Note about "Ignite"

"Ignite" is new to the player. It's a demo that Eric and I did in my basement when he was in town from Pittsburgh. Those of you who saw us play with Superdrag heard us play this one last in the set (without the organ). I tried to play the organ part in rehearsals and it just wasn't that tight.

Anyway, vocals were provided by myself and Karen Harding. We got our "Loveless" on for sure. Whammy maxxx.

It's a really loose demo, but it is another one of those tunes I just wanted to get up there so you can see the direction the third LP will take. Comment-let us know if you like it.

-Rick

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Oranges Band - this week
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

Oranges Band - this week
Don't forget we have a Baltimore show with our friends the Oranges Band at the Talking Head. Also up from DC are the Points. Thursday, May 8. Look at the Flyer. Go to the show. Have a good time.


Talking Head - 203 Davis Street
"the old ottobar"

Doors at 9. Bands will play at 10.

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Sean Lennon
Category: Music

Has anyone heard (or watched) Sean Lennon's latest album Friendly Fire? I've been listening to if for about 6 months now off and on. Gawd, it's brilliant. I hear new things every time I listen.

I also especially love his T.Rex cover. The video portion was very cool as well, but I can't sit around long enough to watch the whole thing.

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Beachcomber Interview
Category: News and Politics

This is from a couple of months ago, but thought I would post it anyway.

Baltimore alt-rock act is no Fraud
By Katie Wais


Turkey Day may have already come and gone, but this Saturday rock lovers will have something to be thankful for.

Over at the Sandbar, Ocean City regulars, The Frauds, are playing the 3rd annual Thanksgiving Throw Down with local boys Lower Class Citizens — proof that good music can be found amidst the nearly empty winter beaches.

Following the release of their second full-length album, "Hiding Out Loud," in September, The Frauds continue to forage onward with their brand of indie-rock powerpop, which pays homage to a long list of influences including Superdrag and Guided By Voices.

Joining frontman Rick Bowman on guitar with Eric Emerson (bass), Ernie Emerson Jr. (drums) and Jonny Watkins (guitar), the Baltimore-based band is back at the shore this weekend before returning again to the Sandbar Dec. 18 for a six-band showcase. But before the gig, Bowman sat down to weigh-in on the new album, 8-tracks and creating debauchery in Russia.

Q: So, Thanksgiving with The Frauds -- what can we expect?

A: Hopefully a live turkey. And a rock show. We'll definitely have a show for everyone. We've also got new t-shirts to sell.

Q: A lot of reviews seem to say that "Hiding Out Loud" was released about 10 years too late. How much of a role does grunge -- and '90s music in general -- play in your music?

A: There's a lot of merit to that. I'd say we were all changed by the effect of grunge, but more so by the music of the '90s. Bands like Teenage Fanclub, Sloan, The Posies, Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr. were sources of inspiration for this record -- not to mention all the music from the '50s, '60s and '70s. We really listen to a wide range of music, so to say we are a product of our influences is a fairly generalized notion. A lot of "Hiding Out Loud" was bred from our need to play louder and louder, too. We also wanted to better ourselves as singers and songwriters, so we took our time trying out new instruments and different sounds. At the core of the whole record would be the guitar, bass and drums. I don't think we have strayed from that very much.

Q: Gauging from your MySpace page, The Frauds collectively have an astounding range of music influences. I'm curious, what albums can't you live without?

A: I, personally, don't think I could live with just a few albums. All or nothing for me. Either give me an instrument or a lot of records. But lately, I've been pretty tied into stuff like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Band of Horses, Chuck Berry, Neil Young and all of the new Superdrag reissues. Oh, can't forget Themes. We played some shows with them out west. They are really a great band.

Q: Best song to cover (we are in Ocean City, after all -- Land of Cover Bands)?

A: "Cold Shoulder" by the Braille Drivers. Or we really like playing "Ticket to Ride."

Q: You guys are working on your third full-length album? How's that coming along? How is it stacking up to your previous efforts?

