by Connor Dixon
On August 22nd, 2025 The Fray brought their How to Save a Life 20th anniversary tour to The Fox Theatre in Oakland. The ornate theatre was buzzing long before The Fray stepped onto the stage. Fans who had grown up with the band’s piano driven anthems filled every corner, some sporting old tour shirts, others bringing the next generation along to hear the songs that once defined their twenties. The occasion was a milestone: twenty years since How to Save a Life introduced the Denver band to the world.
When the house lights faded and “She is” began, the theater transformed into a chorus of voices. At the center of it all stood Joe King, founding member and now the band’s frontman, confidently steering the set with a mix of gratitude and charisma. His delivery felt both grateful and refreshed, leaning into the emotion of the band’s catalog without ever sounding like a greatest hits retread.
King made mention that How to Save a Life would be performed in its entirety this evening, inciting a roar from the crowd. Between songs, King reflected on the group’s journey, trading memories of writing music in their basement with gratitude for the community of fans who never let the songs fade . One of the night’s most stirring moments came with “How to Save a Life.” The entire room seemed to inhale at once before joining together in a massive singalong, their voices echoing through the Fox theatre. For a few minutes, the song belonged to everyone, a reminder of why it struck such a chord in the first place.
The band also treated the audience to a few surprises. Landon Barker, who opened the show, joined the band to perform “Look After You“. The band also performed their new single “My Heart’s a Crowded Room” with Joe King departing his position on stage and singing in the middle of the crowd. The piano flair that the band is known for is being performed masterfully by Kai Welch on this tour.
For a band sometimes underestimated as a product of its time, the Oakland stop of the 20th Anniversary Tour was proof of their staying power. The Fray didn’t just revisit the past; they reintroduced themselves and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store.
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