12 Comments
Nov 9Liked by S.W. Lauden

Great piece. I guess we can thank Frank Turner for the existence of this Substack and the journal and the Go All the Way/Go Further books and so on.

I'm still new to Frank Turner with Undefeated this year and haven't gone further. I appreciate the songs you shared, but what album would you recommend I go to next?

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Thanks! In a way, I suppose that's all true.

I like all of his albums, but I'd suggest "Love, Ire & Song," "Be More Kind," and "The First Three Years."

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Nov 9Liked by S.W. Lauden

Appreciated.

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I also discovered Frank on that Revival Tour (though in CT, not LA). His music has been a consistent lodestar for me ever since.

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So great!

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Nov 10Liked by S.W. Lauden

Saw Frank opening for either Social Distortion or the Dropkick Murphys (can’t remember which) in Hartford in 2010. Three songs in, I raced at the merch table, buying everything available. Passed my enthusiasms to ny singer-songwriter nephew, who also became a fanatic. Frank actually invited him to participate in one of his curated festivals.

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That's awesome. I love how accessible and down-to-earth he seems to be. Those punk rock roots always showing.

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Great piece! A good ballast to "I hope I die before I get old" might be "Do not go gentle into that good night."

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Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

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Nov 11Liked by S.W. Lauden

Frank Turner is many (wonderful, important) things. Most importantly, he represents what can be emotively pure about rock 'n roll which inspires other to be more human. A message that transmits an authentic, rebel spirit which is/has been totally free inside the creation of his music and which gives inspirational fuel to the DIY spirit of the best of the punk ethos.

I saw him a little club of 60 people in Ft. Collins, Colorado over 10(it's getting cloudy) years ago and, man oh man, was he a man happy in his element(despite being quite a big thing back home in the U.K.). Met him briefly afterwards and he was vulnerable, passionate and excited to hear what we thought of the show.

Why Frank Turner is not better known is yet another example "WTF, go figure, I don't have a clue about anything in the music business anymore....". (not that I ever did BUT....)

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I'm definitely not surprised that you're a fan too.

And I have definitely also wondered why he hasn't broken through in the U.S. The albums are all fantastic, and his live shows (acoustic or full band) are great. 🤷🏼

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Nov 11Liked by S.W. Lauden

I've seen both live experiences - live and acoustic and...remain non-plussed that he so unknown in good music loving circles. He has many creative years ahead and I'm convinced he'll have 'his moment' - and I hope it brings him much filthy lucre.

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