Andy Frasco And The U.N. – Charismatic Californian releases New Album

You can’t miss Andy Frasco.  The electric-shock hair.  The megawatt charisma.  The golden lungs, magic fingers and party-starting songs.  When this twenty-something Californian bandleader takes to the stage with his band The U.N., you’ll get an adrenalin-shot of pure escapism.  “We want people to be happy,” explains Andy of his musical mission statement.  “To smile at their faults, love life for what it is, and follow the beat of your own drum.”

The U.N. (United Nations – because of the many nationalities in the band) are Andy Frasco – Vocals, Piano, Organ & Rhodes, Ernie Chang – Saxophone, Shawn Eckels – Guitar & Vocals, Andee Avila – Drums & Vocals and Supaman – Bass

The band was formed in 2007, yet the frontman’s own backstory goes back further still, to his roots as a precocious 16-year-old manager/promoter on the West Coast. “I was sneaking into rock clubs trying to sign the hip new LA bands,” he remembers, and making business calls at lunchtime in the Math teacher’s classroom, just so they would believe he was older than 16.  “I was living two lives,” he adds. “But it brought me the foundation to eventually book myself for the first five years of my career. I knew I needed to earn their respect, so I told myself I’m not going to stop until I see my dreams come true. I’ve been on the road for ten years straight, playing over 250 shows a year, through six countries, basically living in a van.”

Nearly a decade later, across the US and Europe, on major stages from Wakarusa to Zwarte Cross Festival, Andy has earned a reputation for full-throttle, sweat-drenched, smash-and-grab live shows. “We’re just trying to throw a party,” he explains. “Get people to turn off their phones, leave their stress and complications at the door, live in the moment and just celebrate life for a few hours.  If by the end of the night I see 90 per cent of the room laughing and smiling, then I know I did my job.”

The new addition to the family “Happy B*******” will be released on Ruf Records in the UK on 24^th March, almost a month after itsworldwide digital release on Ruf Records on 26^th February.

The aptly titled fourth full-length album, shakes your feet and skewers your woes. Recorded at Lavish Studios and Brando’s Paradise, California, these twelve new songs are an industrial-strength blast of glass-half-full optimism, with the band’s self-styled brand ofparty blues jostling with funk, soul, rock and roots.

“I’m trying to bring a different interpretation of what people think the blues is,” says Andy. “Not all blues need to be sad and lonesome.  I love acts like Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, Buddy Guy, The Band, Samantha Fish, Houndmouth – all these acts that really made the blues their own style.”

If you believe that actions speak louder than words, then look no further and have a look and listen to the Video of “Tie You Up” athttps://youtu.be/lA7kMiLVeMg