21 Mar SHERIDAN OPERA HOUSE: DONOVAN
Surf rock. What’s not to like about it, especially as the snow piles high. The days grow longer and warmer, and Telluriders’ thoughts inevitably turn to the beach. And the laid-back vibe of beach life has no better soundtrack than the music of Donovan Frankenreiter. Summer’s coming and so is Donovan Frankenreiter, Sunday, March 25th, at the Sheridan Opera House.
Frankenreiter’s sound is as mellow and “manana” as it gets. He honestly comes by the term surf rocker, because he is both – a world-class surfer and a musician with a beach bag full of immensely popular albums to his credit.
For Frankenreiter, a California native, the surfboard came at the age of 10 and the guitar followed six years later. The melding of his two passions embodies the endless summer life; his groovy songs feel effortless. Driven by his distinctive strumming style on the guitar and capped with lilting vocals reminiscent of those of folk rocker Jesse Colin Young, Frankenreiter has captured a global following.
Donovan’s music and lifestyle are similar to fellow surf-rocker and good chum Jack Johnson. Johnson’s initial success, in fact, helped pave the way for Frankenreiter. The two were even label mates for a spell on Johnson’s Brushfire Records.
Frankenreiter’s music is loose and intuitive, belying the focus it takes musically to produce such an easy-going groove. Surfers exude the same, easy confidence when riding the waves. It makes sense that the two art forms dovetail so beautifully. The mustachioed surfer-guitarist created the bedrock of his massive following in Australia, where he was well known for his prowess on the waves of Oz. A huge tour with Johnson cemented his renown, and he has since enjoyed the flight on his own merits.
His latest record, Glow, is a continuing testament to what keeps it real for Frankenreiter – music and surfing. It’s that honest authenticity that appeals to his fans. “If there’s anything I learned, it’s that you really gotta be yourself,” he says. “You can’t fool people in music if you want to stick around for a long time.”
Frankenreiter’s longtime band mate, friend and musical collaborator Matt Grundy will open this all-ages show at 8 p.m. General admission or reserved balcony tickets are available at the Sheridan Opera House, by calling 728-6363, ext. 2 or at the door.
Incite a little summer in your heart with this taste of Donovan Frankenreiter.
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