disappear fear

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Contemporary folk, folk/rock

Status:

Recently re-formed with SONiA and new members. DF05 LiVE appeared in 2005. Final album with Cindy Frank, Seed in the Sahara, 1996.

See also:

SONiA / disappear fear site

Solo Ectophiles' Guide entry for SONiA

Comparisons:

Indigo Girls, The Story. (Sherlyn.Koo, paul2k@aol.com)

Indigo Girls, Odd Girl Out. (Matt.Bittner)

Covers/own material:

Most songs written by Sonia Rutstein, very occasional covers

General comments:

disappear fear started in Baltimore in the late 1980s as an acoustic duo consisting of Sonia (SONiA) Rutstein and her sister Cindy Frank. Their wonderful harmonies and Sonia's intensely powerful songs about feminism, love, politics and the politics of love soon earned them a loyal fan base (both gay and straight) in the U.S. After releasing three independent recordings (two recorded in the studio, plus the excellent Live at the Bottom Line), disappear fear were signed to Rounder/Philo and released their self-titled album in 1994, having acquired a full band along the way. In the mid-'90s Cindy retired to part-time band member status in order to devote more time to her family. The band continued touring with Sonia in the lead, and Cindy again joined her sister in the studio for the recording of 1996's Seed in the Sahara. In 1998 Sonia also released a solo album titled Almost Chocolate under the name "SONiA of disappear fear". (Sherlyn.Koo)

disappear fear is a band from Baltimore Maryland whose core was the sisters Sonia and Cindy Frank. They performed as a duo and had various band members come and go around them. I am fondest of them as a duo. You could compare them to the Indigo Girls and you wouldn't be too far off, but they don't sound exactly like them either. Sonia writes all the songs and does most of the lead vocals, and she looks kind of tough but has a definite sensitive side. As a duo they are a bit folky, but with the band they seem to rock more. I saw them all the time when I lived in Maryland, and they were one of my favorite bands.
     I learned all these songs live before the discs came out. I think the band is more notable for its emotions, rather than the actual words, and many of the words seem much more alive when Sonia sings them.
     Sonia always performs everything with passion. What has moved me and drawn me to the band has been how affecting her musings on relationships have been. "Box of Tissues" and "Postcard From Texas" strike me as the most compelling and powerful songs in their catalog. I don't think they rise to those heights too often, but I still feel that tingling at scattered moments in other songs. On the other hand, most of her purely political songs carry little weight with me. From my brief time on the disappear fear list (about 5 years ago), I was surprised to learn that "Washington Work Song" consistently was listed as people's favorite disappear fear song. It, and other songs like it, are also quite popular in concert, and though I've found them passionately performed and sometimes quite catchy and melodic, I've never found any of them moving or inspirational. (neal)

I don't know how to describe them/her. It is Sonia Rutstein on vocals and guitar with her sister in the studio harmonizing and sometimes a band backing in the studio and on tour. Kinda sound like the Story and Indigo Girls. (paul2k@aol.com)

I liked them at first but their disappear fear album turned out to be a big disappointment for me. It hasn't done anything for me. My biggest problem is that Odd Girl Out and disappear fear sound too similar. However, I *really* like Odd Girl Out, but can't stomach disappear fear. Maybe because Odd Girl Out is a trio, and disappear fear was just a duo? Hard telling. (Matt.Bittner)

Sonia has always written and performed political songs since the early days...always full of both strength and passion. (melsouth@mindspring.com)

Comments about live performance:

I've never actually seen disappear fear live (unfortunately I missed them when they were touring with the Indigo Girls in 1994). However, I do have their live album and I've seen Sonia play solo and she is one of the best performers I have ever seen--she's charming and funny and obviously takes a lot of joy in the music. I would definitely recommend going to see either disappear fear or Sonia play solo if you get the chance. (Sherlyn.Koo)

I saw disappear fear shortly after Cindy left the band. disappear fear was characterized as having incredible harmonies and impassioned vocals. The latter is still true, but the incredible harmonies were sorely missed. I think anyone unfamiliar with the band wouldn't have any complaints about their current show (which I still recommend), but if you then saw them with Cindy, you would marvel at how much well-placed backing vocals can do to a performance. Sonia said she was not retiring from music, which I hope means that she will still record with the band, just not tour. Despite my complaints, the show at the Birchmere was a pretty typical night for disappear fear. Some very touching love (or love gone awry) songs, a bunch of earnest political songs, and a fair amount of gay politics. Since the last time I saw them they were an acoustic duo, this show seemed most notable for how hard it rocked. I still think the band is pretty pedestrian, but Sonia reaches deep inside herself to bring a lot of emotion and feeling to her songs, and that goes a very long way. I would recommend them to anyone here. They put on an energetic and entertaining show. They still occasionally pop up as a duo though--those shows are definitely the more satisfying ones. (neal)

Recommended first album:

Live at the Bottom Line or disappear fear or Seed in the Sahara. (Sherlyn.Koo)

If I were recommending a disappear fear disc to people I'd say get Live at the Bottom Line Deep Soul Diver is my next fave. I wouldn't recommend anybody getting the self-titled disc before the others, just for fear of them never returning and finding the music I like better. (neal)

Recordings include:

• Echo My Call (c. 1987)
• Deep Soul Diver (1989)
• Live at the Bottom Line (1992)
• disappear fear (1994)
• Seed in the Sahara (1996)
• DF05 LiVE (live, 2005)

Deep Soul Diver

Release info:

Independent release 1989--disappear records--DR1004CD
Re-release 1995--Rounder/Philo--PHILO CD 1173

Availability:

Available in the U.S., may also be available in other countries where Rounder products are distributed

Ecto priority:

Recommended for disappear fear fans

Group members:

Sonia Rutstein--vocals, guitar
Cindy Frank--vocals, tambourine

Guest artists:

Shirley Purvis--drums
Steve Raskin--drums
Dominic Viglietti--bass

Produced by: