Over twenty years of going to hardcore shows, and I had never felt energy in the crowd quite like this before. It was my first trip to the Union Firehouse, a venue in Mt. Holly, NJ, and for me a spiritual successor to the legendary Wayne Firehouse. I was there to see some of my favorite up and coming hardcore bands, stential and Kirkby Kiss, and two titans of the genre, Reds and Frail.
I missed Frail during their first run, but since Saetia’s return I’ve had an affinity for this pocket of early 90’s hardcore. Seeing Frail take the stage, their lasting impact on bands like Thursday couldn’t have been more apparent until Geoff Rickly and Tom Keeley actually stepped on stage to close out the night. I spoke to Mike Parsell from Frail to learn a bit more about how they came to be and what’s next for this legendary hardcore band.
Pennsylvania Hardcore
Frail, a five-piece straight-edge hardcore/emo band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, emerged in the early ’90s as a vital force in the DIY punk and hardcore scene. Active from 1993 to 1996, the band—comprised of vocalist Eric Hammar, guitarists Don Devore and Mike Parsell, bassist Derek Zgienski, and drummer Brian Berwind—crafted a sound that blended metallic hardcore aggression with emotive, dissonant melodies, influencing bands like Saetia and shaping the early emocore and screamo movements. Frail’s breakup would lead to the formation of Ink & Dagger, another influential screamo band.
Their recent reunion, spurred by renewed interest and a remastered discography, has brought their heartfelt music back to the stage.
Frail formed in 1993 when Mike and Eric, fueled by their passion for hardcore, decided to start a band. “This is the original and only lineup! Eric and I put the band together in 1993. We loved hardcore music so much we had to,” Mike recalls.
Frail sounds anything but
Their sound, described by Sophie’s Floorboard as a fusion of “the metallic hardcore aggression of bands like Unbroken and [the] passionate screams and dissonant/melodic blend of bands like Portraits Of Past,” was a product of their diverse influences. Mike also attributes their unique sound to “the combination of our slightly varied tastes in punk and hardcore music.” Bands like Rorschach, Struggle, Split Lip, Lifetime, Born Against, and Uniform Choice shaped their sonic profile, giving it a jagged edge that resonated with the DIY hardcore scene.
Frail’s guitar sound, shaped by Mike and Don, is a unique synthesis of their influences’ diverse qualities. Like Rorschach and Born Against, Frail’s guitars are raw and abrasive, capturing the DIY scene’s unpolished ethos. Their metallic aggression, likened to Unbroken and Converge, aligns with Struggle’s visceral intensity but is tempered by melodic and dissonant elements reminiscent of Split Lip and Indian Summer.
Lifetime’s youthful energy and Uniform Choice’s bring in some more accessible qualities, but their emotive, screamo-like qualities set them apart as a precursor to bands like Saetia. The raw production of their releases enhances the guitars’ gritty texture, making them a perfect reflection of the early ’90s basement hardcore scene.
Ideals
Frail stood out for their inclusive ethos, which resulted in them being embraced by the straightedge scene. “Yeah… we were straight edge kids, but we were open and down with other stuff too, so it just kinda came out the way it did,” Mike says of how their beliefs influenced their songwriting, suggesting that straight edge wasn’t the only theme explored through their music.
This openness was reflected in their lyrics, written by Eric, whom Mike describes as “a poet and doesn’t know it.” Eric’s words focused on “energy, and growth, and self reliance,” with songs like “American as Apple Pie” critiquing capitalism and cultural conformity, and “Paradise Lost” addressing emotional barriers and a lost youthful generation. “Hopefully we will find out soon what he’s writing about these days!” Mike adds, hinting at potential new material.
Early 90s DIY
The DIY culture of the early ’90s was central to Frail’s identity. “I feel lucky to have stumbled across punk and hardcore. It was exciting to have a space to do the kind of stuff I like and be a part of a community that veered away from the mainstream,” Mike reflects. Releases like Make Your Own Noise, New Harmony, and Idle Hands Hold Nothing were issued by small labels like Bloodlink Records, tied to Philadelphia’s vibrant hardcore scene. Sophie’s Floorboard highlights their “virtually-perfect discography,” compiled in 2000 as Make Your Own Noise, rereleased in 2024 by Numero Group as No Industry, which remains a “must-listen for fans of screamo in its early stages.”
Frail’s recent reunion was sparked by Tom from the Washed Up Emo podcast and Numero Group’s remastered discography release. “It feels incredible. We’re having so much fun and are humbled that anyone cares,” Mike says. “Really it was Tom… and then Numero Group putting out the discography… we had a phone call after that and just said why not?”
Frail’s influence on bands like Saetia underscores their impact. “It feels good to hear that we added something to the conversation of punk and hardcore,” Mike says. Reflecting on their discography, which was written in their youth, Mike admits, “Sometimes it feels embarrassing to look back at things you made when you were a teenager, but the Frail stuff I feel good about. It really came from the heart, so it’s ok!” Sophie’s Floorboard notes their “severely underrated but incredibly influential” status, particularly in emocore’s evolution.
Their live shows, driven by Eric’s connection with audiences, aim to inspire. “There’s something about the energy of the songs played live… I hope it makes people feel excited about life and less alone in the world,” Mike shares. Connections to the broader scene, like Don Devore’s friendship with Thursday (formed at an Ink & Dagger show) highlight their enduring presence. “And Geoff has a Frail tattoo!” Mike excitedly shared.
“Well, yes,” Geoff confirmed via message. “I also sang in the 2010 This Is Hardcore version of Ink & Dagger, and lived with Don for a few years.” Thanks, Geoff, for the extra lore.
The Future of Frail
Looking forward, Frail plans “definitely more shows! And maybe new music too!” Mike teases. Frail’s high energy reunion is a testament to the enduring power of their music. Frail’s raw energy and poetic urgency, born and honed in Philly basements and preserved in DIY recordings, embody the unrefined purity of early ’90s hardcore—a timeless simplicity that continues to captivate and inspire audiences.