Live Review: Donavon Frankenreiter, Phil Micale

On Wednesday night in a full Republic Bar, the crowd was treated to the soft, docile crooning of Phil Micale playing as support. While there’s no denying Micale is a great songwriter, the crowd reaction towards him was minimal, as they brayed for the main act.

Donavon Frankenreiter took the stage, a giant in a ten gallon hat, his guitar strap tucked over long dirty blonde hair. There was barely breathing room as punters crowded the stage for Frankenreiter’s opening number, a fleshy smile creeping out from under the artist’s signature walrus moustache as he greeted the crowd. The crowd itself exhibited a scattering of ages and style, indicating that there’s no single type of Donavon Frankenreiter fan.

Frankenreiter is an avid surfer, a passion that informs his style. The music of Frankfenreiter doesn’t conform to a surf rock genre but it’s impossible to deny the influence of the ocean on his songwriting. Slow-tempo blues and rock songs are punctuated with guitar solos featuring, almost exclusively, long, sustained guitar notes that crash over the waves of bobbing fans like a spray of salt water.

Frankenreiter’s music travels along in the same slow groove of contemporaries Jack Johnson and G Love, though he performs a hybrid style: Californian rock blended with blues-influenced guitar solos and island bass lines that are as enjoyable as they are forgettable. The band is incredibly entertaining to watch and Frankenreiter himself clearly loves his fan base, ensuring he gives autographs to every fan that approaches him after the show, smiling for selfies with sincere appreciation. It is wonderful to see a completely receptive crowd at such an established venue as Republic Bar, attributed in no small part to the band’s fantastic stage presence.