The Frightnrs - More to Say Versions (2017)

Tracklist
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01. All My Tears Version
02. Dispute Version
03. More to Say Version
04. Gotta Find a Way Version
05. Purple Version
06. Trouble Version
07. Till Then Version
08. Lookin Version
09. What Have I Done Version
10. Do Unto Others Version
11. Gonna Make Time Version


A band based in Queens, New York that performs a faithful but distinctive interpretation of classic Jamaican rocksteady and early reggae, the Frightnrs struggled to make a name for themselves on the New York music scene, but found themselves staring down tragedy once their big break finally came. The Frightnrs' story began in 2010, when Dan Klein, a former punk rocker who had developed a passion for Jamaican sounds, met musician Chuck Patel at a party. The two compared notes, and found they had shared a love of vintage rocksteady, and Patel was impressed with Klein's vocal style, which could easily slide from a tenor into a high but emphatic falsetto. With Klein on lead vocals and guitar and Patel on keys, the two teamed with Chuck's brother Preet Patel on bass, and Rich Terrana on drums, and the Frightnrs were born.

The group began playing club gigs in New York, and in 2012 they released a five-song EP, produced by Jayson Nugent of New York ska revivalists the Slackers. The group soon earned a powerful ally in Victor "Ticklah" Axelrod, a musician and producer who worked with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Axelrod produced an EP for the Frightnrs, Inna Lovers Quarrel, that was picked up for release by Mad Decent, the label founded by superstar DJ and producer Diplo. Gabriel Roth, founder of soul revivalist label Daptone Records, had worked with Axelrod and was impressed with his work with the Frightnrs. Daptone stepped up to release the Frightnrs' next record, a single with the group covering Etta James' soul classic "I'd Rather Go Blind," and then struck a deal with the group for its first full-length album.

However, once sessions for the album began, Klein seemed to be off his game in the eyes of his bandmates, and he began to lose weight and had trouble walking. Klein was soon diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease sometimes known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease." Despite Klein's diagnosis, he and the Frightnrs were able to complete the album, and Daptone scheduled Nothing More to Say for release on September 2, 2016. Sadly, Klein died on June 6, 2016, shortly after attending a concert by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. As the album was poised for release, the surviving members of the Frightnrs pledged to continue, without confirming who would sing for the band in the future.

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