The Return of The Frank and Walters
By Claire Kelly
CURRENTLY recording their new album in Waterford, The Frank and Walters play an eagerly awaited gig at Dolans on Friday November 4.

“It's day two of the recording and we have just recorded the second track”, says Ashley Keating, drummer with the band. “It's a funny one, there's no pressure. We co-formed our own label FIFA records, so the brief has been what we want unlike previous albums where we would have been stressed out a bit or coming off tour and going straight into recording which is not much fun - this is much more refreshing”.

The Frank and Walters began in Cork in the early nineties with their mission being to “spread cheer and optimism throughout the world via their music”.

They signed to Setanta Records, relocated to London and released a string of critically acclaimed EP's filled with memorable songs like Fashion Crisis Hits New York, Michael and Walter's Trip. They played hundreds of gigs initially supporting the Inspiral Carpets and Carter USM on their tours. The bands' popularity grew and later on as headliners the Franks were supported by Suede and Radiohead. Their debut album Trains, Boats and Planes featuring the massive hit After All among others, was released to critical acclaim in 1992 followed by the classic Grand Parade. When asked about the band's popularity during that period Ashley replies, “There is an element of human nature to it. The thing is that when you analyse it, I don't think we were suited to superstardom. Our least happiest times coincided with our most successful times commercially. It was scary in that you didn't control your own destiny. We were definitely not prepared for it.”

Although they are already recording for a new album they are busy with promoting their current album Souvenirs a double album featuring new tracks and rarities. “Our back catalogue came up for sale which included everything we had done to our last recording session in 2002. Their were several American back catalogue companies interested in it. We somehow managed to cobble money together — all legal may I add — to buy it back. Suddenly we had tons of material and nothing to do with it. A lot of the stuff on it was previously unavailable. We kept finding tracks that are really good so we decided to put it together in a double album. Some of the tracks have been recorded as far back as 1993 and were only available on vinyl”. Each album purchased has a password that will enable fans to download a third album free of charge from www.thefrankandwalters.ie

15 years on, the music of The Frank and Walters still captivates their loyal following and many new fans have emerged. “When we were growing up we felt different to everybody else. Then we heard The Smiths and New Order and didn't feel like such freaks anymore. We would pretty useless at anything else.”

The Frank and Walters play Dolans on Friday November 4 with support from Vesta Varro and The Small Prophets. “This is our first tour of Ireland in six years and the gigs have all been great we're really looking forward to playing in Limerick again. There seems to be a genuine wave of affection, people still love hearing our songs.”