Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls- The Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Frank Tuner never fails to live up to his title as the “King of Punk Poetry.” He opened his set with Eulogy, which is the short opener to his latest album, England Keep My Bones. At the apex of the ditty, Frank belts out, "and on the day I die, I'll say 'At least I f***ing tried!" which shifted the crowd into high gear almost instantaneously. Frank Turner's energy forced me and the only other female in our party from the balcony to the floor, and ultimately, directly in front of the stage left speakers.
The first time I witnessed the greatness that is Frank Turner, he was opening for Social Distortion. I came early to see Lucero… Well, let’s be honest, I wanted to get a good parking spot where I wouldn’t have to worry about walking seven blocks to find that my car had been stolen/broken into.
As luck would have it, Frank sincerely knocked my socks off. He played with the energy that begged the assumption that it was last stop on the tour. During his rendition of I Still Believe, he coached the crowd to echo him and the song more or less blew my mind.
Blew. My. Mind…. to the point where if, in that instant, you had asked me who Mike Ness was, I probably would have stared at you blankly for a solid ten seconds. Let me enforce that I was thoroughly convinced in high school that Mike Ness and I were destined to be together (regardless of the fact that he’s my father’s age).
The instant his set was over, I ran to purchase any of his CD’s I could get my hands on, convinced that my purchase would ensure his return to the U.S…. "To single-handedly revitalize rock music!" I had indulged in a few drinks at this point.
Needless to say, hungover and driving to work the next morning, I listened to my new CD’s, and was far from disappointed at my semi-inebriated purchases.
Back to the present:
I couldn’t tell you the set list, as I was in no position to confer with my notepad that close to the stage, but I can tell you that at some point during Peggy Sang the Blues & I Am Disappeared, my voice gave out. And then, the unthinkable: Dave Hause makes a surprise appearance to sing along to Glory Halleluiah. Sensory aneurysm ensued, and when I came to, Mr. Turner was covering Queen. That was it, I couldn't take it any more. This man is clearly too talented for his own good, of course, as is only my opinion, and I am someone who possesses no musical gifts whatsoever.
Frank Turner has a voice that was clearly strengthened through years of singing in hardcore bands, and he utilizes it at every turn. The endurance he exhibits while playing every show like it’s his last resonates in my heart and forces me to fall head over heels for every sound snippet that makes its way to my grasp.
If you’re looking for an experience rather than a “show,” Frank Turner is your man… Just keep in mind, when he is finally recognized as the second coming of Rock/Punk, it may be hard to get tickets.
Frank Tuner never fails to live up to his title as the “King of Punk Poetry.” He opened his set with Eulogy, which is the short opener to his latest album, England Keep My Bones. At the apex of the ditty, Frank belts out, "and on the day I die, I'll say 'At least I f***ing tried!" which shifted the crowd into high gear almost instantaneously. Frank Turner's energy forced me and the only other female in our party from the balcony to the floor, and ultimately, directly in front of the stage left speakers.
The first time I witnessed the greatness that is Frank Turner, he was opening for Social Distortion. I came early to see Lucero… Well, let’s be honest, I wanted to get a good parking spot where I wouldn’t have to worry about walking seven blocks to find that my car had been stolen/broken into.
As luck would have it, Frank sincerely knocked my socks off. He played with the energy that begged the assumption that it was last stop on the tour. During his rendition of I Still Believe, he coached the crowd to echo him and the song more or less blew my mind.
Blew. My. Mind…. to the point where if, in that instant, you had asked me who Mike Ness was, I probably would have stared at you blankly for a solid ten seconds. Let me enforce that I was thoroughly convinced in high school that Mike Ness and I were destined to be together (regardless of the fact that he’s my father’s age).
The instant his set was over, I ran to purchase any of his CD’s I could get my hands on, convinced that my purchase would ensure his return to the U.S…. "To single-handedly revitalize rock music!" I had indulged in a few drinks at this point.
Needless to say, hungover and driving to work the next morning, I listened to my new CD’s, and was far from disappointed at my semi-inebriated purchases.
Back to the present:
I couldn’t tell you the set list, as I was in no position to confer with my notepad that close to the stage, but I can tell you that at some point during Peggy Sang the Blues & I Am Disappeared, my voice gave out. And then, the unthinkable: Dave Hause makes a surprise appearance to sing along to Glory Halleluiah. Sensory aneurysm ensued, and when I came to, Mr. Turner was covering Queen. That was it, I couldn't take it any more. This man is clearly too talented for his own good, of course, as is only my opinion, and I am someone who possesses no musical gifts whatsoever.
Frank Turner has a voice that was clearly strengthened through years of singing in hardcore bands, and he utilizes it at every turn. The endurance he exhibits while playing every show like it’s his last resonates in my heart and forces me to fall head over heels for every sound snippet that makes its way to my grasp.
If you’re looking for an experience rather than a “show,” Frank Turner is your man… Just keep in mind, when he is finally recognized as the second coming of Rock/Punk, it may be hard to get tickets.
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