Frank Tribes
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Frank Tribes

Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF

Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF
Band Rock Pop

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Lean Out Your Window, Frank Tribes review"

Anyone who can open a record with such a great beach Boys-sounding song (and have it not suck,) is ok by me. “Find Yourself Alone” is the tune and this Chicago dude has apparently been at it for a while. A few of the tunes kick harder but the guy has a knack for a good hook. Good enough for me. - Dagger Zine, Tim Hinely


"By All Means, Frank Tribes review"

"Let's talk about melody, the clarity of tone and the blissful nature of Chicago musician Frank Tribes' album 'By All Means'...Tribes has a great sense of rhythm and emotional timing...By All Means is liberated from the sometimes trite confines of typical pop music form, seamlessly melding disparate instruments and conveying thoughful lyrics...It isn't a straight up rock or pop or country album, but there's some of each in there...Tribes isn't redefining independant music, but he is a strong reminder of why it exists in the first place." A. Augustyn - Pioneer Press-Sound Check


"Lean Out Your Window, Frank Tribes review"

“Tribes' songs have a distinctive character -- good hooks and harmony, catchy melodies, solid musicianship and storytelling with breezy but poetic lyrics.” - Pioneer Press, Lilly Kuzma


"Lean Out Your Window, Frank Tribes review"

“Over the last decade, Chicago-based singer/songwriter Frank Tribes has earned numerous comparisons to classic pop rock artists like Neil Young, The Byrds, and even The Beach Boys. While these influences clearly permeate his fourth studio release, Lean Out Your Window, they mesh into a distinct voice that is uniquely Frank Tribes.…The sunny, poppy “Find Yourself Alone” is an uplifting track with lyrics reminiscent of a self-help book, harmonizing vocals, and occasional glistening, reverberating guitar chords. Tightly structured “Sunshine Lane” grows on you, and the subdued and faintly sorrowful “Airplane, Anything!” is well-crafted…Tribes throws a hell of a change-up with “Bitter Morning,” which is the most interesting composition on the album… I dare you: just try and listen to the track once through and resist the temptation not to repeat it once or twice…
“Hanging Around” is another highlight, channeling My Morning Jacket, with its sonorous vocals and lean but graceful instrumentation… Throughout the album, the mood seems to feel fluid, which to me is a great sign. “Only My Voice” is downcast, with Tribes’s lonely voice accompanied by ghostly harmonizing vocals…Other tracks, by contrast, are decidedly more upbeat and charming like “Marilee” and “Now You’re Listening”, which features ostentatious Who-like drums and ascending guitar arpeggios to bring the album to a close. Frank Tribes succeeds with Lean Out Your Window in crafting a solid, aurally pleasing album, carving his own style out of a conglomeration of influences from singers/songwriters’ and classic rockers’ past. It's a song or two away from greatness, but I’m sold that Tribes is a secret that the Windy City needs to share.
- Daily Vault, Josh Allen


"Gallery review IndieMusic"

“What resonates most about Frank Tribes’ third release Gallery is how, even through its obvious influences, it’s still very original. This could be the album made by that guy in high school who had the cool rock star hair and played the Tommy Iommi riffs on his black Fender given to him by his weekend dad and cougar step-mom. Or it could be the best American-made Brit Rock album since Strung Out In Heaven. After the third spin, it clearly falls towards the latter.The Beatle-esque “On My Way” leaves no doubt that this is more than a throwaway single, and if corporate rock is looking for the next “Betcha Never Heard This” Anthem, then look no further.The influences are felt all over, from early Pink Floyd psych-guitars and the subtle Kinks references on “Blue Mountain.” The creepy goodness of “Vampyres” reads like The Brian Jonestown Massacre channeling Hunter Thompson. “Low To High” was certainly designed for open roads… Ultimately, if Gallery has a fatal flaw, it is only that you can’t turn it up to 11. And who do we really blame for that? I would submit that it’s another ploy by The Man to keep us down. Frank Tribes might not be a secret for much longer and you’d be a lot cooler than your friends if you owned this one. I should know. I have a copy.”
Derek Blackmon
- Indie-Music.com


"Gallery review Indieville"

“On Gallery, we see a competent, melody-minded songwriter with an eye for a good tune if nothing else. The main influence here is clearly classic rock, which Tribes incorporates throughout - "Vampyres," "On My Way," and "Low to High" just reek of it. A number of songs, notably "Watch You Sleep" and "Surprised," touch on old-fashioned folk-rock (think Youngbloods meets Neil Young)… Gallery is a solid and cohesive listen from start to finish from Tribes… people in need of a solid, classic-style rock record should enjoy this CD thoroughly.”
Matt Shimmer
- Indieville.com


"WXRT "On My Way""

"[The new Blade EP] struck me as easily the best work that Frank has done on his own, through and through. Five songs, and from the opening notes I just thought, man here you go, you're sounding really good on this stuff." - R. Milne

