Home EntertainmentMusic Andy Frasco & The U.N. share new studio album L’Optimist; “put-it-all-out-there lyrics, and upbeat mix of infectious musical styles and beats”

Andy Frasco & The U.N. share new studio album L’Optimist; “put-it-all-out-there lyrics, and upbeat mix of infectious musical styles and beats”

by Mick Lite

Andy Frasco & The U.N. have released their much anticipated new album, L’Optimist via Fun Machine Records/Soundly Music. L’Optimist is Frasco’s most hopeful and enthusiastic collection thus far in his career and has earned the praise of outlets like Westword, Forbes and Relix. A testament to Frasco’s wide-ranging influences and boundless energy, L’Optimist sees the magnetic frontman continuing to chart his path of self-exploration and personal discovery through increasingly introspective lyricism and musical adventure.

“With so much bad news in the world, why not try to figure out a way to get out of the darkness,” Frasco says. “We’re not going to be able to change the world, but at least we can change the mind state we have moving forward. We can at least help the process along by being optimistic that the future will turn itself around. And if everyone changes their mind state about the future, then maybe we can change the world.”

A much-beloved live outfit renowned for unbridled improvisation, audience interaction, surprising covers, special guests, and animated antics unlike any other, Andy Frasco & The U.N. will celebrate L’Optimist with a stacked live schedule including a just-announced headline run getting underway September 28 at East Lansing, MI’s Hall 224 and then continuing through mid-December. In the meantime, Frasco will spend the summer traveling America on a wide-ranging itinerary that features headline dates, top-billed festival appearances, and an eagerly support slot with Slightly Stoopid set for August 13 at Morrison, CO’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Additional dates will be announced. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.andyfrasco.com/tour.

Andy Frasco & The U.N. “You Do You” (Official Music Video)

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ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – TOUR 2023

AUGUST

11 – Yuba, WI – People Fest *

13 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre ++

18 – Thornville, OH – Secret Dreams Music & Arts Festival *

25 – Chicago, IL – Cultivate *

30 – Denver, CO – Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast & No Simple Road LIVE TAPING at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox

SEPTEMBER

2 – Emporia, KS – Halfway to Everywhere *

7- Des Moines – xBk Live +

8 – Urbana, IL – Canopy Club $

9 – Indianapolis, IN – All In Music & Arts Festival *

10 – St. Louis, MO – Music At The Intersection *

15-17 – Greenfield, MA – Wormtown Music Festival *

22-23 – Lafayette, NY – Tumble Down at Wonderland Forest *

28 – E. Lansing, MI – Hall 224 ^^

29 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues ^^

30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre ^^

OCTOBER

1 – Washington, DC – Atlantis ^^ [SOLD OUT]

4 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom ^^

5 – Fairfield, CT – The Warehouse ^^

6 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club ^^

7 – Cannatock – Poughkeepsie, NY

8 – Portland, ME – Bayside Bowl ^^

11 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry ^^

12 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl ^^

13 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl ^^

14 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl ^^

27-31 – Miami, FL – Bert Kreischer’s Fully Loaded at Sea

NOVEMBER

2 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl ††

3 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station ††©

4 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse ††

5 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre ††

8 – London, UK – The Lexington

9 – ​Utrecht, NL – De Helling

10 – Bamberg, DE – Live Club

15 – Apeldoorn, NL – GIGANT

29 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center $

 DECEMBER

2 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom $

5 – Little Rock, AR – Revolution Music Hall ##

6 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard ##

7 – Austin, TX – Mohawk @

8 – Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Co. ##

9 – Houston, TX – Last Concert Cafe ##

10 – Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s Live ##

16 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge @

* Festival Appearance

++ w/ Slightly Stoopid

^^ w/ Special Guest Cool Cool Cool

†† w/ Special Guest Doom Flamingo

© w/ Special Guest Empire Strikes Brass

## w/ Special Guest Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

@ w/ Special Guest Maggie Rose

 $ w/ Special Guest Dogs In A Pile

# # #

Restless though it may be, L’Optimist sees Frasco fully in command of his craft, more comfortable and confident than ever before, his notorious party-animal persona giving way to a wiser, but no less enthusiastic, artist and band leader. Frasco once again challenged himself to explore difficult lyrical terrain, spanning relationships and chronic depression, empathy and alienation, inspired in part by his first real girlfriend. Songs like the deeply moving “Iowa Moon” touch on matters of the heart and mental health, emotional struggle and the sheer vulnerability of the human experience, all relayed through a wildly eclectic approach navigating funk, jazz, surf rock, blues, swing, gospel, reggae, exotica, and more with horn-blasted positivity and soulful power.

Truly a creative force to be reckoned with, Andy Frasco & The U.N. have long spent seemingly all their time on the road, performing more than 200 shows each year, as Atwood Magazine wrote, “spreading their bohemian philosophy of finding joy from existing in the moment.” Frasco also somehow finds time to host Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast and cater to his nearly 1M monthly dance party views on Twitch. L’Optimist now sees Frasco continuing to develop as a songwriter, band leader, and human being, his exploratory spirit giving way to something more firmly grounded yet no less adventurous. Having built a still-expanding career on forward motion, Andy Frasco remains positive in his determination to keep on keeping on, pushing himself and his music to grow and improve with every passing day.

# # #

ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N.

L’OPTIMIST

(Fun Machine Records/Soundly Music)

Release Date: Friday, August 11, 2023

Download Hi-Res Image

Tracklist:

Oh What A Life (Feat. Little Stranger)

You Do You

Love All of Me

Iowa Moon

Birthday Song

Lost and Found

Busted Nose

Nothing That I Wouldn’t Do

Everything Bagel (Feat. Artikal Sound System)

Miss Getting High

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