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The Fray

by Bridgette Gregory

The Fray

“Do you want the Fray?”  Julie asked.  “We don’t want to burn out on them yet.”  YO, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT I WANT, WHAT I REALLY REALLY WANT, SO TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU REALLY REALLY WANT…Baby, Ginger, and two Sporty Spices start singing to the Spice Girls. 

 It was Wednesday, October 18, 2006 and we were on our way to the Fray concert in Grand Rapids.  Because of construction, it took longer than expected to get to the DeltaPlex, but we managed to use the restroom quickly enough to see the whole opening act The Feeling.  The British group was promoting the release of their first U.S. album.  The album, which only cost $5 at the concert, had songs such as “Never Be Lonely” and “Sewn.” With those sexy accents, the girls were, of course, swooning.  But it wasn’t until an hour later when the lights went out that the whole crowd screamed. 

The blue and white lights flashed on to reveal The Fray, playing “She Is”.  Everyone is standing, tapping a foot or bobbing a head.  As the concert progressed, I found my comrades and I were the only ones still standing. 

“This is a concert, we are supposed to stand-up,” Britt proclaimed, as we longed to be in the standing-room-only area.  The Fray attempted to end the concert with “Over My Head (Cable Car)” but the crowd was riotous.  The band couldn’t leave without playing their other single. 

Pianist Isaac Slade reemerged from the dark with a guitar and played a solo for the audience.  Soon the rest of the band (Joe King, Dave Welsh, and Ben Wysocki) emerged, carrying a sculpture.  Isaac announced that it was the group’s first sculpture.  It was placed on the piano as the band began playing their other single “How to Save a Life”.  The mob of people sang, somewhat in unison, the lyrics of a common Grey’s Anatomy song.  The crowd continued to surf until the band was gone for sure. 

Our ears were ringing as the lights all came back on.  We filed out still singing “How to Save a Life.”  As we drove back to MSU, Spice Girls was not our choice music, but, of course, the Fray was.