Frankie and the Witch Fingers is a rock band known for their energetic and psychedelic music. While all the members contribute to the band's unique sound, their drummer plays an essential role in creating the band's signature groove. The drums in Frankie and the Witch Fingers' music provide a driving force that keeps the audience engaged and captivated. The drummer in Frankie and the Witch Fingers is a talented musician with a diverse range of influences. They draw inspiration from various genres, including rock, punk, and psychedelia, to create a dynamic and vibrant drumming style. Their ability to seamlessly transition between different rhythms and tempos adds depth and complexity to the band's music.
Nikki Pickle: When you’re DJing the van, you’re putting on group favorites that everyone’s gonna want to listen to. So, it’s like 90s nostalgia. Let’s do this. And everyone’s like, “Oh, yeah, that’s my song, that’s my jam.” But you’re not like seriously sampling tunes. You know?
Longtime RSTB faves Frankie and the Witch Fingers let loose another sonic storm into the atmosphere, offering up one of their most scathing and searing records yet. The music continues to crescendo to a blast-your-eardrums level and it becomes more and more apparent that Frankie and The Witch Fingers mean serious business.
Their ability to seamlessly transition between different rhythms and tempos adds depth and complexity to the band's music. The drums in Frankie and the Witch Fingers' songs are characterized by their energetic beats and infectious rhythms. The drummer's use of complex patterns and fills adds excitement and intensity to the music, enhancing the overall listening experience.
The Los Angeles based rockers, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, bring an original blend of classic & neo-psychedelia with prog, krautrock, and funk influences.
While their discography can sound rather diverse, there is also a strong continuity and display of growth throughout. Frankie and the Witch Fingers make for a memorable live performance experience that you don’t want to miss. The band recently finished a 5 week stint of touring across the US including two shows in Austin, Texas as part of the Levitation Festival.
Frankie And The Witch Fingers by Justin Jackley
Thanks for meeting up with me! Let’s do some introductions here.
Dylan Sizemore: I’m Dylan and I play guitar and sing.
Nikki Pickle: I’mP ickle and I play bass.
Josh Menashe: I’m Josh and I play guitar.
Jon Modaff: And Jon and I play drums.
When did you all arrive in Austin? Last night?
Dylan Sizemore: Two nights ago – Thursday night.
Nikki Pickle: Pretty late. We didn’t really go and see anything on Thursday night. We just got in and settled and went out and saw stuff yesterday.
Okay, cool. Who did you see last night?
Nikki Pickle: We saw the Black Angels, Kikagaku Moyo, and Black Midi.
Jon Modaff: We saw Levitation Room.
Awesome. Yeah, I was at Stubbs last night for the Black Angels but I missed Black Midi. I had a ticket but didn’t make it over…
Nikki Pickle: It was so cool. They are so good.
I’ve heard they are pretty good live and their recorded stuff is really good. Sorry I missed it. Too many things going on at once. You all are currently on tour with Acid Dad. How has that been going so far?
Dylan Sizemore: It’s been amazing! They are like the sweetest dudes and they’re also really amazing musicians. It’s been really cool to play with a band that you want to see play every night. It’s really exciting.
Frankie And The Witch Fingers by Connor Fields
I’m going to interview them tomorrow, actually. Any interesting or weird shit happen while on tour?
Nikki Pickle: We had a cool vacation with Acid Dad. We got to go play mini-golf, or putt-putt or whatever the proper terminology is.
Dylan Sizemore: I think it was “goofy golf”?
Nikki Pickle: “Goofy Golf” in Panama City, Florida. Oh, and the weird thing there was that there was a red tide, which is like an overgrowth of algae in the water. So, the water becomes kind of toxic so all these fish were dying and there’s dead fish all along the shore. I think it was pretty crazy. Like not a normal thing to happen.
That is strange. Was it pretty stinky?
Nikki Pickle: It was a little stinky. Just when you got close to the water though, not everywhere. But when we walked on the beach, the algae puts out like a toxic gas and it makes you cough a bunch.
Josh Manashe: I got this coughing attack just staring at this dead eel on the beach. It was strange.
It’s almost like the Earth is trying to kill us or something! It does not like us…
Josh Menashe: I know!
Nikki Pickle: But we did get to go in the ocean on the Atlantic side of Florida. We were over in Orlando and that was awesome. That was my first time in the Atlantic and we got to spend the whole day just swimming and hanging out.
This is near the end of your tour, isn’t it? You guys have a few more dates ahead of you?
Dylan Sizemore: Yeah, these two shows and then two more so like four shows left. It’s been going on like five weeks now so it’s been a pretty long run.
So, ready for a break after this one?
Dylan Sizemore: Only because it’s happening. I feel like if we had more shows I’d be really stoked and wouldn’t be tired but like your brain gets ready for the end of it.
Nikki Pickle: It’s the come down. The whole tour come down.
Dylan Sizemore: Then we’ll get home and just be itching to play more shows.
Any future tour plans yet or is it just too soon to even think about?
Dylan Sizemore: Yeah, always. I mean, that’s kind of how it works. We have shows for next year. I don’t know how many we can mention because some of them are festivals and they’re working on stuff but we’re playing shows next year. I think we’re gonna go to Europe in like May, but again, everything’s tentative. But, definitely playing some shows. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
Frankie And The Witch Fingers by Justin Jackley
What do you guys do to keep yourself occupied while you’re on the road for those hours and hours?
Josh Menashe: Rubik’s Cube.
Nikki Pickle: Josh, over the pandemic, taught himself to beat the Rubik’s Cube and now he’s teaching everyone else how to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Now there’s little formulas written down and placed around the van of how to do it.
