Singer/songwriter Kyle Cook returned home this weekend to rock the house Friday night in a concert during the 25th Annual Hot Dog Festival in downtown Frankfort.
Playing deep into the night before a raucous crowd, the Frankfort High School graduate was one of the two headliner performers for the Hot Dog Festival on the historic weekend. The other headliner was the Kentucky Headhunters on Saturday.
Asked how it felt to be performing in the 25th Hot Dog Festival, Cook replied, “It feels great and it feels right even more because I come from a long line of Hot Dogs,” he said. “My mom still lives here, my aunt lives here and my uncle still lives here. They all went to Frankfort High School. My kids didn’t because I moved away and kind of chased music. Many of my friends that I grew up stayed in town. I think it’s (playing here this weekend) got added meaning because we all share that experience.”
For two decades, Cook spent the majority of his musical career as the lead guitarist for Matchbox Twenty. In 2016, he announced his departure from the group. Now, he’s out doing concerts and creating his own music.
Cook was asked how his music has changed since he left Matchbox Twenty.
“It’s different and maybe even more challenging, but also thrilling, at the same time because when you’re in a group it’s a dynamic that there’s kind of a democratic element to it and people bouncing ideas off of it,” said Cook. “For this project, it’s me discovering what my sound is. I can almost be a little bit more critical of the albums and the music I’m putting out because I know the buck stops here.”
Cook performed at the Hot Dog Festival in 2015 and was part of the first group inducted into the Frankfort Hot Dog Hall of Fame in September 2017. He talks about some of the changes that have been made since his last visit to the Gem City.
“I feel like (Mayor) Chris (McBarnes) is trying to capitalize a little more on Frankfort as a destination please that’s close to Indianapolis and close to Lafayette,” said Cook. “Just the whole idea of bringing events to downtown Frankfort and getting people re-engaged in the community.”
Cook also talked about how much he enjoyed being back in Frankfort.
“I feel all the warmth from the community, even more so this year than 2015 with the (downtown) revitalization, the excitement about Prairie Creek Park and these apartments (Nickel Plate Flats),” said Cook. “It feels great.”