Frankie McQueen

Primed to celebrate its fourth anniversary as a band, the local rockers behind Frankie McQueen represent the latest wave of Calgary musicians to take up the torch of reverb and rebellion. Its status as an up-and-comer to watch was cemented in 2009, when Frankie captured the “Rockstar” crown at a radio-sponsored battle of the bands and walked away $200,000 richer. There was a catch, however — these grand prize winnings are earmarked for recording studio expenses. But still, it’s a hell of an allocated shot in the arm for a group of greenhorns that cut their teeth on the Wednesday wing-night pub scene.

“Connor (Muth, drummer) and Kelly (O’Keefe, bassist) started the band back in high school,” reports vocalist-guitarist Scotty Charles. “They had been jamming and trying out singers for a while and knew about my singing and playing abilities from seeing me perform in various talent shows and with my band Fang. They were heavily influenced by the old Calgary indie and garage bands (such as) Telly; at the time, and Rob Eight from Telly was a youth pastor who got all those boys playing together.”

“We all loved Telly’s song ‘Frankie McQueen,’” he continues. “And we asked if we could use it as our name. They gave us the thumbs-up and by the end of our first gig together the crowd, at the Nova music showcase, was chanting ‘Frankie! Frankie!’ In that moment, we knew we had something worth pursuing.”

Continuing to build Frankie McQueen’s momentum and character along with founding members O’Keefe and Muth, Charles helped to bring guitarist Scott Giffin to the fold during the recording of its debut EP. A late-night brainstorming session that precipitated music lessons and a fast friendship, the addition of Giffin strengthened the band’s sound as well as its sense of purpose.

“Scott and I hit it off right from the get-go,” explains Charles. “We just started jamming and the hard rockin’ ideas haven’t stopped coming since. Even though we have rather different musical tastes and backgrounds, we all mesh together very well onstage. As guitarists, Scott and I tend to go back and forth a lot, whether we’re working on a sexy ballad, a big bluesy number or a ripping-fast metal song, eventually one of us will ignite out of a jam and create something that becomes a song. There’s really no designated driver in Frankie McQueen — too many assholes trying to backseat drive. I’ve found the best thing you can do in that situation is get them to drink more beer and then let ’em steer the ship for a while.”

With a second EP in the works, it appears Frankie McQueen’s ship is indeed due to come in again. Parlaying their new take on an old sound into indie gold, the organic psych-rock foursome is eager to immortalize the evolution of the Frankie McQueen sound — now with the aid of esteemed producer Graham Sharkey.

Prone to performing with his eyes shut — only to open them and find himself halfway through a set — Charles relishes the otherworldly experience of sharing his audio art in a live setting. In fact, the group is known to perform without a formal “set list,” opting to go with the flow, sometimes recording the order of songs after the fact to be presented in their “natural” order the next time. This talent may well be Frankie McQueen’s greatest asset, as it allows the intuitive quartet to present a moment while remaining present in the moment.

“When we’re onstage we know that it’s our time to shine,” Charles explains of his band’s alter ego. “Frankie McQueen is the kinda guy who rolls into a joint and immediately captures everyone’s attention and completely takes over. He’s a leader, not a follower. He’s a total badass. When I’m talking about Frankie McQueen the man, I’m talking about the most lovable douche bag on the planet" - FFWD

"Frankie McQueen's live show is a welcome reminder to the industry of the standards at which rock was meant to be played, and why it still matters to audiences." - Lindsay Dworkirz of Sonablast! Records

"Frankie McQueen are as tight of act as any, out of 250 bands at indie week 2013 they showed poise and professionalism and stood out amongst the rest. Definitely a band on my radar." - Darryl Hurs - owner/operator INDIE WEEK

I defy you to not feel a rush of adrenaline while watching Calgary’s Frankie McQueen perform live.

I wish it was as simple as limiting this dynamo of pure energy into a category and call it hard driving rhythm based soul rock. Going so far beyond that is still understating the full charge of aural pleasure you get from listening to Connor Muth (Drums), Corey Adams (Bass/Vocals) and Scott Charles (Lead Vocals/Guitar), that you simply must experience it to understand the magnitude of raw musical vibrancy emanating from the stage.

It wasn’t a live performance. It was an ALIVE fmperformance, and there is no feeling like that in the world. Truly Aurgasmic.

So much so, that I went back for a second, and a third show during Indie Week 2013 in Toronto. Couldn’t seem to get enough of this sweet rush.

Throughout the week I was able to catch some of the good, the bad and the ugly that was being offered up during Indie Week and tragically, I also saw a lot of the same old someones, trying to be something like someone else.

When it comes to music, for the most part, I crave the something new, because by now I have seen it all and heard it all and I don’t need to find the next Green Day when I still have the old one.

