FRANK BLANK - electric and nylon-string guitar, vocals
Influences
We strive to give Black Blank a distinct character, but sounds we both dig include Dylan's "Time Out of Mind" and "Love and Theft," Neil Young (with and without Crazy Horse), Steve Earle, John Campbell, the Allman Brothers Band (and related Mule/Trucks axis), Los Lobos, ZZ Top, and of course the Ancient Masters of the Days of Yore: Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Free, Mountain, and on and on it goes. And who doesn't have a soft spot for Slayer?
SO - what do most of these have to do with the sound of Black Blank? Not much, but we love them all just the same...
Sounds Like
It comes down to a simple phrase: songs powered by life. Grizzled, gritty, and real, with thought-provoking words sung by voices of experience. Direct communication, channeled through acoustic and electric guitars – powerful, but freed from the crush of high-volume presentation. The Black Blank sound focuses on the songs, in music characterized by tone, invention, and feeling.
Like Neil Young and Steve Earle, two Philadelphia musicians doggedly follow a gritty and uncompromising musical path with their electric/acoustic duo…
Frank Blank may have been Philadelphia’s authority on rock music for over two decades spent writing for Philadelphia City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly, but he was never one who subscribed to the old critic theory, “those that can’t play music write about it.” Beginning in the 1980s, he was the founder and guitarist of Philadelphia’s influential punk band Informed Sources, then was enlisted for album and tour duty as co-lead guitarist for Bunnydrums, aiding the groundbreaking avant rockers in the exploration of new sonic territory.
Richard Black was an established artist and photographer, but of greater import was his musical heritage: signed at a young age to Dot/Paramount Records as a member of Bubble, Black was horrified to find himself on the same label as Pat Boone and Eddie Fisher. But with encouragement from lead singer Stewkey of the influential band the Nazz, Black soon was swimming in more experimental waters: a free-form performance slot with Philadelphia’s progressive Old City Arts association, where he made the most of an opportunity to hone his songwriting skills while collaborating with a colorful array of players and characters.
So when Blank met Black in the early 1990s, he sensed a kindred spirit. The creative visions of the two musicians instantly meshed, and the Black-Blank musical alliance was born…
The two guitarists first joined aural forces in Third Stone Invasion. A concept project that combined progressive rock and metal, the band’s 1998 album explored the potential of alien intervention in the affairs of Planet Earth. J-Bird Records, headed by Polygram and EMI executive Jay Barbieri, saw the potential of “3SI” and soon Black and Blank were labelmates with The Who’s John Entwistle, Billy Squier, and Andrew Gold.
Third Stone Invasion was released to an enthusiastic critical reception in the world of rock. France’s Divergence Radio raved over Black and Blank’s talent to “demonstrate with great ability all the tricks an electric guitar is capable of.” And critic Ramsay Pennypacker noted, “Third Stone Invasion fills their playing with inspired, witty twists that lift its sound far above the mundane, mallrat appeal of most metal... Their eponymous debut on J-Bird Records is one of the freshest albums in recent memory. Hopefully, this is just the beginning."
Sadly, it was to be the end, as J-Bird Records sailed directly into the economic storm at the turn of the decade that saw dozens of record labels fold and hundreds of artists cast adrift. Black and Blank hunkered down, experimenting with atmospheric blues and high-volume guitar pyrotechnics. But then a crucial realization dawned: they didn’t need a band – all they needed was their songs.
Born again as a modern electric/acoustic duo, Black Blank embrace their calling: to play honest, forceful music depicting the experience of life. In today’s pop culture wasteland – proud of its endless regurgitation of kiddie pop, crowning its posturing rappers, and unleashing its army of American Idol castoffs – real songs have become a precious commodity. Yet Black Blank is just such a source of musical substance. Their perceptive lyrics touch on emotions ranging from anger to love to regret; the powerful, direct music is crafted with tone, invention, and feeling. It’s a combination that’s needed now more than ever.
The real story of Black Blank is simple: songs powered by life.
Hey, I've got a new acoustic demo up of my song "Snapshot Chronicles" up now. Feel free to listen, comment, and if you like it tell your friends. If not, that's cool too.
Hi Frank! Thanks for the message - doin well. Hope you are too. Come join me and a TON of people you know from waaaay back on Facebook. (seriously, it's unreal) :)
hey guys, this is gonna be a great night, slo-mo is doing a stripped down night, you gotta hear brenner on the lap steel, by the way, thanks for comin to the troc show, it was really cool so many people came out Hope to see ya there
Hey Frank! How ya been? I hear you're coming to town for the Crossroads Fest! Hopefully we'll meet up!
I don't know if you heard or not but I got to meet E.C. last month. I wrote all about it in my blog if you're interested. I'll be sure to send ya an invite. Hope all is going well with you! Cheers! :)
Hey everyone, I hope you can come to Acoustic Philly Third Thursday April 19th at the Tritone Bar in Philly at 8pm
Featuring
Heirloom Projector
Nick Ludovico
Kurt Unterkoefler
Mike Delvecchia
Shelby Charnoff and
Lynn King
You have great taste in music!!! Thanks for befriending HUMDINGER!!! Click the link to download or order the cd!!!
.. CDBABY LINK for HUMDINGER: Humdinger -->
Hi Frank! I was listening to the Friday night version of "Sleepy Time Time" the other day (the one where E.C. bends the neck of his guitar) and I thought of you. I remember you mentioning that moment in your review and I still say that was one of the best articles I read about the entire reunion!
So how did your Thanksgiving show go? I've got a big gig coming up Friday night at Elbo Room. It's a four band bill and we're playing third. I think between the four of us we're going to have a really good turn out! Should be an absolute blast!
