Frankie and The Heartstrings,Secretive George @ TheWorker's Club, Melbourne(01/10/11)

Thu 6th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Surveying the Worker’s Club bandroom, it appeared that the occasion of Frankie and The Heartstrings’ first ever Melbourne show had eluded the radar of most indie-rock enthusiasts. The thin show of support, however, did not dissuade the Sunderland lads from staging a staggeringly awesome performance, capping off their tour in style.

Curiously, punters would enter the Worker’s friendly garage-setting without any prior indication of a support act. An A4 sheet of paper at the door had listed the evening’s first act as ‘TBC’ even as late as 9pm. It would take the band themselves to dispel the mystery, the group identified as locals Secretive George. Their craft fuelled by a penchant for electronic pop and Japanese noise groups, Secretive George quickly emerged a surprising powder-keg of 8-bit indie rock fun. Their imaginative, interstellar trip is akin to being lost in an infinite video-game arcade expanse, straddling experimental overtones. Naturally, this all makes for a pretty fun live experience. The band’s keyed components are undoubtedly vital to their approach; a microkorg in particular proving both the backbone of their sound and entirely missed when absent from their performance.

The role of Jack Stavrakis, the band’s enigmatic front man, emerges as the only contentious issue. They either need another member to grab the microphone between songs, or Stavrakis must cultivate some charisma. Though his goofy demeanour proves endearing at first, his presence gradually becomes more uncomfortable with each break. Combined with an average vocal performance, Stavrakis’ time on the microphone emerges the only uneasy element of Secretive George’s repertoire. Overall though, the band displayed their wares as a refreshingly unique, inspired unit, sporting a collection of strikingly beautiful tunes. It was a short but sweet set, summed up perfectly by Stavrakis himself off the mic: “Well, that was fun!” Yes, it certainly was.

Soon, headliners Frankie and The Heartstrings would take the stage. Disappointingly, not more than twenty punters were scattered across the band room, leaving a gigantic space at the foot of the band’s platform. Front man Frankie Francis carried on unperturbed however, relinquishing the stage for the Worker’s cold concrete floor. Francis’ would exude an electric charisma to match the band’s classic indie rock masterclass; their impressive chemistry immediately evident. With each song, Frankie and The Heartstrings executed their craft with sublime cohesion.

The band offered an engaging mish-mash of emotionally charged lyricism and irresistibly fun indie-rock. An inclination towards post-punk revival romanticism prevailed on more than a few occasions, the likes of the infectious That Postcard drawing a small dance party of enthused punters. I Want You Back enabled a brief spot of melancholy, the song proving a pained pop marvel marked by Francis’ regretful sentiments.

The band’s accessibility is definitely one of their key strengths. The application of their craft almost always involves a dynamite hook of sorts, and their allure as pop-smiths inescapable. Hunger, the band’s biggest single, prompted patrons to match Francis in voice; the song’s charm and simplicity ushering in the evening’s new pinnacle. A promising new song in Everybody Looks Better (In The Right Light) also featured among the evening’s highlights.

Throughout their first-rate performance, Frankie and The Heartstrings proved themselves an endearing bunch, their English mate-ship shining through. Along with a few amusing interludes and wisecracks aplenty spread across the set, a celebration of the band’s debut trip to our shores inevitably ensued – with vodka shots, no less. The gesture assisted in driving the set (and their tour) towards a raw, patient finale in Fragile.

Ultimately, the Worker’s Club hosted an evening defined by immense promise. Secretive George proved they are certainly a local act to keep an eye on and Frankie and The Heartstrings delivered a sensational set that should deservedly augment their standing here down under. Fingers crossed they’re back sooner rather than later.