Collectively, as a tight cohesive unit, Frankie McQueen is refreshing. It is a new adventure in classic blues based rock with attitude, edge, spirit and a unique soul. They clearly have no interest in being anything other than the first Frankie McQueen.

Is this part of some schematic design to be deliberately different??

No. Not really.

While enjoying conversation with the guys, I found them to be chill and affable and gladly confess to operating solely on a naturalistic free flow musical stream of consciousness. The rhythm driven sound comes from an acknowledged effortless connection between Corey and Connor, who without a doubt are the pounding heart of the band.

If they are the heart than Scott fully embodies the soul of the trio. Non-typical as a front-man, he doesn’t pose or posture. He doesn’t lead. He binds the band. Unifies and solidifies the group as a whole. There is no star front and center, they are all-for-one and one-for-all in true musketeer fashion, which is why music runs this show and not ego. Scott’s guitar style is crisp and clean when it should be, and down-n-dirty just when you need it most. His voice is pure, and even in the upper register of his range, he never loses clarity or the rich soulfulness that defines his vocal style.

I really can’t say enough about Corey. I can sincerely say it is a rare pleasure to hear a bass player utilize every square inch of his instrument. I have never seen hands fly so fast. It was a challenge for my eyes to keep up. Given the instrument, the potential to turn that kind of activity into a nonsensical rumbling cacophony of disaster is quite high, but for Corey it is genius. He is able to make the bass simultaneously melodic, percussive and rhythmic. No easy feat and rarely done well.

Awe and wonderment is how Corey’s partner in beat Connor leaves me. With sticks-a-blur for almost the entire set, it was fascinating to watch and even more amazing to try and anticipate with little success on my part. With the juxtaposition of the standard Blues/Rock timing and fills with the most complex and exciting percussive artistry, easy transitions between the classic and the clever.

As a group they feed off each others energy and drive each other musically. There was not a spot of stage uncovered and the band was in constant motion. They fully engaged and transferred that energy to the audience, who were equally exciting to watch as they also clearly enjoyed the experience.

This is how live music should be. You should be able to visibly see the audience drawing from and utilizing the energy flowing from the stage. Many could learn a lesson from Frankie McQueen. - Rosie Cornacchia

Frankie McQueen is a hard rocking band that demands the attention of their audience, and gets it as soon as they play their first note. After seeing them for the first time at the Toronto Indie Week kick off party, it was clear that they are a force to be reckoned with. The bands connection with the audience was unparalleled by any of other bands playing that night. Lead vocalist Scott Charles creates a rapport with the audience as if they are all partying together- he engages with them, has drinks with them, and rocks out with them. He and bassist Corey Adams jumped around the stage as much if not more than their wild audience members, while Connor Muth kills it on the drums. To top it off, the music is amazing- it’s the old school rock and roll that’s been lost in the obscure indie sound of the 2010’s. All in all, they put on one of the best live shows I’ve seen in a while, so much so that I made a point of seeing them again before I begrudgingly wished them a safe trip back to Calgary. - Sam Yoannou

From punk rock, indie rock and classic rock to jazz, folk and hip-hop, there are many scenes that make up Calgary's diverse musical landscape.

And while the genres don't always overlap, Frankie McQueen singer Scott Charles is proud of his band's ability to transcend this city's scene boundaries.

"We play at Vern's, which is a punk/metal club and we've played Broken City, which is indie," says Charles, who joined the fledgling band three years ago.

"We've also played more straightforward rock-and-roll venues like The Back Alley and Snatch and all that. Our fanbase is really diverse. We do get the jock types, the old guys, the young kids and the scenesters. It's really cool seeing all these different types of people at the show."

Frankie McQueen's appeal lies in its ability to write catchy mainstream modern rock songs and infuse them with classic-sounding riffs and bluesy grooves.

"We always have our influences in the back of our head," Charles says.

"If we're writing a song, and we have a Lynyrd Skynyrd-y kind of part, we'll refer to it as such. But as we write more and more we're discovering how to go in our own direction and it's becoming more original, for sure ... We've been expanding our genres. We've got a lot of real hard-rockin' tunes, but then we'll go into more bluesy stuff or slower, more mellow stuff. It's changing that way. But we're always going to remember that we're a rock-and-roll band."

That the four-piece is still evolving musically has meant it is taking its time recording and releasing its debut full-length CD.

They've put out one EP, and are hoping to record a second one soon.

"We want to redo some songs we recorded earlier and we have some new songs," he says.

"I think where we're at now, the EP is the best way to go."

Luckily, the band doesn't have to worry about saving up too much money before they hit the studio again.

