Under the hot Arizona sky at Tempe Beach Park, The Fray showed why their piano-driven alt-rock anthems continue to stand out in today’s music scene. With Joe King’s steady, expressive voice carrying the emotional weight, the band’s 4:25 p.m. set on the Home Plate Stage turned a late-afternoon slot into a heartfelt sing-along that blended nostalgia with genuine warmth.

Formed in 2002 in Denver, Colorado, by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, The Fray has been active for more than two decades. The band rose to fame with their 2005 debut How to Save a Life, which went double platinum and gave the world hits like “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and the title track.

Follow-up albums such as the self-titled The Fray (2009) brought “You Found Me” to the top of the charts and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album. After Isaac Slade stepped away in 2022, guitarist Joe King seamlessly stepped into the lead vocal role — a transition so natural that the band’s signature sound remains instantly recognizable and powerful. The current lineup features Joe King on lead vocals and guitar, Dave Welsh on lead guitar, and Ben Wysocki on drums, with touring support from Dane Poppin on bass and Kai Welch on keyboards.

Band Members

• Joe King – lead vocals, guitar
• Dave Welsh – lead guitar
• Ben Wysocki – drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Dane Poppin – bass, backing vocals (touring)
• Kai Welch – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (touring)

Verified setlist from Innings Festival 2026:

• She Is
• All at Once
• Closer to Me
• Syndicate
• Look After You
• Over My Head (Cable Car)
• Hurricane
• Fall Away
• Never Say Never
• Heartbeat
• You Found Me
• How to Save a Life

I loved this set, and can verify that King’s voice is just as much a force as Isaac’s. There’s something quietly moving about seeing The Fray perform live these days — the familiar songs land with the same emotional pull, yet there’s a fresh sense of resilience in the delivery. Their Innings Festival set was a gentle invitation to remember how certain music can feel like catching up with an old friend who still knows exactly what you need to hear. If their path crosses yours again, it’s worth making time to be there.