Reading · Exile on Newbury St.

Mitch’s Pitch:

If only I didn’t quit those piano lessons.

I could have been somebody. A contender.

I’d probably be in a metro station in Paris right now, tickling the ivories on one of those public pianos. John Legend would stroll by and we’d get into an impromptu jam that goes mega-viral, and obviously we’d become best friends.

Then John and I would split one of those little baguette sandwiches with butter and ham, which has nothing to do with the piano, but those little sandwiches at the Paris metro station are really, really good, and I don’t even like ham sandwiches. Maybe it’s the butter. Actually, it’s probably the bread, being France and all. Anyway.

I’d be a piano man and I’d be cool.

Or would I?

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What is it about piano men in our culture? We like them. We respect them. We listen to their music. We buy their records. We go to their shows. But we don’t find them cool. They’re never cool.

Think about it.

Elton John: not cool.

Billy Joel: not cool.

Ben Folds: not cool.

Joe Jackson: not cool.

Bruce Hornsby: cool by association.

Jerry Lee Lewis: oof.

Maybe I was right to quit piano after all. Sure, I’d still be able to annoy strangers at the Paris metro station, but I wouldn’t be any cooler, so what’s the point?

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It turns out I was wrong.

I found a cool piano man.

You’ve probably never heard of him.

His name is Neal Francis. I had never heard of him either, but then I came across his album, Francis Comes Alive, and decided to give it a spin purely based on the Frampton pun.

Yes, I’m that easy.

Needless to say, I was blown away by this cool, young piano man from Chicago named Neal Francis, and I’ve been spinning Francis Comes Alive non-stop for the last two years.

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First, let’s establish that Neal Francis is not a jam band but a band that jams.

The distinction is not academic. It means that the songs come first, even if the arrangements are extended and there is more soloing than on the studio versions.And the songs on Francis Comes Alive are universally incredible. There are no lulls, no skips, and no clunkers. If Cap’n Crunch made this album he probably would have called it “Oops! All Bangers” because it is, indeed, all bangers.

It’s hard to pick favorite songs because…all bangers, but the five-song run to open the set (“Say Your Prayers”, “Changes”, “She’s a Winner”, “Alameda Apartments” and “Prometheus”) give you the perfect introduction to Francis’s sound and vibe and range, going from funky N’Awlins rhythm & blues to spacey yet soulful jams. It’s a dance party, and apparently a Neal Francis dance party don’t ever stop. The energy of this performance is off-the-charts, and if this is what it sounds like on wax (with no overdubs), I’m guessing the vibe in the room must have been ecstatic.

Francis’s keys and vocals are fantastic throughout, and the rest of the band is excellent - loose but never sloppy, vibrant but not too showy. They swing. This set has it all - an energetic, jammy performance of terrific songs that hit the sweet spot of “that’s what music is supposed to sound like!”

If anything, it might be too much of a good thing for some people (and this isn’t even the deluxe edition!) Some people like a little plain Cap’n mixed in with their crunchberries.

But some of us still live by the motto that too much is just enough.

Is Francis Comes Alive a little too much? Yes.

Is Francis Comes Alive just enough? Yes again.

I guess me and John Legend are just cool like that.

Ken’s Response:

Neal Francis’ Francis Comes Alive is the kind of album that sneaks up on you. It’s unexpectedly vibrant from the first note, extremely technical, and wonderfully soulful. It’s clear these musicians aren’t just playing, they’re conversing in time, speaking in funk, and preaching with organ swells that would make Billy Preston and Melvin Seals smile.

Now let’s talk about Mitch’s eternal bit, “It’s not a jam band, it’s a band that jams.” Cute, but come on, if you’re stretching songs past the ten-minute mark with improvised breakdowns and solos that spiral into new dimensions, you’re orbiting jam band territory whether you like it or not. And you know what? That’s fine. In fact, it’s glorious.

Take “BNYLV”, by my pitch-clock…a hair under 12 minutes, it’s not just a track, it’s a journey. The band’s chemistry is palpable, oozing through tight grooves and spontaneous turns. Or “Can’t Stop the Rain,” where the delicate-yet-fierce hammering of the keys and the gentle vocals build into a well-earned anthemic finish. These aren’t noodly time-fillers; they’re extended expressions from players who clearly know their instruments.

So yeah, Francis Comes Alive might stretch your definitions, but don’t let labels muddy the truth. This is an amazing throwback collection of live performances by artists who have mastered the art of the jam. Mitch can keep his bit—but the rest of us are just glad these jams exist.

Pitch Successful (appreciate the new music…this time)

Don’s Response:

When Mitch first pitched this, I judgmentally rolled my eyes. Not just because of his “not a jam band but a band that jams” cliché, which as Ken points out is the 19^th time Mitch has described a band this way. I was also wary because I’ve never heard of Francis and I feared a week-long slog of trying to like it only to spoil Mitch’s party.

Color me pleasantly surprised. Francis Comes Alive is a spirited live album with an irresistible retro-funk aesthetic, soaring horns, and undeniable flair. It’s bouncy, groovy, and some of the lyrics are downright funny. Francis certainly does not need to lighten up.

I liked it enough to spin it several times. But here’s the rub. I experienced diminishing returns the more I listened to it. While his band’s performance is outstanding, I was increasingly disappointed by Francis’ vocals. They’re flat, dry, and uninspired – a stark contrast with the effervescent music. The songs blend together, the charm wears off, the bloom falls off the rose, and all the clichés.

My verdict – I like it – don’t love it. Despite its infectious charms, and my desire to see him live, the album itself doesn’t feel worthy of being canonized in the Exile on Newbury St. collection.

Pitch Failed (close, but no cigar; it’s not you, it’s me; among other clichés)

CJ’s Response:

Jethro Tull famously declared that “Life’s a long song.” I don’t know about life, but Francis Comes Alive is definitely one long song. Yes, there are tracks listed on the album and you can hear some of the names of those songs sprinkled in among the jams. But, make no mistake, this is a single, 83-minute song broken intermittently by pauses to thank the audience and pound some energy bars, I assume.

Here’s the thing, though. It’s a good song and I liked it.

As someone who has also stumbled onto bands because of an album title (or cover art or a snippet of overheard conversation), I can appreciate the serendipity of finding something that few others know and love. I was on a commercial shoot outside of Detroit in the mid-’90s and we found ourselves with a free night. One of the producers suggested we check out a jazz singer named Holly Cole, who was appearing at a small, local venue. It was one of the most pleasant, enjoyable, surprising concert experiences I’ve ever had. After the show, I went straight out and bought three of her CDs and became an evangelist for her music.

So I’m picking up what Mitch is putting down.

Now, at this point you may be saying, “CJ, do you mean to tell us that you’re about to enshrine some dude named Neal Francis among the rock legends you’ve inducted previously?”

Well, yeah. This is our imaginary Hall of Fame, so we can pretty much do whatever we want. If you’ve got a problem with that, open your own imaginary Hall of Fame.

Pitch Successful (Stones and Kinks out! Tesla and Francis in!)

Mitch’s pitch was successful and Neal Francis’ Francis Comes Alive has achieved heights that Peter Frampton could only dream of, with enshrinement in the vaunted Newbury St. Collection. What’s your take on Neal Francis and bands that jam vs. jam bands? Please let us know in the comments section.

Neal Francis, "Francis Comes Alive"

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