By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa
Live Review: Frank Turner’s Undefeated North American Solo Tour w/Dave Hause and Katacombs – The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI – May 11, 2025
Last June in St. Petersburg, Florida, I finally had the opportunity to see Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. With a full band and Turner on electric guitar, this folk-punk icon had the 2,000-capacity venue chanting lyrics, shaking fists, and dancing. I was blown away by his performance and decided to delve deeper into his two-decade music catalogue. So, the Summer of 2024 was the “Summer of Frank Turner” as I put his albums on repeat while driving to job assignments.
Fast forward to Spring, I was thrilled to catch Frank Turner’s Undefeated North American Solo Tour in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 11th. The tour kicked off on the East Coast of North America and is working its way through Canada, ending at the Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Vegas at the end of the month.
On Sunday evening, the Blind Pig, which has a capacity of about 400, was wall-to-wall people, crammed into a tiny space. Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan, but the punters appeared to be the Gen X and Millennial crowd. The show was sold out, leaving little space to breathe or move for what turned into several hours.
Katacombs, the musical project of Katerina Kiranos, provided the first performance of the evening. I remembered her from last year’s St. Petersburg concert because she performed with Danny Kirianos AKA Amigo the Devil. Now a solo artist, Kiranos performed original music, accompanied by a keyboard and acoustic guitar, while sharing humorous anecdotes between songs. With references to her “ex-boyfriend who said she was too old to start a career,” the audience was smitten.
Appearing as a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Dave Hause performed heartfelt punk and ballads, and the crowd knew the lyrics. In honor of Mother’s Day, he performed “Little Wings,” a ballad he wrote for his twin sons. The song that brought down the house was the singalong “Dirty Fucker,” which was dedicated to Elon Musk. I don’t think anybody in the venue would disagree.
F
inally, Frank Turner came on the small stage with his Martin guitar and jumped into “If Ever I Stray.” All evening, the crowd joyfully sang the lyrics to Turner’s songs, creating an intimate pub-like atmosphere. From the get-go, the mood was punk, with favorites like “Girl From the Record Shop” and a favorite, “Recovery.” Turner chatted with the crowd between songs, explaining how he was worried about getting into the country, in light of the current political climate, before performing “1933.” He mentioned performing in Detroit the night before, which is located about one hour east of the city. The crowd clapped, and he thought there might be rivalry between the two areas. Suddenly, a punter in the audience shouted, “Fuck Ohio!” followed by, “Hell, yeah! Fuck Ohio!” which lead to an all-out chant.
Not all of the songs were punky and raucous, but tender songs like “Rosemary Jane” were poignant and fitting for Mother’s Day. I admittedly got verklempt during “Be More Kind” and was beyond thrilled to hear “Long Live the Queen.” Turner said after Queen Elizabeth II passed away last year, Americans sent him sympathy emails. During “The Ballad of Me and My Friends,” a couple of women turned around. They looked at me, holding my Nikon camera, as we sang the lyrics, “The musicians who lack the friends to form a band are singer-songwriters/The rest of us are DJs or official club photographers.”
The evening ended with upbeat, party favorites like “Four Simple Words,” “Photosynthesis,” and “Polaroid Picture.” It was incredibly satisfying to catch Frank Turner on tour this year, as there were no engagements in Florida. I left with a smile on my face and a week’s worth of earworms to keep me going. No matter what, Turner exudes positive energy, gives 100% to his audience, and the fans adore him for it.
PHOTO GALLERY
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