A: This one is going to be a lot different. We've been much more open-minded for the third full-length. We're making a deliberate effort to get away from all guitar, bass and drums. I'll play a lot more piano and organ on this one and Eric will be playing more guitar and stuff. We're trying to make it more of a baroque-folk-rock record. That sounds pretty pretentious, I think. Right up our alley! (Laughs)

Q: You guys have been credited as a very "do-it-yourself"-oriented band. As the digital age continues to grow and evolve, it seems the DIY ethic is as vital now as ever. How important is technology and the Internet -- for both The Frauds and the music ind

A: Technology is very important for DIY bands -- it facilitates affordable recording. Years ago, you needed $10,000 to buy an 8-track tape machine. Now, you can buy a digital 8-track for $250. Obviously, that's quite an asset for a band like ours. We don't have any kind of funding other than what is left over after we pay our bills. Touring costs us money. Gas costs are ridiculous and since record labels are folding left and right, it's near impossible to get any support. It's really an addiction for us. We feel the need to make this music and put it out, whether people want to hear it or not. So, DIY is really the only way to go when you're the underdog.

Q: I read somewhere you met Frauds' drummer EJ Emerson at the age of 16 while you guys were in Russia. What the hell were you doing there?

A: (Laughs) Yeah, that comes up a lot. We were there for an art exchange -- in January and February. It was really, really cold. Really cold. We went over there to study painting and see the sights. We each lived with our own Russian family. We ate the food, drank the drink and ran the rails at night. It was a pretty shocking experience at the time. It was right after the country had established a democracy. There was a real sense of optimism for everyone there. It was also blind faith, in a sense. They had no choice but to shrug at the new way of life, because it was totally new to everyone there. All this is really besides the point, though. We met there, and came back to Baltimore where it really started. I joined EJ and Eric's band Ladicius for a couple months.

Q: Wow! Your new "solo" project, Royal Army of Europe," is awesome -- and a dramatic departure from The Frauds. How'd it come about? What are your plans for the future with it?

A: I don't really have any plans for it. It's just a fun little side-thing for me. I play just about every instrument on there, so I really have to motivate myself to work on it. I had hoped to finish the record and put it out this year. Not sure if that will happen, but I think The Frauds are going to start getting closer to what the Royal Army of Europe has been. That's my hope anyway. We've been playing loud caveman rock for five years now, and we've all agreed that we're ready to move on.

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On Time, Off Time

I posted a new demo called On Time, Off Time. It's just something Eric and I threw together last week after our show in Baltimore.

It was a one-take affair on the computer, so don't mind all of the off-time drums and bass/off-key vocal parts. Let me know what you think of it.

-Rick

Currently watching : Trailer Park Boys: Season 5 Release date: 25 September, 2007

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US Tour Top 10

Tour Top 10:

1 The big brawl in San Diego (think Black Flag)

2 The assjockeys in Boulder who were clueless about giving us enough time to play

3 Jonny's disappearance

4 Golden Showers with the Mentors

5 Player shitting the carpet in Tempe (yack-city)

6 The gay trucker rest stop in Mississippi

7 Jonny sleeping in the desert next to the scorpions

8 Guitar Hero in New Orleans, Salt Lake City w/new Minneapolis friends "Themes"

9 Doing "exactly the right thing" no matter what the outcome

10 The hundreds of beautiful people we met, talked to, shared stages with, and played to.

So many other good moments that didnt make this list. Most including bodily functions.

Currently listening : Hank Williams, Jr.’s Greatest Hits, Vol.1 By Hank Williams Jr. Release date: 05 October, 1993

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Asphalt-Here we come!
Category: Music

Bloggity doggity doo-
time to get filled in.

Hiding Out Loud came out a couple weeks ago, as you know and as we beat it into your head at every possible juncture. And um...CDs are selling. That's good. People are liking it. We got one bad review from Canada. That was pretty entertaining to read. Plus side is that we have over a dozen raving reviews so far. Good for us!

Latest news is that we are frantically booking shows for our eastern leg of our US tour. Things are really coming together. It makes us all realize that we need a booking agent.