Last summer, Frankie McQueen walked away with the $200,000 grand prize in the Fuel Rockstar battle-of-the-bands contest.

Though the band members didn't receive any of the cash themselves, the money was allocated for recording and touring needs.

"It's helped tremendously," says Charles. "Even though none of it goes into our pockets, it goes into the band. Which is good in its way. It's helped us out like crazy." - Calgary Sun

Primed to celebrate its fourth anniversary as a band, the local rockers behind Frankie McQueen represent the latest wave of Calgary musicians to take up the torch of reverb and rebellion. Its status as an up-and-comer to watch was cemented in 2009, when Frankie captured the “Rockstar” crown at a radio-sponsored battle of the bands and walked away $200,000 richer. There was a catch, however — these grand prize winnings are earmarked for recording studio expenses. But still, it’s a hell of an allocated shot in the arm for a group of greenhorns that cut their teeth on the Wednesday wing-night pub scene.

“Connor (Muth, drummer) and Kelly (O’Keefe, bassist) started the band back in high school,” reports vocalist-guitarist Scotty Charles. “They had been jamming and trying out singers for a while and knew about my singing and playing abilities from seeing me perform in various talent shows and with my band Fang. They were heavily influenced by the old Calgary indie and garage bands (such as) Telly; at the time, and Rob Eight from Telly was a youth pastor who got all those boys playing together.”

“We all loved Telly’s song ‘Frankie McQueen,’” he continues. “And we asked if we could use it as our name. They gave us the thumbs-up and by the end of our first gig together the crowd, at the Nova music showcase, was chanting ‘Frankie! Frankie!’ In that moment, we knew we had something worth pursuing.”

Continuing to build Frankie McQueen’s momentum and character along with founding members O’Keefe and Muth, Charles helped to bring guitarist Scott Giffin to the fold during the recording of its debut EP. A late-night brainstorming session that precipitated music lessons and a fast friendship, the addition of Giffin strengthened the band’s sound as well as its sense of purpose.

“Scott and I hit it off right from the get-go,” explains Charles. “We just started jamming and the hard rockin’ ideas haven’t stopped coming since. Even though we have rather different musical tastes and backgrounds, we all mesh together very well onstage. As guitarists, Scott and I tend to go back and forth a lot, whether we’re working on a sexy ballad, a big bluesy number or a ripping-fast metal song, eventually one of us will ignite out of a jam and create something that becomes a song. There’s really no designated driver in Frankie McQueen — too many assholes trying to backseat drive. I’ve found the best thing you can do in that situation is get them to drink more beer and then let ’em steer the ship for a while.”

With a second EP in the works, it appears Frankie McQueen’s ship is indeed due to come in again. Parlaying their new take on an old sound into indie gold, the organic psych-rock foursome is eager to immortalize the evolution of the Frankie McQueen sound — now with the aid of esteemed producer Graham Sharkey.

Prone to performing with his eyes shut — only to open them and find himself halfway through a set — Charles relishes the otherworldly experience of sharing his audio art in a live setting. In fact, the group is known to perform without a formal “set list,” opting to go with the flow, sometimes recording the order of songs after the fact to be presented in their “natural” order the next time. This talent may well be Frankie McQueen’s greatest asset, as it allows the intuitive quartet to present a moment while remaining present in the moment.

“When we’re onstage we know that it’s our time to shine,” Charles explains of his band’s alter ego. “Frankie McQueen is the kinda guy who rolls into a joint and immediately captures everyone’s attention and completely takes over. He’s a leader, not a follower. He’s a total badass. When I’m talking about Frankie McQueen the man, I’m talking about the most lovable douche bag on the planet.” - FFWD

It is not entirely clear what Frankie McQueen used for a time machine. Whether it was a Delorean or a more intricately constructed portal, the local stoner-rock group is definitely not from this generation.

Sitting down with the plaid-clad, bandana-toting four-piece in Limmericks's Traditional House on Macleod Trail, it looks like they belong on a bill with the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead. But what really sets Frankie McQueen apart from the drones of classic-rock-revival bands is that they are not revival at all. They are classic rock in its purest and most genuine form.

Lead guitarist Devan Forster's hair flows comfortably to his ass, and he even uses the same vintage wah and fuzz pedals that his father used before him, back in the glory days. Vocalist Scotty Charles sports a similar hair-do and claims he is only 18, though he seems better suited to be 18 in 1972.

Frankie McQueen began in the garage like most bands, and was originally formed with bassist Kelly O'Keefe, drummer Connor Muth, and Forster on guitar and vocals. After a substantial amount of time in said garage, Frankie McQueen decided to find a singer and make the move to the stage. They accidentally found the then-underage Charles in a high school production of Grease.

