Frankie and the Witch Fingers is an indie rock band known for their psychedelic sound and high-energy performances. The band formed in Bloomington, Indiana, and draws influences from acts like Thee Oh Sees, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and Ty Segall. Since their formation in 2013, they have released several albums, including "ZAM" in 2019, which received critical acclaim for its blend of garage rock, psych rock, and punk influences. The main idea is that Frankie and the Witch Fingers are an indie rock band with a psychedelic sound and energetic live shows..
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Frankie And The Witch Fingers
There’s long been a growl festering in the West, an earthen rumble fed by tectonic tension, acrid smoke, and sun-parched air. The brew has boiled over lately, a pressure-cooked chaos that can no longer be contained. The growl has grown to a howl.. the howl is at the door. Few are as ready to meet the madness head on as Frankie and the Witch Fingers. On ‘Data Doom’ the band hurtles the listener head first into the wood-chipper of technological dystopia, systemic rot, creeping fascism, the military-industrial profit mill, and a near-constant erosion of humanity that peels away the soul bit by bit. With a fuse lit by these modern-day monstrosities the band seeks to find salvation through a thousand watt wake-up of rock n’ roll exfoliation.
After tearing through the tender heart of the Midwest, Frankie and the Witch Fingers found themselves clamped down on the fried edges of Los Angeles, carving out a niche that’s equal parts molten tar pit teardown and cataclysmic careen. Following releases on Hypnotic Bridge, Let’s Pretend, and Permanent, the band landed between the twin barbs of Greenway and The Reverberation Appreciation Society, a perfect fit for their frenetic blend of rhythmic whiplash and sonic soul shake. Anchored by songwriters Dylan Sizemore and Josh Menashe, the band has kept a rotating door of friends and collaborators moving through their midst over the past few years, coalescing post-pandemic into a symbiotic stage beast that’s become the beating heart of their new album, ‘Data Doom’. Bassist Nikki “Pickle” Smith and drummer Nick Aguilar have been road-hardened and readied over the last year, laying the groundwork for the new record’s 300 pounds of pummel and propulsion.
That heft was hurtled onto tape in the band’s Vernon, CA studio space. The locale let the city’s grit creep into the crevices of their new record, a wild swing at the sternum that hits the listener like an adrenaline shot to the heart. Wiping away the haze of stoned-ape psychedelics that permeated their opus ‘Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters’… the band favors an asphalt assault of rock, riff, and amphetamine rhythm. As they’ve wound out of the last phase, their sound, over a series of singles, has begun to thicken and throb. It’s coalesced into a darker strain that ingests the explosive impulses of gas-crisis-era proto-punk, the rhythmic insistence of 70’s German Progressives, and the elasticity of funk fusionists alike. They’ve welded their arsenal of influences to a chassis of nail-bitten bombast that drives ‘Data Doom’ into the midst of the maelstrom.
The band has shared bills with Kikagaku Moyo, Ty Segall, Oh Sees, Cheap Trick, and ZZ Top, churning their stage-side scorch into household recognition — burning through a barrage of multicolored vinyl pressings and sparring with indie heavyweights for Billboard chart positions. ‘Data Doom’ looks to cement that status, a sinewy slab cut on the stone of social collapse and licking the blade in anticipation of what’s to come. “Never name the darkness itself,“ intones Sizemore, but the darkness is already here, embedded in every moment, inextricable from the capital, sabbatical, sustenance, and solace of the modern age. ‘Data Doom’ is the elixir and the exorcism, it’s the reformation rendered in rock ’n roll.
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: 'Data Doom' is a wonderfully weird melting pot of freak-out psych, angular guitar riffery and Frankie And The Witch Fingers' own brand of wry politicism. This is classic Frankie fare, but with the volume and weirdness turned up to 11. Superb.
TRACK LISTING
Side A:
1. Empire (7:31)
2. Burn Me Down (3:08)
3. Electricide (3:35)
4. Syster System (6:18)
Side B:
5. Weird Dog (3:58)
6. Doom Boom (4:10)
7. Futurephobic (3:39)
8. Mild Davis (4:46)
9. Political Cannibalism (4:26)
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Reviews for "Frankie and the Witch Fingers: Exploring the Dark and Mystical Side of Indie Rock"
1. John - 2 stars - I really wanted to like Frankie and the Witch Fingers' indie music, but I just couldn't get into it. The songs all sounded the same to me, with repetitive guitar riffs and monotonous vocals. I found myself losing interest quickly and struggling to finish listening to the album. It just didn't have the unique elements or catchy hooks that I look for in indie music.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with Frankie and the Witch Fingers' indie album. The production quality was poor, with the vocals often drowned out by the loud instrumentals. The lyrics were also unintelligible most of the time, making it difficult to connect with the songs on any meaningful level. Overall, I found the album to be a forgettable and uninspiring experience.
3. Alex - 3 stars - While there were a few tracks that stood out to me in Frankie and the Witch Fingers' indie album, overall, it fell flat. The band seemed to rely too heavily on psychedelic rock clichés, resulting in a lack of originality. Additionally, the album lacked cohesion, making it feel disjointed and haphazard. It had its moments, but it just didn't resonate with me.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for Frankie and the Witch Fingers' indie music, but I was left underwhelmed. The songs felt repetitive and lacked depth in both lyrics and composition. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore more interesting sonic territories. Some tracks had potential, but overall, the album failed to leave a lasting impression on me.
5. Michael - 1 star - Frankie and the Witch Fingers' indie album was a complete letdown for me. The songs lacked creativity and passion, and the overall sound felt generic and uninspiring. I couldn't find anything memorable or unique about their music. It felt like they were just going through the motions without offering anything new or interesting to the indie genre.