Superfans: If you email us before the show and bring three friends with you to the show we're going to get you in for free. As in-we will frickin pull cash out of our pocket and hand it to the doorman for you. How cool is that!? We want as many new faces at our shows as possible. We want to meet you. We want to meet yer friends. We want your emails so we can forward you jokes and funny videos. You get the picture. Get in touch with us-we will hook you up.

On the Radio: Yeah we are all over it. Hit the CMJ charts this week and we are climbing big time. Here's the important thing: REQUEST LINES-CALL THEM. Tell them you have had enough of listening to the Frogs and you want more F-R-A-U-D-S.

We'll catch up with you next week from the road. See you at the show!

Currently listening : Cease to Begin By Band of Horses Release date: 09 October, 2007

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Thanks:Sorry

Hi everyone.

First: Thanks! Second: Sorry!

Our new CD "Hiding Out Loud" has already sold out at Not Lame. Thanks to everyone for flooding them with orders. We're doing the best we can to get more to them for future orders. Sorry to those of you who wish to order the CD only to find that they were already out-of-stock.

As always, you can download the CD at iTunes for $9.99. Search for the Frauds and you'll see it. Write a review! We welcome your comments, good or bad.

We're leaving soon four our tour to support the new album, so check our dates, we are adding more every day. We're coming close to your town, so please come out and see us. Bring a friend. If you'd like to be added to the guest list, send us a message. If you bring 3 people, we'll get you in for free.

College radio has already started playing a few tunes. Keep your ears peeled (or your eels peared) and REQUEST REQUEST REQUEST!

Over'n'out.
-Rick

Currently listening : The Con By Tegan and Sara Release date: 24 July, 2007

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50 cent songs

FYI:
We're selling some of our songs at IAC for 50 cents a pop! We're not offering full albums there, but at least you'll be able to get some songs for slightly less than iTunes.

www.iacmusic.com/thefrauds

Keep your eyes peeled on iTunes for the new album "Hiding Out Loud".

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Stranded In Stereo Review
Category: Music

What does one think of when you hear the phrase 'Hiding Out Loud': Muddled senses or perhaps a game of hide-n-seek gone awry? Well both of those would be wrong, sorry kid. Actually, Hiding Out Loud is the second release from Baltimore kids The Frauds an album is interesting musically, but more so intellectually. Its almost a well adjusted love album for those too proud to fall into the abyss of self-deprecation, but still forlorn. Like the title suggests, there is nothing truly hidden on this album.

It's very hard to walk the tightrope over depression. It's even more difficult to be able to clearly describe staring into the depths of your soul without using vague analogies and abstract concepts. The Frauds come close to painting some vivid images by counteracting instinctual reactions. On "Strawberry Soul" instead of crying "why can't you love me", bassist Eric Emerson muses "why does a girl always have to be a girlfriend? Is it because you can't depend on self?" That's a pretty sick burn that helps escape self-reflectivity in lyrics that is a trend that is becoming way too prevalent. Still, the song "To Fall in Love" keeps the boys' feet on the ground, and their hearts on their sleeves.  It's fair to say you can't truly escape the clutches of emotion and sentimentality, but it 's a nice thought for us troubled cynics. Hope is not lost, for the track "Love Me Don't" is heartbreak for the rage-a-holic; nothing brutal, but a quick rebuttal to the ladies to "chose to keep it real" to the point of rejection.

The rest of the album is on par with their self-titled debut. "Pull Me Over" shows some creativity with the use of wrenches to tinker franticly beneath the three-part harmony. The nostalgic croon of "Her Way" holds a feel best coupled with a Zach Braff film, for better or worse. All of these tracks are far from hiding, and place everything on the table, spades up. Hearts get broken, love gets lost, and we move on. No tires seem to have been harmed in the making of this album, only egos, which may hit closer to home than any boy with guyliner ever could hope to with sad songs about no one ever liking him. The Frauds do a pretty impressive job of downplaying the sad, and taking hold of possibilities. Even with that said, one has to wonder, that with a title Hiding Out Loud and a name like The Frauds, maybe there is more creeping beneath the surface that we can know on this album.

Currently listening : Small Change By Tom Waits Release date: 25 October, 1990

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