The Upful LIFE Podcast – Ep.068: FRENCHY [NOLA-based live painter, pioneer]
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What an absolute thrill to welcome FRENCHY to Episode 068! Based in NOLA, this icon of live-painting in both music/festival culture(s) and pro sports is renowned around the world for his stunning version of acousti-optics. Frenchy’s joyful, freestyle process and pioneering visual art set the bar sky high for a quarter century to come, and continues to elevate and innovate to this day.
Frenchy’s flow-state sessions painting the finest live music performances are long the stuff of legend. Funkafied renderings of the heroes of yesteryear and stars of today. A self-taught wizard wielding kaleidoscopic colorways, total Zen amidst the bombastic beats and dancing freaks.
Now 53, married with an 11-year-old son, Frenchy marks over 2 consecutive years of sobriety with humor, candor, and gratitude. He offers this beautifully human reflection on his unique journey on this rock.
Episode 068 is dedicated to the late Andrew Laganella, aka Lag. I’m sho’ those four winds blew you safely Home.
- 3:30 – SECRET DREAMS Music & Arts Festival
- 6:45 – The Upful Update
- 12:15 – Lettuce-Praise merch giveaway, Give Thanks
- 19:00 – introducing FRENCHY, dedication to Lag storytime w/Bee
- 31:30 – INTERVIEW w/ Frenchy (75 mins)
- 1:56:00 – afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAMZ
Bio:
Frenchy paints with soul and celebration, as he travels the world capturing live music performances, festivals, fundraisers and sporting events with style and finesse. From his palette comes vibrantly colored brush strokes inspired by rhythms and melodies, giving emotions a shape in real time. His vivid, energetic pieces captivate art collectors, sports fans and music lovers alike, as if they had the best seat in the house. Based in the talent-rich city of New Orleans, Frenchy is an ambassador to the arts and a bastion of creativity.
Born to a boxer and a saint on August 16th, 1970, in the industrial New England town of Lowell, Mass., Randy Leo Frechette -– a.k.a. Frenchy –- has been drawing since he could grip a pencil. In grade school he impressed friends with caricatures of teachers and classmates, but he did not realize his true calling until The Boston Horns approached him in Orlando and persuaded him to paint their performance live in 1994. Since then, Frenchy’s presence has filled venues both large and small with an explosion of creative spirit.
I’m mighty proud to be the platform where Frenchy chose to share of himself so freely. –bg
- for more info on FRENCHY, check out www.frenchylive.com
Vibe Junkie JAMZ
Brotherhood of Groove – “Wookie World” (2004)
SOUL Brass Band – “If You Want Me to Stay” (live 2019 on WWOZ)
WIN a limited edition ‘LETTUCE PRAISE’ T-SHIRT
info to enter in this episode’s intro