Trash Classic. Frankie and The Witch Fingers

Anyone who wants to start listening to Trash Classic without any pre knowledge: you better fasten your aural seatbelt first. Frankie and The Witch Fingers take off immediately in the most nervous and erratic way possible. The first Pere Ubu album comes to my mind immediately. Trash Classic presents a whole range of modern dances. Add a little Zappaesque burlesque elements and a lot of punk (attitude) and you might start to get the picture. I for one am convinced that this L.A. band knows exactly what it is doing and what it wants to get across.

That also includes a perfect mix of U.S. punk rock and the more alive side of later Britpop, with bands like the Automatic and before that Supergrass. The resulting mix is an alternative form of pop. Frankie and The Witch Fingers know what pop songs are and how to hide them from plain sight. Beneath that wall of sound, of riffs that are not your every day’s and the loads of energy caught in the studio, there are songs to enjoy. In other words, the best of both worlds is on offer on Trash Classic.

The first release by the band is already over ten years ago. I sort of missed it all, that makes the introduction today the more pleasant as I'm totally fresh to what I'm hearing and that is an album filled with songs that seem to go everywhere in my mind. My brain feels totally charged after a listening session with this band.

That band is founding members Dylan Sizemore (vocals and rhythm guitar), Josh Menashe (vocals, lead guitar, synthesizer), later joined by Nicole "Nikki Pickle" Smith (bass), Nick Aguilar (drums) and Jon Modaff (synths).

Later into Trash Classic you will start hearing more influences like the U.K. punkfunk from the early 80s. That nervousness remains in place though. In 'Simple Reset' they sing about a nervous breakdown. The song is probably able to induce one in people hearing it. Or set the party going. There's nothing in between I guess apart from running away as fast and far as possible.

In short, don't expect any subtlety here. Frankie and The Witch Fingers rocks and then rocks some more. The band rocks your boat and rattles your brain. With Trash Classic they offer a party anywhere you go. You only need to bring the music in whatever form with you.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can order and listen to Trash Classic here:

https://frankieandthewitchfingers.bandcamp.com/album/trash-classic