Andy Frasco & The U.N. are a genre blending rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 2007. The band consists of Andrew Frasco (lead vocals, keys), Sam Kelly (saxophone), Mike Gantzer (guitar, vocals), Andee "Beats" Avila (drums, vocals), Floyd Kellogg (bass guitar), Allie Kral (fiddle, vocals), and Andrew Cooney (guitar, vocals). Rich Derbyshire (bass guitar, vocals) of Wild Adriatic shares bassist duties with Floyd Kellog. "Andy Frasco & The U.N. Announce New Album ‘L’Optimist,’ Add Doom Flamingo and Other Support to Fall Tour." JamBands.com. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-10-03. Historically, the band has also included a rotating and evolving cast of additional band members to form the U.N. Additional featured members of the U.N. include Daniel Avila (guitar), Supa Man (bass guitar) from the band Philosophy of Soul, and Matt Owen (tuba) of Eclectic Tuba, as well as members of the Kris Lager Band: Kris Lager (guitar, vocals), Jeremiah Weir (organ, keys), Brandon Miller (bass guitar), and John Fairchild (drums). Dutch musicians Jelmer Olsman (bass guitar and drums), Niels Kant (trumpet) also toured with the band.Harris, Randy "Album Review - Half A Man" 18 June 2014. Retrieved 12 Sept 2014.

To date, the band has released ten studio albums: Love, You're Just Too Expensive (2010), Road Life Revival (2012), Just a Good Ole Time (2013), Half a Man (2014), Happy Bastards (2016), Change of Pace (2019), Keep On Keepin' On (2020), Wash, Rinse, Repeat (2022), and L'Optimist (2023).,L'Optimist. 2023-08-11, retrieved 2023-10-03. Growing Pains (2025).

In 2017, the band released their first live album (CD and DVD) entitled Songs From The Road, which was recorded in August 2016 at the Tucher Blues and Jazz Festival in Bamberg, Germany. In September 2021, they released Live On the Rocks, an album recorded live at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on May 27, 2021.

Sound Their sound has been described as "blues-rock fueled by reckless abandonment and a disregard for the rules, with witty lyrics to back it all up".Klein, Chris. "Smokin’ Dope and Rock N’ Roll; Andy Frasco and the U.N.’s Blues ."City2Snow. 18 May 2014. retrieved 12 September 2014.

Performances

Andy Frasco & The U.N.’s performances have been described as a "boisterous blend of harmonic funk and jazzy influences, all topped with boundless energy".Under Review: Wakarusa Souls in Action. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014. Frasco frequently calls additional guest musicians to join his band on stage during sets, as well as fans."Review and Photos: Andy Frasco & The UN W/Mike Dillon’s Band of Outsiders and Mouth - 1884 Lounge - Memphis, TN - May 28, 2014" Grateful Music. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014 Shows are highly improvisational, featuring impromptu “battles” between band members, who graciously hop off stage into the crowd to contest their instrumental fortitude against one another in a sporting display of individual musicianship. Frasco's shows are also highly interactive, often stopping the show to speak directly to audience members, as well as invite people in the audience up on stage.Kinder, Kevin."Yonder on the Mountain: Summarizing Harvest Fest’s Third (and Final) Day." Tuned In. 21 Oct. 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2014.

Andy Frasco & The U.N. are recognized for their heavy tour schedule and D.I.Y. work ethic."Andy Frasco & the U.N." The Vogue. Retrieved 2023-10-03. The band has toured the U.S. numerous times over, as well as Europe and China, performing at festivals such as Wakarusa, Electric Forest Festival, Sacred Rose Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Yonder Mountain String Band's Harvest Festival, String Cheese Incident's Festival at Horning's Hideout, Cotai Jazz & Blues Festival, Zwarte Cross Festival, Paaspop, Koningsmiddag Festival, Geuzenpop Festival, and the Tucher Jazz & Blues Festival.

Wakarusa 2014 Andy Frasco & The U.N. co-headlined a handful of Pre-Wakarusa events with support from Mike Dillon's Band of Outsiders, performed two sets at the festival, and shared guest hosting duties, introducing many big-name acts such as The Flaming Lips."Waka Wednesdays with Andy Frasco" Wakarusa. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.

Electric Forest 2014 The band was selected by Live for Live Music as the top performance pick.Korcz, Kathryn. "10 Magnificent Things You Will Only Find inside Electric Forest!" Live for Live Music. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014 SoundFuse Magazine stated "This was easily one of the most energetic moments of the weekend," noting the crowds' lively dancing and attempts to rush onto the stage.Frazier, Jeremy. ""2014 Electric Forest Festival" 29 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.

Discography

Albums

Love, You're Just Too Expensive (2010), 2010 Lifeline Promotion Road Life Revival (2012), Fro it Out Music Just a Good Ole Time (2013), Fro it Out Music Half A Man (2014), Fun Machine Records Happy Bastards (2016), Ruf Records Songs From The Road (CD/DVD set, 2017), Ruf Records Change of Pace (February 22, 2019), Fun Machine Records Keep On Keepin' On (April 24, 2020), SideOneDummy Records Live On The Rocks (September 15, 2021), Fun Machine Records Wash, Rinse, Repeat (2022), Fun Machine Records L'Optimist (2023), Fun Machine Records/Soundly Music Growing Pains (2025), Fun Machine Records

EP's

Wash, Rinse, Repeat (2022), Andy Frasco & The U.N. Grow Old (2022), Andy Frasco & The U.N. Live at Sugarshack Sessions (2023), Sugarshack Homesick (songs for younger me) (2026), Fun Machine Records

References

External links