October 15, 2010

Fraid Not is proud to welcome our new bass player Andy Shissler. Andy brings a lot of experience to the band and we're sure you'll enjoy everything he adds to Fraid Not. We're working on Andy's bio page now so check it out when you get a chance. Our previous bass player Greg has left the bass player business to be a DJ/Karaoke Ringleader. We wish Greg Smith the best of luck and we'll miss him.

We recorded some song samples in Vin's basement last month. The old song samples were like 10 years old and also were't the current guys in the band. These new samples are the current band including Andy on bass. They are small snippets of songs we play and, again... they weren't done in a studio. We tried to pick a wide range of music to sample the diversty of our song list... we hope you enjoy them.

We are ready willing and anxious to get gigging again so please spread the word and if you have a place you'd like to see the band play... please email us and let us know.

February 2, 2010

Fraid Not would like to welcome back Dave Maxwell. There's not much more to say... come out and see us now... it's as good as it's going to get. Get ready to be entertained... our band is now officially complete!

January 29, 2010

After some time off we have decided to start playing again. We wanted to come back as a four piece, but after many.... many... mnay auditions and false alarms we decided to just play. We're hoping that along the road somewhere in the near future, we'll find that other guy that fits in with the band, but until then it's time to rock. We have a lot of new songs on the way, we'll be playing a lot of different venues, and we're really looking forward to hitting the stage again after about a year of auditions and rest. We hope to see you again soon.

February 14, 2009

In late 2008 we decided to put the band on hold. Vince was exploring a new career path that would have him leaving the state often and it wasn't going to work without Vince. In the mean time Dave decided that he was going to take a job with a different band The Repeat Offenders and Jim started playing with Greg Smith in a country project. We had had our share of troubles in 2008 including going through three bass players Kenny, Charlie, and Frankie DeCarolis. When Frank joined he added a different flavor to the band and everything was clicking prior to the postponment. This was probably why Dave decided to take another gig... and we don't blame him. It's tough keeping a band together and even harder the older you get. We wish Dave and Frank the best and will always remember the fun we had together.

Present day...

As Jim and Greg are squaking out deep countrified bends on their Telecasters, Vince decides to go back to his old job and wants to rock out agin. Well, we needed a bass player. We contacted Dave but he was happy where he was and Dave doesn't break commitments casually. Greg, who spent last year with the country band Saddle Up on guitar, suggested that he play bass for Fraid Not. He had played bass with Judging Grover, and guitar with Jim and Kenny in The Killer Squirrels so Jim knew they would work well together and the band was restarted. Now we're cooking. Greg buys a whole new set of bass gear, Jim and Vinny brush up on some of the old material and bingo... it's the next incarnation of Fraid Not.

We are adding a whole bunch of songs to the list. Some popular 80' and 90's stuff, some classics, and a few sing-a-longs that will be sure to bring out the songbird in you drunkards and even the very miniscule amount of sober ones that come to see us and party. As always we are open to suggestions both musically and for venues to play so get in touch with us with your ideas, send some friends to the site, and get ready to party Fraid Not style!

Feel free to email us at news@fraidnot.com

November 18, 2007

We made our way out to North Versailles and played Longview. We had a great time. There weren't a ton of people but the ones that were there were great and very supportive. Hopefully we'll play there again.

The band has upgraded it's sound since the last gig at Roney's and the PA is finally where we want it. We had some issues and addressed them with new speakers, sound board, and brought in Rob Shine to run sound for the Longview gig and the next Rodney's gig. Rob is a great musician as well as a sound man and well have him sit in on a few songs this week. For those of you that have been following Jim, Rob was the bass player in The Zulu Dawn and we are lucky to have him involved in our project in any capacity. Wait until you hear us this week, everything is now much clearer and intelligable. Feel free to introduce yourself to him he is a great person, very approachable, and can influence the band with your requests. He did an awesome job at Longview and we are very appreciative of all of his efforts. Also thanks to Renee his girlfriend for her support and help during the evening.

We are looking forward to seeing you this Friday. From what we have been told from friends, family, and aquaintances there will be a lot of people that are coming out to drink, dance and turn this show into a party evening. My good friend Dave Spalla's birthday is this Friday and we want to help him celebrate Fraid Not style. We hope you will join us.

October 8, 2007

We had our first gig and it was great. I mean everyone was having fun and it was a great scene. Dave busted his Rock-N-Roll cherry, and did some table dancing. Yes he remained clothed... thank God. We want to apologize to all for a little bit of a late start and for Jim losing his voice from the flu 5 songs into the night, but everything was as we had hoped. We met some new friends, partied with some old ones, and started something that we hope to carry on for as long as you'll come and see us.

Yinz guys ROCK!

Thanks,

The Band

September 23, 2007

We're back!

It's been a long time since I rock-n-rolled with Fraid Not. And now the band has added guitar extraordinaire Dave Maxwell; formerly with Midnite Run. With Dave, the band is able to cover a wider variety of your favorite rock. The result is a fuller sounding more dynamic band with the added showmanship of a seasoned professional. If you liked the old band, you're going to love them now!

We will be updating the web site in the next few weeks, and as always, your suggestions are welcome. Just email us news@fraidnot.com .

Here's an interesting factoid for you.

Dave Maxwell used to play in Midnite Run with Dave Roney as his singer/guitar player. When Dave Roney left the band, he joined up with Kenny to form Loaded Dice which Jim later joined. So I guess without Dave Roney we wouldn't be together today. Thanks Dave, and we hope all is well with you. We hope to have you sit in on a few some night, that would be a real trip.

We hope to see you all at Rodney's in Irwin on October 6, 2007 for our debut with Dave in the band. See you there.

History Lesson:

Fraid Not is a rock band. We perform songs from other bands over the last 30 or so years, and will share our own music in the near future. We cover all the different genres of rock and roll such as classic, blues,southern, 80's, 90's and just about anything else you can call it. Our goal is to provide everyone with an atmosphere that is conducive to having fun, dancing, and partying responsibly. We play old classics and new favorites, and will play play what you ask us to given time and the capability. You won't hear Neil Sedaka, and conversely you wont hear us covering Slayer either. We like to offer danceable music for the ladies but realize that everyone liked it a little heavy once in a while.

Fraid Not's lineup was formed when Jim answered an ad Vince had placed in 2005. Jim's band Jimi Ross and Probable Cause had been idle for a while so Kenny and Jim hooked up with Vince for what is now the band. Although the first few rehearsals showed promise, Vince had other obligations racing cars. Jim and Ken reformed with Hugh Carnathan (their old drummer) and called the project The Killer Squirrels. This year, after booking setbacks left The Killer Squirrels idle, Vince decided to set aside his other obligations and focus on music again and join the band. Ken and Jim have been playing together since 1999 and have played in country and variety bands over the last 7 years. Offering an extended variety of music was interesting to some but at the same time not pleasing to others. Imagine the Garth Brooks fan sitting through Black Sabbaths War Pigs to catch the next country tune. Everyone got to hear something they liked but ultimately everyone had to listen to something that they may not have. Inevitably they had to choose a direction, this is the direction they chose.