“We Can’t Stop” buying into the commercialism of pop culture, and it seems as though local bands — and indie bands for that matter — will continue to struggle to get noticed in the growing music industry. Charlottesville’s very own The Anatomy of Frank is one of those bands attempting to make its mark on the music industry and overcome the obstacles of tough-love advertising. Instead of relying on traditional advertising techniques, the band took a new approach in its much-anticipated return to their hometown.
The Anatomy of Frank enlisted several eager fans to place samples of their latest CD, “Pangaea,” around Grounds this past week for curious University students to discover and take a listen. The CDs were simply wrapped in white computer paper with the band’s name and details of its upcoming concert typed in skinny sans serif font. I was lucky enough to come across one such CD just days after beginning my first year, but, to be honest, I had low expectations for The Anatomy of Frank, primarily because of their unusual name.
The band’s uniqueness carries from its name to its members, music and even aspirations. The band consists of five Charlottesville locals: lead singer Kyle Woolard, guitarist Erik Larsen, keyboardist Jimmy Bullis, bassist Jonas Creason and drummer Chris Garay. Although each member has personal ties to the area, each one boasts a connection to another region of the world. These cultural experiences have shaped the band’s diverse musical style — a mix of post-rock, punk and indie sounds — and crafted the band’s ambitious dream of recording an album on every continent. Though the task seems daunting to any musician, The Anatomy of Frank embraces the challenges of being the first band in history to achieve the feat. Their current album “Pangaea,” released in July, serves as a prelude of their future endeavors around the globe.
A week after coming across the greatness that is The Anatomy of Frank, I made my way downtown for their show at the Southern Café and Music Hall. After a 15-minute bus ride and another 15 minutes spent attempting to find the venue, I arrived just in time to see the opening act, Air Review, another talented indie band with Texan roots, and a quirky Ecuadorian magician named Lorenzo.
But the real magic happened when The Anatomy of Frank finally came on stage and enraptured the intimate, yet enthusiastic audience with worldly sounds. Their catchy hit, “Saturday Morning,” featuring a harmonic banjo strumming throughout, drew the crowd in and got them swaying to the beat. The good vibes continued as The Anatomy of Frank progressed through their set and the various melodies of their most popular songs. “Bill Murray,” not to be confused with the actor and comedian by the same name, was a crowd pleaser, as was “Hey SATAN (I know where you live)” and “Blurry (Part 1), Like Headlights through Eyelashes.”
Though The Anatomy of Frank does not have the flamboyance of Miley Cyrus dancing around in her underwear, their tasteful music and feel-good melodies are admirable and something to watch out for in the near future. Conveniently enough, The Anatomy of Frank plans to return to Charlottesville on Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. for a concert on grounds. The event is certainly one to attend.
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