A Shirt on Sunday: Frost, Portland Arms, Cambridge, 31/7/2016

The #ShirtOnSunday theme was started by @hockney who has a vast collection of t-shirts that bring back memories for him. I have far fewer, but I keep finding some to feature.

This week I am writing about one of the best bands you have never heard of. Frost (sometimes written Frost*) are a sort of supergroup featuring some top British musicians. The lineup has varied a bit, but I have seen it with founder Jem Godfrey who has written for some top pop acts as well as playing keyboards for people like Joe Satriani, guitarist John Mitchell (It Bites, IQ), bassist Nathan King (plays guitar with his brother Mark in Level 42) and session drummer Craig Blundell (seen him with Steven Wilson).

Shirt

I got this shirt when I bought their album Falling Satellites on clear vinyl. It also came with a CD and signed postcard. My copy of he album has a slight pressing flaw, but I am not likely to play it often.

Album

I discovered Frost on the Dividing Line prog podcasts that seem to have shut down now. Their epic Milliontown blew me away. You might not be able to tell from their music, but these guys like to mess around on stage and in various videos they post.

I first saw them live at the Scala in London where they played a double-header with It Bites. Two of them played in both bands. The gig was called Frost Bites.

They have a loyal fan-base, but I have not been active in their forums lately. When this album came out I saw they were playing in Cambridge at a small venue.

Ticket

I drove there with my wife. We found the pub, but struggled for a while to find parking. There is a very cosy music venue built on the back of the pub that was packed with mostly male, middle aged fans. That seems to be the main demographic for a lot of prog. I would say Frost have elements of pop, but still feature long songs with dramatic solos. Jem and John were the support act too doing some comedy whilst playing a few songs. The others joined them for the main set where they played most of the new album and lots of old favourites. I do not have many photos of the gig and this one is not great. I tend to just enjoy the live experience.

Gig

It looks like Craig left the band last year, but a new EP is on the way.

Here is a studio version of Milliontown. Enjoy.

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