The Frantic @ The Metro

The Frantic is a young band, but they have a live show that rivals seasoned performers’ energy and stage presence.

I have seen Chicago’s The Frantic perform several times before, and thus, I knew to expect a non-stop rock show as I headed to the Metro last night. This show, titled Shoe House Rock, benefited the organization Share Your Soles, a Chicago-based charity that provides gently worn shoes to children in the most impoverished areas of the world. The Effects, Danger Is My Middle Name, American Taxi, and The Punchline were also on the bill.

The Frantic has been together since before they were in high school, and it shows. Not only do they have complete command of the stage, but they have a camroderie that unifies them as band. Not all local bands have this quality, and I think it is worth a mention, and it is one of the many things that sets them apart from others in the area.

After a non-stop forty-five minute set which flew by, The Frantic closed with their almost signature song, “Audio and Murder.” However, the crowd was not finished with them, so they chanted the universal “One More Song!” The Frantic was happy to oblige and came out for an encore, leaving their fans happy and satisfied. Another successful show was wrapped up.

Basically, if you like punk rock (think a mix of Rancid and early Green Day) and a band that does a great job of connecting to the audience, you need to head on over to The Frantic’s Myspace to check them out. Seriously.

Shooting Notes

Frantic’s set was the best lit set of the night – bright front light, lots of smoke, and lots of strong color. However, the smoke and the intense colors introduced a different difficulty from the typical too dark scenerio. Regardless, I’d rather deal with too much light and color than not enough.

If you are fortunate enough to see the Frantic, use a wide-angle – they’re not afraid to get right up to the edge of the stage and/or in a camera lens. Therefore, while I was in the pit, I shot with my typical set up of a 5D with a 16-35mm f/2.8 (this got the most use), and my 1D Mark II with my 24-70mm. Shutter speeds varied, but I stayed at 1600ISO and f/2.8 most of the time.

I was lucky enough to have an all access pass for this show, so I headed out of the crowded pit after four or five songs, and shot from the side of the stage and from the balcony for the rest of the show. While I still favor the angles that can be achieved from the pit (especially when shooting wide), it was nice to get some vantage points and shots that I normally don’t get. My 70-200 f/2.8 IS was perfect for the balcony.