Remember Allison Francis? She stopped by the studio during an episode of the Fleshy Fresh a few weeks ago for a live performance and interview. BU Today made a video for her. Check it out below:
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March 4, 2013
13 years ago
Showing posts with label Allison Francis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allison Francis. Show all posts
Allison Francis Video
Upcoming Concerts
The Fleshy Fresh Recommendation: The Academy Is... on Thursday, Allison Francis on Monday, Bob Dylan next Friday.
Thursday 11/05
AP Tour
Academy Is...
w. Set Your Goals, The Secret Handshake, Mayday Parade
@ House of Blues
Mae
w. Jenny Owen Youngs
@ Middle East Downstairs
Monday 11/09
Ada Jane
w. Allison Francis
@ All Asia Cafe
Miley Cyrus
@ TD Banknorth
Rob Thomas
@ Citi Performing Arts Center
Train
w. Uncle Kracker
@ House of Blues
Wednesday 11/11
American Hi-Fi
@ Middle East Upstairs
Thursday 11/12
The Low Anthem
w. Blind Pilot
@ Paradise Rock Club
Mute Math
w. As Tall As Lions
@ House of Blues
Friday 11/13
Bob Dylan
@ Citi Performing Arts Center
Static of the Gods
@ Middle East Upstairs
Allison Francis
She stands idle and alone at the center of a black stage with an acoustic Fender six-string around her neck. The flashiest apparel she wears is her pair of red and white Nike kicks that walk life into the rest of her otherwise plain outfit: a white T-shirt and jeans. Her physical appearance is unassuming and pure. The look on her face is half mystified and half terrified as she looks out at a sea of people crowding the basement of BU Central. And then she sings, and the depth within Allison Francis is released.
Her voice is rough—like a smoker who has lit enough cigarettes to make her voice warm and scratchy, but not enough to warrant a laryngectomy. She remains humble when the first song ends, saying thank you between sips of her water bottle before quickly launching into the next folk tune.
It is this simple and grateful attitude that sets her apart from an indie-alternative Boston music scene that spins around music snobbery and elitism. What Francis has that the rest are lacking? Authenticity.
Many artists these days spend their time trying to convince other people how ironic their lives are because of how misunderstood they are, says Conor Loughman, the founder of Base Trip Records who signed Francis in the summer of 2008. “There’s a hipster folk scene but I don’t think many of them actually like folk. They’re just trying to be cool,” he said.
The 21-year-old folk singer-songwriter will not admit to being better than the other musicians of her genre, because that would not be her style, and that would not fit her description here. “I think it’s so funny that people take themselves so seriously,” Francis said, and that is about all she has to say on the matter.
Loughman met Allison Francis in a dining hall while she was telling people about her music. While some artists would waste money and time coming up with fancy promotional artwork and designs, she was handing out pieces of paper torn from her notebook with her MySpace address written on them, Loughman said.
In some ways, though, Francis fits the mold perfectly. She presents an alternative image, but only as though it was an accident. She fantasizes about fronting a flashy indie band but worries that it would come across disingenuous. And after spending the entire summer collaborating with other songwriters and playing in parks in and around Boston, she said that she has found new confidence in more natural song writing. “It’s the only way I can really get high these days,” she said.
Despite a more sophisticated musical style and significant street cred among other musicians, Francis is not ashamed to say that she started playing guitar seven years ago because of an obsession with Avril Lavigne—someone to whom most people would not admit listening.
The paradox is thus: she is as much a part of the hipster, indie-folk-rock scene as horn-rimmed glasses and plaid t-shirts, but she sets herself apart from it with her down to earth perspective. The odd thing, Loughman said, is that she is secretly confident. “It’s this weird contrast where she doesn’t think she is better than anyone, but she still knows she is awesome,” he said.
Stephanie Barrak, another singer signed to Base Trip Records describes it as subdued determination. Francis is able to express and share her talent to other people without being overpowering. “Some people whore their music out, but she doesn’t do that,” Barrak said.
The simple fact is that Francis fits into the indie-music scene because that is where she has made friends and set up her life. She enjoys the niche of artists that has cropped up around Boston University, but wishes that there was more of an overlap between genres. “Most people here appreciate good home grown music,” she said, and that is enough to satisfy her.
It is clear, though, that Francis’ relationship with music is more than one of appreciation. “I think music can connect with people in their soul almost. It connects with emotions that they’re not necessarily even conscious of or in touch with,” she said.
Jennifer Brown, the music director at WTBU, Boston University’s student-run radio station, said that Francis offers more than the average indie musician and has the opportunity to fill a void in the music industry that is lacking a female folk musician like her. “She captures something real about the way human beings are,” she said. “She’s not afraid to show who she is in her lyrics and to put it all out there.”
Francis does not have much to say about all of this except that she has nothing to hide. “I do not usually try and disguise what I am saying in my songs.” She insists that music will always be a part of her life and if she is able to make a career out of it then that is just an added bonus. “I just want to make music that connects on a really personal level with people.”
Back at BU Central, the cluster of people who have gathered to see Francis play sit on the floor in total silence, taking in every word out of her mouth and every chord from her guitar. The room is comfortable, like a gathering of friends enjoying some honest music. “I liked that one,” someone comments between songs. Clearly, connecting with people is something that she can check off of her bucket list.
Allison Francis Live
Tomorrow on the Fleshy Fresh Allison Francis will be in the studio for a live performance and a chat. She has come to visit us before, and as always, it should be an exciting adventure. So you know what's in store, check out her myspace: myspace.com/allisonfrancis.
Tomorrow's show: 6-8 p.m. www.wtburadio.org BUTV Channel 6
Show Re-Cap
Thursday
Ben Folds
@ Lizard Lounge
Friday
Ben Folds
@ Symphony Hall
Jay Reatard
@ Harpers Ferry
Brandi Carlile
@ House of Blues
Pink
w. The Ting Tings
@ TD Banknorth
Michael Jackson Tribute Concert
@ BU Central
Saturday
The Honorary Title
@ Harpers Ferry
Allison Francis
@ BU Central
Sunday
Every Time I Die
w. The Architects, Bring Me the Horizon
@ House of Blues
Relient K
w. Barcelona, Copeland
@ Paradise Rock Club
Senses Fail
@ Harpers Ferry
Friday
The Bravery
@ House of Blues
Built To Spill
@ Middle East Downstairs
Wild Things Are Where?
Thank you to our musical guest on Monday, Allison Francis! We did record the performance so you'll be able to hear it soon.
Here is something that makes my heart sing with anticipation and joy. If something sounds familiar, it's probably "Wake Up" by the Arcade Fire.
Allison Francis Re-scheduled
Unfortunately, Allison Francis will not be joining us tomorrow on The Fleshy Fresh. However, she will grace us with her presence next Monday, March 30th.
We still have a good show lined up for you tomorrow. Until then, check out this eerie song by Sufjan Stevens about a serial killer in Illinois.
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