Frank Turner @ Marquee Theatre

The punk-goes-acoustic thing is fun, but let's be honest: When you listen to a Chuck Regan solo folk LP, you're secretly crossing your fingers that he'll make a new Hot Water Music album. Such longing isn't necessary with Frank Turner. After his post-hardcore band Million Dead called it quits, Turner...

By Melissa Fossum

February 2, 2012

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The punk-goes-acoustic thing is fun, but let's be honest: When you listen to a Chuck Regan solo folk LP, you're secretly crossing your fingers that he'll make a new Hot Water Music album. Such longing isn't necessary with Frank Turner. After his post-hardcore band Million Dead called it quits, Turner picked up a guitar and began recording colorful narratives all by his lonesome, and his efforts quickly surpassed his former band. He's toured the world multiple times with the likes of Flogging Molly and Social Distortion, and he sold out most of last fall's headlining shows in the United States. "If you told me 10 years ago that I was going to be making my name as a folk singer, I would have laughed in your face," says Turner. "I feel like I stumbled into something that made a lot of sense to me. It felt right and still does." Like his forebears Billy Bragg or Joe Strummer, Turner's vision of folk punk is blue-collar, with characters and the attitude of an idealistic loner. He may have started off playing in the band, but Turner's solo act is clearly what he does best.

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