Josh Menashe: It’s a useful skill. Like survival guide.
Nikki Pickle: He’s like a coach. He’s constantly coaching everyone about like, “you’re gonna want to put blue on the top right and you turn it up right and left, right, left, right, up, down.
Josh Menashe: L-U-R-U-L-U-R-U. We should make a song called “Luru-Luru”.
I could never do those.
Josh Menashe: Not yet. I got you.
Dylan Sizemore: It’s addicting too. It seems really mentally taxing but once you unlock each step, you’re hooked.
You guys have any “go to tunes” you listen to in the van?
Josh Menashe: We listen to ‘You’re Still the One’ by Shania Twain every morning as part of our routine.
Of course.
Dylan Sizemore: Yeah, it perfectly encapsulates tour. Like, “looks like we made it. Look how far we’ve come.” We’re doing it. Thanks Shania. Honestly, we like to listen to music that people think we sound like.
Nikki Pickle: We listen to generally just fun nostalgic stuff.
Dylan Sizemore: Maybe listen to Alanis Morissette. We love her. Kind of.
Can’t tell if serious or not…
Dylan Sizemore: No, no, we are!
Josh Menashe: We listen to other shit too.
Dylan Sizemore: But not in the van. It’s just not – I don’t know. For me, it’s just more fun to listen to shit you know or that you used to listen to as a kid or whatever. Fun shit rather than serious.
Nikki Pickle: When you’re DJing the van, you’re putting on group favorites that everyone’s gonna want to listen to. So, it’s like 90s nostalgia. Let’s do this. And everyone’s like, “Oh, yeah, that’s my song, that’s my jam.” But you’re not like seriously sampling tunes. You know?
Dylan Sizemore: Although, what’s that band? Horse Lords. They’re pretty dope.
I’m not familiar with them.
Dylan Sizemore: It’s crazy. It’s like polyrhythms and it’s mathy but it’s not, but it still grooves. I don’t know. It’s rad.
Frankie And The Witch Fingers by Roger Ho
Your latest release was a single called “Cookin'”. What label was that released on?
Dylan Sizemore: Yeah, ‘Cookin” and ‘Tracksuit’ on the B side. Through Greenway Records and the Reverberation Appreciation Society. They are kind of partners, which is really rad because we get to do shit like this.
Several albums, including ‘Brain Telephone’, credit Dylan and Pickle with the artwork design. Are you all generally pretty heavily involved in the aesthetics as well as the music?
Dylan Sizemore: Yeah, the visual aesthetic of the band is definitely a group decision, but Nikki and I usually team up on creating or art directing whatever project we’re working on. It’s something we’re both passionate about. Nikki went to college for Art and Design and so she’s always putting finishing touches on any of the stuff we put out.
What’s next for you guys? Do you have any new music on the horizon?
Josh Menashe: We are still kind of in the writing process. We spent a lot of last year building a studio and we can record every jam we do now which is really fun. So, we have a lot of stuff to sift through and try to turn into real songs and write another record.
Dylan Sizemore: The single was kind of like a test run to see how well we do with the homemade studio. It turned out pretty good.
Any last words for readers of It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine?
Dylan Sizemore: Call your loved ones and tell them you miss ’em.
Thank you much!
Frankie And The Witch Fingers by Justin Jackley
Written and Illustrated by
Justin Jackley
December 2021
www.justinjackley.com
Headline photo: Roger Ho
Whether it's a fast-paced, high-energy song or a slower, more introspective track, the drummer consistently delivers a powerful performance. In addition to their technical skills, the drummer in Frankie and the Witch Fingers also has a keen sense of musicality. They understand the importance of playing with the band's other members and create a strong musical connection that elevates the overall sound. The drummer's ability to listen and respond to the music in real-time allows them to make spontaneous and creative choices that contribute to the band's unique sound. Overall, the drums in Frankie and the Witch Fingers' music are an integral part of their sonic identity. The drummer's skillful playing and musicality help to shape the band's sound and leave a lasting impact on the listeners. Whether it's through their energetic beats or their ability to create captivating rhythms, the drums in Frankie and the Witch Fingers' music are an essential element that sets them apart from other rock bands..
Reviews for "Behind the Beat: A Spotlight on Frankie and the Witch Fingers' Drummer"
1. Karen - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Frankie and the Witch Fingers drums. The sound quality was subpar and the whole set felt cheaply made. The drumsticks didn't produce a good sound, and the drumheads felt flimsy. I was expecting a high-quality drum set, but this was definitely not it. I would not recommend this product to any serious drummer.
2. John - 1 star - The Frankie and the Witch Fingers drums were a waste of money. The entire set arrived damaged - the hardware was bent, the drumheads were dented, and the paint was chipped. It was clear that these drums were poorly made and not meant to last. Additionally, the sound was terrible. The drums produced a weak and tinny sound that was almost unbearable to listen to. I regret purchasing this set and would advise against it.
3. Samantha - 2.5 stars - I had high hopes for the Frankie and the Witch Fingers drums, but they fell short of my expectations. The assembly process was complicated and the instructions were poorly written. Even after setting it up, the drums did not stay in tune for long. I constantly found myself readjusting the tension rods, which was quite frustrating. The overall sound was average, but the lack of durability and the constant need for adjustments made these drums less enjoyable to play.
4. Mike - 1 star - I thought the Frankie and the Witch Fingers drums would be a fun addition to my drum collection, but I was sorely mistaken. The quality was extremely poor, with several parts not fitting together properly. The drumheads were flimsy and tore easily, and the cymbals lacked any resonance. The overall sound was dull and unimpressive. I would advise anyone considering purchasing these drums to invest in a better quality set instead.