Having celebrated their silver anniversary this past weekend with the release of new (don't call it a best of!) career retrospective LP Longitude and two sold out shows in the elegant surroundings of the Iveagh Gardens, Hot Press takes the opportunity to look back at the career of one of Ireland’s most formidable live acts.
Unequalled in their ability to bridge the yawning chasm between band and fans, they have spent the last quarter century amassing a religiously devoted live following, both at home and abroad. Their love affair with the Irish public has seen them headline and sell-out dates at The Point and Dublin Castle, perform before nearly 20,000 at Marlay Park and headline Witnness and the Electric Picnic.
So as they celebrate a staggering 25 years as a band, we’ve gathered together some mementos of our time spent in the presence of one of the nation’s great live bands.
MCGONAGLES, DUBLIN 1991
The infamous “silver fish with jewels on their backs and pearls in their mouths” review of an early Frames gig by Hot Press scribe Michael O’Hara. The first full live review of The Frames to appear in Hot Press Magazine.
Read it here.
O'Hara followed up this glowing live review with an interview in May of 1991, The Frames' first for Hot Press.
Read it here.
And here's a taste of the band live in 1991...

THE NATIONAL STADIUM, MARCH 1991
In March of 1991 The Frames supported The Stunning at the National Stadium. Hot Press' Oliver Sweeney wrote of the band, "Support band The Frames, with their new single 'The Dancer', doing the business in the charts, impressed a jam-packed Stadium with their distinctive songs and shoe-horn tightness, convincing myself and others that their time will surely come."

THE PHANTOM AT THE LAUNCH OF ANOTHER LOVE SONG

The mysterious Phantom was on hand for the launch of The Frames debut LP in September of 1992.
Read all about it here
THE NATIONAL STADIUM, OCTOBER 1992

Playing as support to Luka Bloom, The Frames won over the crowd "With a splendidly warm and attractive stage presence, they delivered song after song of energetic rock, chock full of both power and charm. If The Stadium security guards hadn’t been such kill-joys, the crowd would have been on their feet for “The Dancer”, “Last Song For You” and everything in between. A band to be cherished."
THE MEAN FIDDLER, DUBLIN 1995
"What started out as a hot, sticky day, ended up as a very hot happening night in The Mean Fiddler." HP scribe Jabba Daniels was there to see it all go down.
Read his report here
GLEN HANSARD'S 2001 TOUR DIARY
A glimpse into Glen Hansard’s tour diary while on the road with The Frames' fourth album For The Birds – including reflections on their first landmark Olympia show (March 30th, 2001)
"The Olympia, a fine well dressed old lady of a building, stretches upward all around us. Chaplin stood here, Van The Man stood here. The quiet lady is sleeping. John Brogan, the husband to this lady, lingers patiently in the wings. “No rush lads, tonight’s your night, take your time.” I like hearing that."
Read more here
PERFORMING AT THE 2002 HOT PRESS AWARDS
'God Bless Mom'

...And an amazing version of The Pixies 'Debaser' featuring members of Ash!

Thanks to Irish Music Central for uploading these historic HP videos.
DUBLIN CASTLE 2002
The Frames headline one of their biggest hometown gigs to date as part of the 2002 Green Energy Festival, which also featured Mundy, Paddy Casey, Bell X1 and Damien Rice.
"No other band in Ireland are quite simply this charged, effective and touching live, and at that, very few anywhere else."
Read about it here
RADIO RADIO, INDIANA, USA 2002
Hansard & Co outshine Canada’s The New Pornographers in this testimony from a local review of a 2002 American tour.
"It was opening act the Frames, though, that provided memorable flashes of rock 'n' roll genius."
Read it here
VICAR STREET 2002
The Frames and friends perform a tribute concert to the late great Mic Christopher, that also serves as a release for his posthumous album Skylarkin’.
Read it here
Here's a video of the band, with Mic Christopher, performing the Elvis classic 'Suspicious Minds'.

