Musician Andy Frasco eschews clichés. There is typical narrative: “I was bored with my friends,” “I already played guitar,” “I was inspired by Zeppelin,” to the question of how he started his band. Instead, after managing other bands in high school and working at Atlantic Records, he simply quit college, withdrew his Bar Mitzvah money, hired a band on Craigslist, booked himself 250 shows and said, “I’m going to learn to play instruments.” This positive (and brazen) outlook is something that Andy has retained over his ten years of performing— constantly adding new people to his band, primarily from meeting local bands that he’s hired for his shows, and still booking himself for 250 shows a year. He’s been touring since he was 18. And, all along the way, his goal remains the same: make people happy with his music and provide a party. Andy will be returning to play at Whiskey Jacques July 4-5, to a venue he’s played many times over the years. Get a taste of his “feel good music” along with band mates Ernie Chang, Shawn Eckels, and a variety of the “U.N.,” his ever-rotating cast of featured musicians.
SVPN: Since starting your band in 2007, how do you think your sound has changed?
Andy Frasco: In the beginning it was all improv, like throwing a party. I’m a front man, my goal is to get everyone living in the moment. If I could start with my band and everyone playing together, we’ll do some damage and get the crowd going.
SVPN: The U.N. part of your name refers to your ever-rotating guest band members. Why constantly include new people in the band? How does this change your sound or your set?
AF: I have band members from all around the world; a Dutch trumpet player, a German horn player, my boys from L.A. I’ve had about 25 different band members coming in and out. My current band has stuck with me for about four years. I didn’t have a fan base or a band so I just toured by myself with a sax player and would hire local bands to back me up. They would bring in their friends and the people I like I would take on the road.
SvPN: What bands influence you, past or currently?
AF: We’ve been doing all these hippie festivals with String Cheese Incident—they’re great. I love Van Morrison, I got to open for Joe Walsh—it’s been an amazing ride. Those guys have really influenced me to try to make the best music I can with my band. Houndmouth is a new band, they’re really awesome, as are Lettuce and Galactic. You realize how small the industry is when you’re doing festivals with all the same bands, you start to build a family on the road. When you’re always away, you need family.
SVPN: Your sound is described as “party blues”? Do you think that’s an accurate description?
AF: I would say “feel good music” is a better description. It’s happy, we’re trying to make a different interpretation to blues music for a younger generation. It doesn’t always have to be sad and depressing blues. We can celebrate life too through blues, which is what I’m trying to do.
SVPN: What has been a career-defining moment for you?
AF: For New Year’s Eve, we got asked to play in China. KC and the Sunshine Band opened for us. Everyone at the show was yelling, “Frasco! Frasco!” I’ve been touring for 10 years straight, 250 shows a year, but in that moment, I just said, ‘wow, I’m almost there. I’m seeing my hard work come true.’ I’m having conversations with Joe Walsh and String Cheese Incident and people are accepting me into the hippie elite. It’s a very cool and humbling feeling. I want to do the best I can and give my fans the best I can give.
SVPN: What was the idea behind your most recent album, Half a Man?
AF: It’s about growing up and how difficult it is to get older and still fulfill your dreams and keep the party alive. I want this album to make people comfortable with taking a different path. If that’s what your heart’s telling you, do your own thing.
SVPN: You’ve produced 4 full-length albums and toured numerous times as well as attended many festivals over the years. How do you balance time between performing and writing new material?
AF: It’s f**king insane. You gotta write songs on your days off in the van. We just put out a new album and we had to write songs on the road; we’d wake up, got to the venue, have practice before we pack up and go to the next town. You have to live to write. We’re living it on the road so we might as well write about it. The best songs are the ones that are most honest. If you’re in that moment and you write about it, that’s when it’s most honest.
SVPN: What are your top 3 necessities for the road?
AF: 1. Water. If the band is hungover at 4am and you’re gonna drive 8 hours, you’ve gotta drink water. Hungover, dehydrated people are a**holes. 2. A good attitude. You have to be up for anything. You’re out of your comfort zone on the road so whatever life throws you way, don’t give up. Keep driving! 3. I actually compiled a list of things I learned about being on the road and what’s important…[see below].
SVPN: What’s a funny or interesting story from the road?
AF: We had this really amazing moment where our van had broken down. It’s a Mercedes Sprinter but we’re ballin’ on a budget so we can’t afford to tune up at the Mercedes shop. We were in dire need in Kansas City and we were thinking we would have to cancel the tour when this woman out of nowhere pays our whole $2,500 bill. She didn’t know us, but it was such a sign of karma saying, ‘you guys are doing a good job and I want you to keep going.’ My goal now is to pay it back with my music and whatever it is I can do to help people. I write a self-help happiness blog to get people to follow their dreams, which is another way I give back. Give as much as you take.
SVPN: Anything else to add?
AF: I love Idaho and can’t wait to see everyone in July!
BOXOUT: The Afro Manifesto: 21 Things I Learned About Life From Living in a Van
By Andy Frasco
- Take risks. If we only live once, then why not?
- Fall hard. So we can learn how to pick ourselves up every time we do.
- Don’t shoot for the stars. Small victories keep the dream alive.
- Roll with the punches. Some days there will be traffic jams.
- Take everything in moderation. Don’t die trying to be the last person “standing” at the party every time.
- Be broke but enjoy it. Happiness is worth the flat tire. Because once you have it, everyone will probably want to take it from you.
- Home is where you make it. Remember there’s always someone looking for company to have dinner with.
- Fast food. Don’t do it unless it’s a 4am emergency.
- Get off your phone and see the view. It’s beautiful outside.
- Drink water. That sh*t keeps you alive.
- Take detours. Don’t let the paths of others scare you to take the road less traveled.
- Open your eyes. You never know what life-changing experience you might have at a gas station.
- If you want something, go out and get it. How do we know what we want if we don’t know what we don’t want?
- Don’t sleep on dirty pillows. You’ll get pink eye.
- Disappointment will make you stronger. Giving up will always be the last nail.
- It’s ok to miss one or two after-parties.
- Hug a stranger. 9 times out of 10 they’ll probably be in need of one (even Alpha-males).
- Stay clean. Nobody likes the smell of 4-day-old underwear.
- Wipe away your tears. Feel what life wants you to feel, but know there will be another day to get it right.
- Love something. What’s the point of collecting all these awesome stories if you don’t have anyone to tell them to?
- Because even through all of the up and downs and windy roads, life is still better than the alternate. So let’s appreciate what’s left of it
#TheAfroManifesto
Andy Frasco and the U.N. will play at Whiskey Jacques July 4-5. For tickets visit www.whiskeyjacques.com. For more information on Andy Frasco visit www.andyfrasco.com.
