Local Bands You Must See: Frankie and The Heartstrings

Each week InJournalism will bring you the very cream of Mackem musical talent for your listening pleasure. This week in the form of Frankie and The Heartstrings.

In a local music scene already brimming with creativity, FATH stand out not only for their penchant for foppish attire, but for their ear for infectious, melodic and tuneful indie-pop. After only a handful of gigs the band recently found themselves supporting Sunderland musical royalty, The Futureheads at their Independent charity gig last month.

We caught up with bequiffed front man, Frankie Francis to tell us a little more.

Who are the band members and what do they play? There’s me Frankie, I sing, Dennis he plays bass, Mike Mcknight on Guitar and last but certainly not least Dave Harper on drums.

How did the band get together? Like minded individuals talking about bands one night, decided to have a few practices and then one thing led to another.

Where does your name come from? We wanted something that would suit our music, we toyed with a few names…pop sex, the new groomers but settled on Frankie and The Heartstrings.

How would you describe the band to someone who’d never heard you play? Twee pop tipping its trilby to C86, jock rock and 50’s fops.

What are your influences? The Fall, Yummy Fur, Velvet Underground, Altered Images, Orange Juice, The Smiths, Charles Bukowski, Jesus and Mary Chain, Mike Leigh, Billy Childish, The Modern Lovers, loads of bands really. Local bands like This Aint Vegas, Field Music and The Futureheads too.

What was the first record you ever bought? The first record i ever bought was on 7″ single and it was Bart Simpson-Do the Bartman! I was 5 or 6.

What was the worst record you ever bought? Probably the next one, 7″ single Brian Adams everything i do i do it for you, I loved Robin Hood.

Where would you like the band to be in ten years time? Wow, I think it would be amazing to still be together and to be having fun doing gigs.

If you had a Tardis, what time would you go back to? Late 50’s early to mid 60’s Britain.

Whats your answer to everything? Listen to Bill Hicks!

You can listen to Frankie and The Heartstrings here or catch them live:

13 May - White Room, Sunderland
20 May - White Room, Sunderland