VICAR STREET 2002 PART II
The same week as the Mic Christopher gig the boys returned for a blistering headline set, with support from Turn.
"The Frames have it all really. Amazing songs. Powerful delivery. And a special relationship with the fans."
Read about it here
BOWERY BALLROOM LIVE REVIEW 2003
Proof of the band’s ability to deliver the live goods abroad, Patrick Hedlund was there to witness it first hand in New York’s Bowery Ballroom.
"The Frames could be playing a show in Dublin, New York or Cairo and the message would still get through."
See what he had to say here
SET LIST ALBUM REVIEW

Capturing the band at the height of their powers, live album Set List has long been a fan-favourite and here it is reviewed by Hot Press. The album was later voted No. 12 by readers on the Hot Press Greatest Irish Albums poll.
Read the review here
FAX FROM THE FRAMES AHEAD OF WITNNESS 2003


WITNNESS, MAIN STAGE 2003
The band triumph in front of a huge crowd on the festival’s main stage.
"The Frames took their biggest gig to date by the scruff of the neck and rode wave upon wave of local pride and enthusiasm."
Read all about it here
WHELAN'S 2004
Playing a secret gig as ‘The Arnotts’, The Frames debut new material ahead of the release of 2004’s Burn The Maps.
"The gig turns out to be much more than a run through of new material, morphing into a genuine celebration as the quintet are joined by a host of special guests over the course of a rip-roaring two hour set that takes in cover versions, gems from their back catalogue and even audience requests."
Read about it here
Here's a video of Glen playing a solo acoustic version of lead single 'Fake' from Burn The Maps on RTE's Other Voices.

THE HEAT IS ON
On the morning before their biggest hometown headlining gig to date, in front of 20,000 at Marlay Park, Kim Porcelli speaks to the band.
"The Frames in 2004 are so many seemingly contradictory things at once: critically lauded, yet popularly adored; handmade in their aesthetic, yet rich with electronic noise; independent, yet internationally hooked up."
Hear what they had to say here
MARLAY PARK 2004
Our review of The Frames’ legendary Marlay Park gig.
"You have to hand it to The Frames. Even Bruce and U2 baulk at starting new campaigns outdoors in front of 17,000 people."
Read it here
LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA 2005
Before embarking on their most ambitious international tour to date, the band bid farewell to Irish shores with a memorable gig at the grande dame of Dame Street.
"Going to see The Frames perform is as predictable as watching It’s A Wonderful Life on Christmas Day. You know it’s going to be magical. You couldn’t not enjoy it even if you tried."
Read about it here
LIVE AT THE POINT 2005
Homecoming heroes, The Frames headline Dublin’s Point Theatre for the very first time and they’ve brought some friends!
"Everybody wins, everybody goes home happy."
Read about it here
LIVE AT THE POINT 2005: SETLIST

EUROSONIC, PRAGUE 2005
The Frames head a bill of their Irish contemporaries at the Czech festival and industry showcase.
"To all intents and purposes, playing to a capacity 1,200 crowd at this Czech theatre seems like a hometown gig for The Frames."
Read about it here
THE HIGH COST OF LOVING
Adrienne Murphy catches up with the band on tour in Ireland in support of 2006 album The Cost.
See what she found out here
IN THE HOT PRESS TENT AT ELECTRIC PICNIC 2006


The Frames - Part I on MUZU.TV. The video is in 7 parts and includes an interview with the band and some acoustic performances.
VICAR STREET, NEW YEARS EVE 2008
The Frames return for their almost annual residency at the Thomas Street venue.
"The band plays fiercely on until all souls are won. We all know a friend of a friend who walked into a bar in Idaho or Mullingar to find The Frames singing out like they’re playing Croke Park. Tonight’s dedication is more impressive still."
Read all about it here
OLYMPIA 2010: PHOTO GALLERY

Check them out here
WHELAN'S 2014: PHOTO GALLERY
The Frames play as part of the legendary Wexford Street venue’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
All the action is here


Longitude is out now on The Frames' own Plateau Records.