Strange Persuasion” and the Talking Head classic “Crosseyed and Painless.” It was quite the way to end their set.

Wild Adriatic

Finally Andy Frasco and the U.N. took the stage and brought their wild stage presence that has taken Jam Cruise and other major festivals by storm. While we didn’t get Andy being hoisted in a chair by the crowd or actual crowd surfing, there was plenty of dancing in the crowd by Andy and the band. They are a literal non-stop bolt of energy and the crowd fed right off of it.

Andy Frasco and the U.N.

The music is there to make you feel good. All of it is positive and uplifting and on top of that makes you want to dance. Andy obviously gets the spotlight, but man is this band talented. They changed songs on a dime and can play any kind of music you want to hear, including covers as they did everything from a hilarious take on “I Want to Know What Love Is” to “Hey Jude” to “Killing in the Name of” to “We’re an American Band.” Wild Adriatic joined them on a couple of occasions during the set, which really showed how selfless Andy is. Headliners don’t normally give such a generous amount of time to the openers, but Andy is all about helping everyone out. It’s a good character trait to have and the crowd absolutely loved it.

Andy Frasco and the U.N.

Andy Frasco and the U.N. won’t be in these small venues very long and you better see them now. They are the kind of band that once they connect with a crowd, the next time they come in each member that was in that previous is going to bring another friend or two. Everyone who walks away from their show just has an infectious smile on their face and that feeling is what you want from a concert and music. Andy brings all of it and more. Hopefully it won’t be long before I can get that feeling again myself from him and the U.N.