Frank Morey

Singer/songwriter Frank Morey has never been accused of having a sweet, pretty, angelic sort of voice. The Lowell, MA, native is known for a rough, rugged, throaty style of singing, and his voice is perfect for his very earthy, blues-minded folk-rock and roots rock -- Morey's expressive vocals are as gritty as they are soulful. The New Englander, who plays acoustic guitar and harmonica, brings a variety of influences to the table. He has often been compared to early Tom Waits, and his other influences range from Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to the late Chicago blues giant Howlin' Wolf. In the northeastern part of the United States, Morey has tended to fare well among fans of anti-folk -- a gutsy, punk-minded, in-your-face form of folk-rock that is associated with artists like Lach, Lenny Molotov, and the Philadelphia-based Adam Brodsky (among others). Morey isn't anti-folk per se -- he has a more classic type of sound -- but like the anti-folk crowd, he likes his folk-rock with a tough, hard edge and a lot of guts. And he shares many of anti-folk's influences, especially the seminal Bob Dylan. Morey (whose live performances typically include both covers and original material) has been playing the Massachusetts club scene since the '90s. His first album, Father John's Medicine, was released on the Indigo Hamlet label in 2000 and was followed by Morey's sophomore album, Cold at Heart. In 2002, Morey signed with veteran producer Bob Koester's Chicago-based Delmark label and recorded his third album, The Delmark Sessions.