Hear full audio at:
http://www.franktribes.com - 93.1 WXRT's Local Anesthetic


"Gallery review AmericanaUK"

"an engaging songsmith with a sound that harks back to the late sixties, early seventies for influence and, indeed comparison...its actually a hell of a catchy set of tunes...You can probably tell I am getting quite attached to this CD...there are some great tunes here." - Americana UK


"Gallery review Dagger"

"This is some decent to really good pop rock with strong melodies. Frank has a solid voice and is a talented guitar player." - Dagger magazine


"Gallery review IE Janine"

"Frank Tribes owes much to the Beatles and the Byrds' Roger McGuinn on his third solo album, Gallery, a pleasant collection of songs that induce feelings of summer. From the album's opener, "On My Way," to "One for You," there's no place better to listen to these tunes than while in the car with the windows rolled down. Tribes' knack for memorable melodies and track record of solid compositions easily earn this release the designation as best of his career."
Janine Schaults - Illinois Entertainer


"debut Altar Native"

"Sometimes I want nothing more than to be compared to my idols. Sometimes I want to feel I'm putting my own spin on rock music,” says Frank Tribes, who manages to do quite well at both on his eponymous debut. Tribes music finds a comfortable home somewhere between when FM radio boasted rock as pop and the hidden resurgence of the same that simmers somewhere below the surface of public consciousness in the new millennium.

Never complicated, lyrically or musically, yet so right in the finest detail, Tribes’ music manages to effect one’s emotions directly, going straight for the gut, without tired radio clichés, over-used pop conventions, or sugar-saturated melodies. Still, this is music that sinks in from the first listen. “We’ll Be Fine,” (click here for MP3) with its gentle strum of acoustic guitar and soft background of accordion, is a perfect example of Tribes getting everything just perfect. “Now my record player’s packed away, and all the albums that we played, are sitting on my shelf collecting dust,” he notes dryly, letting the music carry the weight of the words --- simply wonderful...
The Beach Boys crafted perfect songs for the summertime, and Tribes seems to also let his music inhabit a season, though in his case it is definitely autumn. Never completely dark and gloomy, but filled with a sense of something lost, Tribes sings with a believable voice about love lost and general trepidation...
For now, however, he is doing just fine, with a debut packed with bittersweet lyrical sentiments and music that exceeds expectations most would have from a relative newcomer.

- AltarNative.com


"Gallery review audioxposure"

“Tribes style hearkens back to a time when melody was king...Tribes guitar playing produces consistently memorable melodic hooks...Gallery is an album that rocks you…Gallery is an audio collection Frank Tribes can be proud of. You’ll likely find yourself humming along to these songs, as though you’ve known them your whole life.” - Audio Xposure


"Gallery review Holland"

"His strength lies in the strong, musical melodies and in the classic sounding pop…Frank Tribes arranged exciting and modern songs…”Gallery contains some very fine compositions."

- Rootstime (Holland)


Discography

- "Lean Out Your Window" 4th release 2010
- "Gallery" 3rd album release 2007
- "Blade EP" promo release 2005
- "By All Means" 2nd album release 2004
- self-titled debut album release 2002

Photos

Bio

Frank Tribes is a singer/songwriter/guitarist based in his hometown Chicago. For several years prior to going solo in 2001, he was a member of the well established local band Garden Bower with fellow guitarist Rob Bochnik, now with the Frames and Swell Season. He has released the following albums: “Frank Tribes” in 2002, “By All Means” in 2004, “Gallery” in 2007 and as of August 2010, “LEAN OUT YOUR WINDOW.”
This new album marks the second recording done with Ellis Clark (Kevin Tihista, Le Concorde) done at his studio Angel City. Frank and his band come in with complete and arranged songs. Ellis directs their recording, refines the sound and even adds vocals and instruments when needed. Sharing similar influences and production ideas, the two work well together as proven with this release and the “Gallery” album.
Elements of classic pop rock, the Byrds, The Beatles, Syd Barrett, Josh Rouse, Neil Young and Echo & the Bunnymen are borrowed, yet the songs make their own statement. Well-crafted music, strong melodies and insightful lyrics come together in a unique way. Many lovers of rock music should want to have this album among their collection.

LISTEN, PURCHASE, or DOWNLOAD AT: www.franktribes.com, Itunes.com, Rhapsody.com, Napster.com, Amazon.com, Yahoo.com, CDBaby.com and myspace.com/franktribes

Radio: Servicing college, online & select commercial stations; Promotion by Team Clermont, stations include WXRT-Local Anaesthetic, WLUW-Loyola Univ., WDCB College of DuPage, FearlessRadio.com, Last.fm, IndieArtistRadio.com, RootsRockRadio.com, BananaPeelRadio.com, and WEIU- Illinois.

Performances: Chicago based, including House of Blues, Cubby Bear, International Pop Overthrow Fest, along with dates in the Midwest.