Frankie and the Heartstrings
27.10.09
Frankie and the Heartstrings consist of Frankie, Dennis, Dave, Michael & Pete. Their press release calls them a "Brand new old fashioned pop band from Sunderland" which is a bit true but not totally. You can find them supporting the amazing Florence And The Machine in December.
Have a listen (especially to 'Fragile'):
http://www.myspace.com/frankietheheartstrings
http://www.youtube.com
He Said
Frankie and the Heartstrings. I'm just going to leave you with that name for a second...
How possibly could this band be anything other than soul affirming phantasmagorical. They are everything you could want in a band at that point in their career: they are passionate, raw, almost sloppy in places but above all its the exciting tingle that shivers and shimmies up your spine and whispers in your ear that what you are now watching may change the way you next look at your iPod.
Did I slip? I know I stumbled did I trip? Because I know I fell when I realised an ex of mine was here to see the same band as us. Not something I had planned on, but certainly something that pulled the plug on my ego like water from a bath.
'Are you ok?' she said.
'The only thing I know right now is that I'm definitely not ok'
Frankie and the Heartstrings drag you through all of my 50's fantasies: they are a perfect combination of quiffs and casual brilliance. Frankie the lead singer has a dead eyed stare of someone who means every droplet of sweat that fizzes from his brow. The songs are perfect impassioned Americana by way of Sunderland.
She (not the ex) grabs me by the hand and we scuttled to the safe haven of the darken Barfly corners. I fixed my gaze to The Heartstrings trying not to look to my left. The horrible self conscious feeling absorbed me. Why did she dump me? Why didn't I dump her first? Was I not attentive or attractive enough...?
'I can even hear you thinking about it, just stop the neurosis you nuisance and watch the band' she proclaims.
Frankie steps down from the stage and stalks the crowd daring them not to realise what is right in front of their eyes. You can see in his eyes that he is thinking...
'Yes I may be first on, yes we may be supporting the mostly hyped up, talked about band since the last 'next great white hope' but I willed be damned if you do not hear what I have to say...'
The band finish but my gaze remains. She grips me by the cuff and we bolt for the door, hurrying down the steps I realize that Frankie and the Heartstrings was a perfect soundtrack to running into an ex. They are both powerful and fragile at the same time capturing the feeling of insecurity but with the promise of redemption in potential.
She Said
This was meant to be a nice relaxing evening popping down the road to catch a new band at Barfly. Instead it descended into a mine field of emotional turmoil.
Tottering upstairs my shoulder was grabbed from behind, I was whipped round to a confused and dare I say it vulnerable looking boy. Disintegrated at least ten years he looked as though someone had stolen his favourite top trump card. Eyes large with twitchy pupils. I checked my phone. No, it wasn't four in the morning on a Saturday when the only option is to lie back and think the worst. It was in fact 7.30 on a school night. Why was this cocky idiot nuisance of a friend suddenly clutching my shoulder so intently?
'That's-my-ex-that's-thingy'
I slowly placed my hand around his wrist and removed it before he dislodged any bones. I looked round to see the problem. And yes it was a problem. A rather massive problem. It was some girl who was a bit of a shit to dear old boyo here. But friends are friends and I'm a loyal one at that. So I offered,
'Do you want me to kiss you?'
I was trying to be helpful, but he didn't seem to agree.
'That would be a bit childish and pathetic don't you think?'
This comment coming from him made me want to laugh, but understanding his fragile state instead I grabbed his hand and we slid into the crowd of people who had gathered to bear witness to Frankie and the Heartstrings.
The only way I can describe how I felt watching Frankie and the Heartstrings was that I felt a bit like Marty McFly - transcended back to the 50's when hair just got interesting. I don't pretend to know a lot about music but I know what I like and I like this. The audience stood like statues much to my astonishment. Frankie jumped into the audience to try and spur on energy. This was met with total disregard, it was almost like it had evoked memories of the morning commute - avoidance at all costs.
Him next to me was with quivering lip angst, his hand gripping mine. This might sound romantic (but it wasn't), their song 'Fragile' started. To be honest there isn't a song that doesn't write words to describe the moment like this. The ups and downs of life can be rather despairing (this is well soppy) but having friends to share them is well important. I gave him a look and then we started laughing.
I can't recommend this band enough, I was so transfixed I emailed them the next day to let them know how much I enjoyed it. Pete and Frankie both sent us songs. So they're nice boys as well. Well, until their first hit.
