On February 7 Epic Records will release Grammy-nominated The Fray’s much-anticipated third album Scars & Stories. The new album is now available for pre-order exclusively on iTunes in two versions, regular and deluxe. The deluxe contains 5 bonus tracks—covers recorded by The Fray—including Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia,” Emmylou Harris’ “Boulder to Birmingham,” Annie Lennox’s “Why,” The Fugees’ “Ready or Not” and The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Maps.” Upon pre-order for either version fans also instantly receive a download of “The Fighter,” a track off Scars & Stories that has not yet been released. In addition, The Fray will support the release with a North American tour. Tickets will go onsale Friday February 3. Please see below for full tour schedule.
The new music video for the first single “Heartbeat” is available on iTunes now and already has over 3 million views. The band filmed the music video with acclaimed director Justin Francis (Weezer, Eminem, The Cure, Modest Mouse) on the California coast, north of Malibu. “On the surface it’s a beach party performance video, but it’s really about people coming together and sharing a common experience, and enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime evening together,” explains Francis. The video is shot as a series of moments and experiences instead of one linear storyline.
“Heartbeat,” which is currently #11 at Hot AC and #23 at Top 40, is the lead track on Scars & Stories. The single is in GUNG HO rotation on VH1 for the week of January 30th and will be the #1 most played video of the week. Of the single, lead-singer Isaac Slade notes, “That song came out of a period of my life when I was trying hard to be open to whatever came my way. I traveled through South Africa and Rwanda with a buddy, and at first it was really hard to stay open in the face of so much pain and heartache. But then I ended up meeting so many cool and inspiring people, and all these ideas for lyrics and melodies just started rushing in.” The inspiration specifically came from a chance meeting with an expatriate woman. Speaking of the miracle of the capital city overcoming such remarkable odds, the two held hands and Slade reveals “I felt so connected to her. I couldn’t tell if it was her pulse or mine.”
The album was recorded at the legendary Blackbird Studios in Nashville. The Fray was able to hone their sound with the help of producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Neil Young). The making of Scars and Stories fostered the most evolution the band has ever experienced, both lyrically and musically. “On our first record, we didn’t quite trust ourselves yet,” says Slade. “We loosened up on the second album, but there was still some element of restraint. But on this one, we just stepped up to plate and swung as hard as we could.”
The Fray is Isaac Slade (pianist/vocalist), Joe King (guitarist/vocalist), Dave Welsh (guitarist), and Ben Wysocki (drummer). The Denver-based foursome formed in 2002 after high school friends Slade and King bumped into each other at a local guitar shop. The band achieved national success with their first single, “Over My Head (Cable Car),” which became a top ten hit in the U.S., and the release of their second single, “How to Save a Life,” brought them worldwide fame.
The Fray Spring Tour Dates
April 11 Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
April 12 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
April 14 Mashantucket, CT MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods
April 17 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
April 22 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
April 24 Louisville, KY Palace Theatre
April 25 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
April 27 Monroe, LA Monroe Civic Center – University of LA
April 28 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
April 29 Austin, TX Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
April 30 Houston, TX House of Blues
May 1 New Orleans, LA Tipitinas Uptown
May 3 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
May 4 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheater
May 6 West Palm Beach, FL Sunfest
May 8 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
May 11 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre