The Fray in Montréal
The Fray in Montréal Delivers a Nostalgic Night Filled With Early 2000s Emotion
American rock band The Fray returned to Montréal for the first time in 12 years, bringing fans an emotional and nostalgic evening packed with singalongs, energy, and classic hits that defined the early 2000s alternative rock era.
Brother Elsey
Opening the night was Brother Elsey, an American folk and rock band made up of two brothers and two cousins. The group immediately connected with the Montréal crowd, especially with the vocalist sporting a Montréal Canadiens shirt early in the set. Their music balanced calming instrumentals with emotionally heavy lyrics, creating a unique atmosphere that drew the audience in from the start. While the songs carried a reflective tone, the guitarist brought a completely different energy to the stage, constantly moving, dancing, and interacting with the crowd throughout the performance.
The audience responded enthusiastically to Brother Elsey’s set, showing excitement from the opening moments of the night. The band’s growing momentum comes after the release of their self-titled 2025 album, which continues to introduce new listeners to their emotionally driven sound.
The Fray
When The Fray finally took the stage, the atmosphere inside the venue immediately shifted into pure nostalgia. The Colorado rock band rose to fame in the early 2000s thanks to massive hits like “How to Save a Life,” and the Montréal audience clearly had not forgotten a single word. Vocalist Joe King made an unforgettable entrance by beginning to sing offstage before slowly making his way toward the stage as the crowd erupted around him.
The Fray performed several fan favourites from their debut album, keeping the audience singing throughout the night.
One of the biggest moments came near the end of the set when the band performed “How to Save a Life” as their second last song, triggering one of the loudest crowd reactions of the evening.
Closing
Between the crowd singing, the band dancing, and the emotional connection shared throughout the venue, The Fray in Montréal became a memorable return more than a decade in the making.
