Race the Fray
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Alternative rock and pop punk music |
Race the Fray—initially known as The Fray—was an independent Australian quartet specializing in alternative rock and pop punk, originating in Melbourne in 2003. The ensemble comprised Alister "Mac" Murrell on drums, Callum "Cal" Reeves handling bass duties, Nicholas "Astro" Russo providing vocals and guitar, alongside Andrew "Swifty" Swift on guitar. Their first extended play, titled The Fray, debuted in November 2004. Subsequently, they issued This Art Will Play in September 2005 under the Race the Fray moniker. In 2007, Karl Russo took over guitar responsibilities from Swift before the group dissolved in 2008.
History
The band was established on 25 June 2003 under the name The Fray, featuring Murrell, Reeves, Russo, and Swift as members. Murrell, Russo, and Swift were classmates at a school located in Beaconsfield, Victoria; Russo later connected with Reeves. Before adopting The Fray as their official name by June 2003, they initially performed under the title Table 9. Their reputation grew within the local scene primarily through word-of-mouth promotion, culminating in the release of their inaugural single "My Best Friend" in August 2003.
Their eponymous debut EP arrived in November 2004 and included the track "Always Away," which received airplay across national radio stations such as Triple J. Recognition followed with accolades including Nova 100's Made in Melbourne band and FReeZA's band of the month.
In September 2005, they launched their second EP, This Art Will Play, produced by Hugh Counsell for their independent label, Fray, with distribution managed by Zudio Music. This release achieved a peak position of #3 on the Association of Independent Record Labels charts. To promote the EP, they embarked on a nationwide tour in August 2005 and made an appearance on the national television program Rove Live in September 2006. Later that year, November saw them issue a double A-side single featuring "Our Future's on the Weekend" and "Fumbling Mess," following a second national tour.
Towards the end of 2006, Swift departed to pursue a solo path and was succeeded by Karl Russo early in 2007. During early 2007, the band performed multiple shows throughout Melbourne and commenced work on studio recordings intended for an album release within that year; however, no new recordings surfaced by April 2008. By March 2009, inactivity on their official website signaled the group's de facto disbandment.
Band members
- Alister "Mac" Murrell – drums (2003–08)
- Callum "Cal" Reeves – bass guitar (2003–08)
- Nicholas "Astro" Russo – vocals, guitar (2003–08)
- Andrew "Swifty" Swift – guitar (2003–06)
- Karl Russo – guitar (2007–08)
External links
- Official Website archived as of 8 February 2009
- Race the Fray artist profile from August 2006 at Triple J's Unearthed