"We played for about a year and a half before I turned 18, so I used my brother's ID, which worked until one night at the Rusty Cage. I was caught by a douchebag bouncer and thrown out on the street," Charles remembers.

"Myself and some friends pulled out all the money we had and attempted to bribe the bouncer with $800, but he wouldn't budge - that is some serious dedication to your job as a bouncer," jokes Forster, igniting a nostalgic laugh from his band mates.

"But we still played the show as a three-piece," adds Muth, proudly.

Ironically, Frankie McQueen returned to the Rusty Cage last month (legally) to win the Fuel Rockstar contest and its large prize of $200,000.

"A lot of people will be pointing fingers at us and questioning if we are worth it," says Muth. "So we have even more work to do now. Sure, we have money in the bank, but we have to work our asses off."

"When you win something like that, a lot of people want to dislike you. Now is the time to prove them wrong. We are a live band and that's where we shine," Forster adds.

The band seems to agree that although the money is nice, it comes with some baggage.

"You get criticized when you win something like this," says O'Keefe, "but when we were recording our EP, we were so broke we were sharing a bag of chips for lunch in the studio. That, to me, was when we were indie at its peak, but there were no magazines criticizing us then."

"But we also see it as a win for everyone," says Muth. "We will get bigger shows and (more) exposure, and so will the bands we play with. We're staying in Calgary, so others can benefit from this, and in the end we are still just little Frankie McQueen."

The statement seems to be delivered with utmost honesty. Suddenly, as if to validate that feeling, a crack interrupts the conversation as Forster pours the Lucky lager that came from his pocket into his pint glass.

"Two-hundred grand and Devan is still sneaking cheap beer into the bar," says O'Keefe with a laugh. - BeatRoute Magazine

Burning in the belly Calgary’s cultural motif there lies great musical talent. The Calgary Indie music scene, a hellcat waiting to be unleashed, is growing a force that has the potential to explode any time into a 1960’s London counter culture. Helping lead this charge are the rising stars of the Band Frankie McQueen, with a powerful sound and persona, they leave fans yearning for more. Filled with promise and true Rock-star essence, they incorporate a sound that I like to call “Nouveau Grunge”. A mixture of 1970’s hard rock and early 1990’s grunge.

I discovered Frankie McQueen last march at the Brickyard while seeking content for the magazine I previously worked for. I had the opportunity to sit in on an interview with the four and I was pleasantly surprised by their musical insight. The things we talked about were the basic interview type questions and answers. They mention Rob Rousseau from the band Telly as a major influence as well as having a hand in the creation of Frankie McQueen. Another influence that kept popping up was Black Sabbath and by listening to their music you can hear this iconic influence.

Working as a band they write and compose their work, Scott Charles said “It is the difference between playing for yourself and playing in a band.” This shows the team or band element in their creative process. The members have a positive attitude towards the music and the people, that is evident when you pan the crowd of a Frankie McQueen show. You will see a lively crowd moving to the music as they chant. “Frankie! Frankie! Frankie!” and you might even see some of them sing along to every lyric.

Frankie McQueen is giving fans a taste of what a rock band once was and should be. Scotts the lead singer with powerful vocals that haunt the crowd like the ghost of old rock and roll. Devan on, lead guitar, sets the stage ablaze. Kelly on Bass let’s you feel the sound and Connor on the Drums is nothing but hypnotic. Allowing this talented band to find growing success and granting listeners an enjoyable Frankie McQueen experience.

This leaves me with the belief that Frankie McQueen will be one of the bands to put Calgary on the music map. With Frankie McQueen being part of the Calgary movement this will allow the Calgary scene to gain a foothold nationally and hopefully internationally.

These talented four welcome fans with open arms and are humble in attitude, the kind of guys you can sit and have beers with. The human essence speaks to you in their recently released self titled album “Frankie McQueen.” I urge you to come and experience a talented local band, I bet you will be one in the crowd chanting “Frankie! Frankie! Frankie!” The Calgary scene right now is hard working and bright with ideals; This Journalist looks forward to see what is in store for Frankie McQueen and the Scene as a whole! - Nuvopress.com

Frankie McQueen brings on instant flashbacks to glory days of grunge. I’m back in the Land of long hair and heavy bass solo, drinking pil in a field outside of town. I didn’t even know they MADE music like this anymore. After watching my Gen X contemporaries waste the final years of their youth listening to Dora the explorer CD’s and watching rock of Love, its refreshing to hear a hometown rival of the Seattle sound. Band Members Devan Forster (Guitar, Vocals), Scott Charles (Guitar, Vocals), Kelly O’Keefe (Bass), Connor Muth (Drums) have been sighted wearing plaid shirts and bandanas in Calgary." -City Spice Magazine, January 2009. - City Spice Magazine