Frankie and the Witch Fingers Black Doldrums The Bassment 01/06/18

Another trip out to the Bassment on Friday, not for a soul do but to see a Wet Dream Records promotion. It’s the second one I have been to, the first one was excellent and this one was every bit as good. We sadly missed the first band on the bill, the Lo Chiefs. Heard they were good though.

The first band we saw was the Black Doldrums. They were made up of a young lady on drums and a chap on guitar. They are not for the faint hearted, very loud, very heavy, very moody and I don’t know how they make that music with just 2 people. They played about a 45 minute set, lots of feedback, echoing guitar. I would describe it as heavy psychedelic rock, it was ever so intense. I enjoyed them and would go and see them again.

Top of the bill were Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Maurice asked the lead singer where the name come from and apparently Frankie was the name of the lead singers cat and Witch Fingers sounded right. I think he was winding Mo up. Anyway a 5 piece from LA who I think only are doing 4 gigs in our green and pleasant land. So another thumbs up for WDR and the Bassment. As with the Black Doldrums I didn’t know any of the tunes, so no track list.

The band play frenetic, loudly and have so much energy which only the young seem to have. The music was a speeded up version of a Nuggets LP. If you think of the Garage and Punk bands of the mid to late 60’s you will not go far wrong. Rhythm and blues crossed with psych that has been spiced up with a couple of tabs of speed. I loved this group, loads of attitude, fuzz laden guitar, reverb, just fantastic. A bit like the Sonics, 13th Floor Elevators or the Count Five. I used to listen to this kind of music all the time in the late 80’s, it’s what I like, short tracks which are not over produced, very raw Lo-Fi music. Will definitely see these again if I get the chance.

So thank you Dan Norrington (Wet Dream Records) for putting this on. The next WDR event I think is the 4th of August, not sure what it is but if it’s anything like the last 2, you won’t go wrong. Sadly I am not about for it.

The next band events in my diary are the Small Fakers at the Bassment on the 16th, well worth a look and will probably sell out. Also the Get-Go at the Essex Arms in Brentwood on the 22nd, a nice easy one to get to as it is right next to the Station. There is a Northern Soul Alldayer at the Forge in Billericay on the 10th of June which normally good fun as well.

Duncan, June 2018

Photo's Maurice Hyde & Duncan Eglinton

Webpage Maurice Hyde