Dallas Frasca – Feel the Heat, Hear the Heart, Touch the Flame

by John Snelson

Dallas Frasca is a headstrong inferno – an incendiary headed in fury and flames fuelled by love, fermented in betrayal and a formidable determination to survive and be free again.

Last night in the firebrick-lined furnace at The Sandringham Hotel, there was no exception. She charges onto the stage filling the room with her presence and personality, the fire in her songs is like the flames in her hair and the stomping of the music is like the thumping of one big heart.

The stage performance is electrifying, and leaves no doubt as to her sincerity. The voice soars and screams to get out of the soul cellar where the coals are smouldering, the driving music matches the gut wrenching delivery. She is well fueled by her own talent and charisma and by her two musos Jeff Curran on guitar and Pete McDonald on drums – and they are both vital parts of the visual colour and textures on stage. This is a show – yet it comes from the heart.

In the brick box up in the Sando roof, the two guitars and drums scorch off the walls, the overall blast complemented by the smoke and coloured lights as illustrated in all of the photos of the Dallas Frasca at The Sando here.

Dallas Frasca has been on the road since she was about 18, full of front and carefree attitude that we note is still in ignition. That appeals to us here at Get Shot Magazine – although we were also touched by the depth of the sentiments expressed in some songs – unavoidable when the heart is worn on the sleeve so loudly, eloquently and poetically.

Her voice is as strong and as raucous as Bonnie Tyler‘s, so that is some voice. She has received many awards and performed at many big festivals including Big Day Out, Falls, Bluesfest, Pyramid Rock, Festival of the Sun, Queenscliff, Southbound, Blues Passion Cognac in France and International Earth Day in Montreal. Set up on Spank Betty Records, she seems to run her own race.

Respect we have for any artist determined to be free from the dumpster loads of agents, representatives and faceless fuctotems and middle men who want to eat your lunch.

The current release “Sound Painter” oozes independence – yet reveals a fragile heart. This is blues on hormones, as each song is charged with every emotion experienced in the world of love and loyalty, loss and emerging freedom, determination and better opportunities to find a real loving love. The once victim becomes the confident pioneer, explorer and person.

Some songs are pretty angry and loaded with accusations of deceit and reprisal (“Freedom” .. deceit should be a punishable crime) … betrayal, bitterness (“I am So Much Better Without You“) hurt, a refusal to lie down (“Anything Left To Wonder” .. “you will have to punch me harder to knock me down”) all matched with an equal refusal to forgive.

Emerging from the hurt, there is a confirmation of self confidence and determination, love stories and enlightenment, realisation of the truth and a beautiful passion for life.

Great stuff born out of sadness and we thought we heard a satirical riff reference to being in a bubble (“All My Love Has Gone“), loyalty and commitment (“One Man Woman“), anger and finally courage and fight (“Ain’t No Fury Like A Woman’s Scorn“) … all painted in song and music … Dallas Frasca “Sound Painter”.

The Dallas Frasca Band is currently on tour … get out, feel the heat, touch the flame that is “Dallas Frasca” … one of the best and most entertaining of our foot stomping blues singers. We loved her.

: Dallas Frasca @ The Sando

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 6th, 2012 at 11:59 pm. It is filed under Magazine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.