Live Review

Frankie & The Heartstrings, Fibbers, York

25th May 2014

Frontman Frankie Francis’ showmanship is complemented by the new on-stage dynamic.

Words: Carolina Faruolo
Photos: Carolina Faruolo
6th March 2014

Anyone who’s been under the impression Frankie & The Heartstrings have been a bit quiet of late are, well, wrong. When not busy running their own record shop (Pop Recs Ltd in Sunderland) or recruiting new guitarists (Ross Millard of The Futureheads), they’ve been working on new material and plotting this brief tour to showcase just where they’re going next.

The final night of their four-date jaunt across the North sees the band performing for a particularly rowdy Sunday night York crowd. Avoiding all formalities, they open with brand new number, 'Save It For Tonight'. Frontman Frankie Francis' showmanship is complemented by the new on-stage dynamic, the band actively interacting with each other and the audience - mostly to make jokes about Sunderland.

Frankie & The Heartstrings, Fibbers, York

The biggest problem when you've released such a hit as 2011's 'Hunger' is following it up. So while 'That Girl, That Scene' didn't quite match those heights, newbies 'Anna', 'Balconette' and 'Hate Me' could, as they blend in nicely with older material while still sounding fresh and upbeat.

'Fragile' is still the band's choice for set closer, its build-ups and big chorus leaving the venue buzzing and cheering for an encore that doesn't appear. Tonight, Frankie & The Heartstrings hint that there's an ace up their sleeve waiting to be played strategically on album number three.