Robert Frank, the documentary photographer who died last September, put the 1950s society in perspective with the images he captured for the book “The Americans.” The decade of optimism about the country that led the world in innovation, economics and military power had a dark side. With his black and white street scenes, Frank exposed the nation’s class and race differences and the tension that permeated the country.
A soul band called Durand Jones & The Indications has a contemporary musical answer for “The Americans” with a powerful second album, “American Love Call.”
The quintet met at college in Bloomington, Indiana. It has a unique yet retro sound with dual lead singers. Frontman Durand Jones possess a classic, smooth R&B voice and drummer Aaron Frazier has a falsetto reminiscent of 1970s bands “The Stylistics and The Delphonics.”
A promotional photo for a video of the song “Morning In America” features the band members looking out a train window in similar poses to Frank’s iconic image titled “Trolley in New Orleans.”
“We’re in a time when so many in this country romanticize the past – wishing to return to a place of simplicity and former glory. But the reality of our history can be disillusioning,” Frazer said in a press statement. “For so many in America, the past represents violence, oppression, fear and colonialism.”
“As America grows more diverse, we have the opportunity to form the strong, interwoven tapestry that we’ve long claimed. When we find a way to unite across our various movements and see the commonalities of our struggles, we can begin to push forward together. We can begin to see the threads connecting our goals as disparate rallying cries blends into a single song. An ‘American Love Call.’”
This is a rising new band to watch. Durand Jones & The Indications will appear Tuesday, May 19, in Cargo Concert Hall in Reno.
Durand Jones & The Indications
Opener: Daisy
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19
Where: Cargo Concert Hall, 255 North Virginia St., Reno, NV
For: All ages
Tickets: $22 in advance or $25 on the day of the show.
Locations: Recycled Records (S. Virginia St) Melting Pot and The Cargo box office (inside Whitney Peak) www.jmaxproductions.net or www.ticketweb.com