I like to think of myself as frugal, but there are those that have referred to me as cheap. I suppose it all depends on the person phrasing it, but one thing I splurge on is music. I can’t seem to get enough of it. It’s in my blood, my soul and is part of who I am. That’s part of what makes this “job” even more entertaining because of all the bands that routinely send me their music. One of the investments I make in music every year is Daytrotter, a site dedicated to bringing live recording of up-and-coming bands to the masses.
The site typically has three to four sessions up a day available for download for nominal fee of $24 per year. This isn’t an ad for Daytrotter or even really an endorsement, but my point is that the site has invaluably helped me discover bands that I may have been in the dark about for some time before they hit their stride.
That’s where Chicago-based Fort Frances comes in. I was tooling around on last week when I came across them, while doing my due diligence and not wanting to squander my meager investment. I listened intently to the 8-song set they released on the site that was recently posted. I liked what I heard so I harassed them into sending me a copy of their album The Atlas. I know what you’re saying, “It came out last February, Matt, so how come you’re just getting it now?” That’s the power of the web site.
Before listening to their live sessions, I hadn’t heard of this band. But after hearing their sessions, it’s safe to say that they are firmly ensconced on my radar now. I’m not going to wax poetically on the brilliance of their album, because while I thoroughly enjoyed it there were some rough patches including the minute or so of what sounded like ambient noise in the beginning of the first track. It isn’t avant-garde, it isn’t artsy, it is just fucking annoying. There were plenty of highlights like “Falling Down” and “Ghosts of California.” These songs are where the bands emotion and strengths really shine.
Wilco, Theophilus London, Young the Giant and Wye Oak are amongst the artists who have made the Daytrotter rounds. It is a site that is trying to help you discover what’s out there and who is on the cusp. Due to this, Fort Frances is a band that I’m glad to have found and I have Daytrotter to thank.
