Frank Smith: “Before You Were Born”
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Before we begin, it’s important to note that Frank Smith isn’t a man, it’s a rock and roll group that resides here in Austin. But there is a head-honcho in the band, and no, his name isn’t Frank Smith. It’s Aaron Sinclair.
Over the last decade or so, Frank Smith has built a following with a brand of sparse, indie-inflected alt-country. It’s a sound that seems strange when you learn that the band formed in Boston, a bastion for the northeast yankee. Although Sinclair was born a Texan, he first found acclaim with the Boston groups Drexel and Lot Six. What would become Frank Smith began as a band called LaGuardia. But when Sinclair found that someone else had that moniker, he decided to name his group something no one could make him change. He struck upon the most mundane name he could think of, and Frank Smith the band was born.
In 2007 Sinclair left Boston with Frank Smith in tow, and headed for Austin. Since then, Frank Smith has seen some major lineup shifts, but managed to put out two great records, 2009′s Big Strike in Silver City and 2010′s Nineteen. Today Frank Smith releases its latest LP, Before You Were Born. Musically it’s a turn for the group. While there’s a bit of the old alt-country on there, it’s a record that embraces atmospheric, moody indie rock. It’s a sound that’s on full display on song of the day “Before You Were Born,” the record’s title track.
You can get your chance to check out the new tunes tonight at Frank Smith’s record release show at the Mohawk.
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