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| Setlist from the gig |
Frankie & The Heartstrings: what a band. Taking to the stage in an already packed out 'garden shed', these guys gave it their very best and more. With the most stage banter we'd seen all day, including calling each other 'cosmic owls' and worse, they really were something you just did not want to miss.
The band played a fantastic mix of songs, ranging from old to new, with my personal favourites being 'Ungrateful' and 'Berlin Calls'. 'Ungrateful' saw Frankie jump up on the amps pointing frantically at the audience: 'I wrote this song with you in mind'. His vocals really do have a way of getting inside of you and that's what makes it so special.
Amongst the more normal, human members of the audience, there were several green and purple glittery aliens present. No joke! Earlier, Dave Haslam told us that the audience can tell you a lot about the band. So, what have we learnt? Frankie & The Heartstrings are clearly aliens. Or maybe their music is just out of this world. Who knows? It's anyone's guess. What I can tell you for sure is this: human or alien, everyone was bouncing along and well impressed by the brilliant tunes.
Featuring Ross 'the pad' Millard from The Futureheads, the band's self proclaimed claim to fame, these guys really know how to whip up a crowd into a frenzy. Looking rather cramped on this tiny stage, they were dressed casual but cool, not that anyone cared. It was all about the music. And boy, was the music amazing!
To borrow a quote from their music video 'Hunger', we were left "hungry for more" after the fabulous set this band played. See you again soon!
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| Frankie & The Heartstrings running mini Pop Recs |
Afterwards, we caught up with the band for a quick interview in their rather shrunken Pop Recs shop. Here's what they had to say...
What was it like playing in Tim Peaks diner?
Frankie: It was very good; it was like doing a gig in a garden shed with loads of people there. And loads of naked ladies. Not really! Loads of naked men.
Was it what you expected?
F: Not really, like. I thought it would be like playing in a café. We once played in a restaurant in Berlin and I was expecting it to be a little bit like that. People were actually having their tea whilst we were playing! But that didn't happen here, everyone was really up for a gig.
Michael: There was a baby looking through the window which was weird for us. It had like industrial strength ear phones!
What is your favourite song to play live?
F: Love on the Rocks by Neil Diamond. I love singing that one in the shower! Apart from that, I like playing our new girl, which is called 'Anna', and it's going to be on our new record, out next year. That's right - 2015!
What's it like having Pop Records? (Pop Recs is their very own record shop in Sunderland)
Dave: Well, let me tell you!
F: Talk to Dave, he's the librarian there, so... he's the janitor!
D: It's called Pop Recs.
F: You're in a smaller version now.
M: It's like running a mental health drop in centre, essentially. People come in and we get really scared because they've got knives. Every morning, we have a little cry because we're getting tax bills that we can't pay. But apart from that, it's class! Every now and then we have great bands on and it's better. We've had some really special nights.
D: We should really start charging for that!
M: We should. We have to live like Mahatma Gandhi at the minute.
D: Who is Mad hatter Mc Gandhi? (I couldn't tell you Dave, sorry!)
M: You know Gandhi, he's got a vegan food stall!
How do you choose the bands who come to play?
F: They've got to be able to play guitar or any instrument and that's it really. There's no prerequisite. Anyone can play, who wants to play a gig. Everyone should be able to play a gig if they want! A lot of the big bands like Franz Ferdinand, Bruce Springsteen, Tim Burgess... they all come to us and say 'Can we do a gig in your shop?'. We say 'Yes please!'
What are the plans for Frankie & The Heartstrings in the future?
F: The future plans are... we've got Ross! And our future plans include Ross, full time member on guitar now, which has strengthened our side no end! Basically, it's a bit like Arsenal signing Messi Ozil. It should work out brilliant but there might be a few bumps in the road.
M: If this is going to be written down, call him Ross 'the pad' Millard. He likes to be called that.
There's also a side project called Ultimate Creeps!
F: But, it's going to be good because Ross is in the band now! We're making a great record in Leeds with a guy called MJ who is in a fab band called Lukeworms. It's going to go massive! We're going to be drinking pina coladas behind the counter instead of Carlsburg.
Ross: The Ultimate Creeps are a great side project considering they don't exist!
And, if you could be any musical instrument, what would it be?
F: I'd be a piccolo and Michael could blow me all day long!
A bassoon! I want to be a key-tar! It's a hybrid, I like hybrids!
You've got to be careful what you say, it could be offensive! A flute is quite delicate and nice, whereas a double bass- that suggests big and fat.
Tell us about that time you played Gary Glitter's trumpet blindfolded, Dave...
D: It was an absolute mess! It just made a strange noise, like... *makes a strange, indescribable noise*
It didn't sound like a trumpet.
F: There you go!
One last question, we ask everyone! If you could be any kind of pie, what would it be?
F: Dave is a good chef. Dave is a foodie. I'm a vegetarian so I would have to be something boring like Spinach and Mushroom.
D: Spinach and like Goat's cheese?
M: Frey Bentos Steak and Kidney.
D: That's a hard one that, you know. I make a really good Caramelised Onion one, that's a pretty good pie. I call that one the 'Wife Pleaser'!
Phew! Thanks guys. That interview was fun.
Follow @Frankiestrings on Twitter and be sure to pop into Pop Recs, Sunderland if you get the chance.
