Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Apr 23 2013 03:23 PM
I recently revisited some of my favorite non 1st-wave surf albums that I hadn't listened to in quite a while including The Bitch Boys' Ride the Last Wave, The Bambi Molesters' DLHT, etc. But I also broke out Fathomless by The Fathoms, which is an all-time favorite of many on this board I'm sure. I was pretty blown away all over again by Frankie Blandino's prowess as a guitar player, writer, and arranger. And that guitar tone! Holy crap, that is just an incredible surf guitar tone! The writing and playing on that album is just sublime.
Do any of the "old-timers" on sg101 have any good stories about Frankie Blandino, special secret gear intelligence, etc.? I remember reading one interview with him by the owner of MuSick Records that I'm having trouble locating right now as well as this NESMA Interview from 2005 Frankie Blandino Interview
I know Ivan and the Space Cossacks played with the Fathoms before.
The Fathoms still exist and play fairly infrequently with different lineups in the New England area. And while their last album, Fathom This! hasn't had the same effect on me as their first two albums, I would obviously love the see a new album come out one day.
This version of Incognito is really the best footage I've come across of The Fathoms on uTube.
So, here's to Crankie Frankie Blandino's wickedly hip Jazzmaster snake charmery!
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
Last edited: Apr 23, 2013 15:34:53
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Apr 23 2013 03:36 PM
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19346
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Apr 23 2013 03:58 PM
Oddly enough I was listening to the 3rd Fathoms CD again today. I know the consensus seems to be it isn't as good as the first two, but it does have some outstanding and beautifully played songs on it, e.g. The Palamino, Dagger Bones, Dark Secret, etc.
But yes, Frankie rules!!! More Fathoms please!
Edit: I keep adding awesome songs from Fathom this!
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
Last edited: Apr 23, 2013 16:11:40
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Apr 23 2013 06:04 PM
This is one of my faves. I have indeed warmed up to "Fathom This!" in the last few years. "Overboard" was one of my first modern surf albums and never leaves the rotation for too long at a time.
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
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brandonio
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 885
Indianapolis, In
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Posted on Apr 23 2013 08:03 PM
Ivan is sitting on a awesome VHS tape on this whole Wellfleet Beachcomer show,and another show as well.Someone needs to twist his arm and have him upload the footage to YouTube. I love The Fathoms!
— Reverb, It's A Way Of Life!
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surferjoemusic
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 2107
Livorno
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Posted on Apr 23 2013 08:06 PM
I just love the Fathoms and the Blandino's compositions. So fluent writing and nice, clear melodies, although so powerful when needed. I regularly play Fathom This!
— Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)
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ElMonstroPorFavor
Joined: Sep 01, 2006
Posts: 2753
New Orleans, LA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 09:19 AM
Brian wrote:
Oddly enough I was listening to the 3rd Fathoms CD again today. I know the consensus seems to be it isn't as good as the first two, but it does have some outstanding and beautifully played songs on it, e.g. The Palamino, Dagger Bones, Dark Secret, etc.
But yes, Frankie rules!!! More Fathoms please!
Edit: I keep adding awesome songs from Fathom this!
I think Fathom This! is a great album, just takes a different route than the other two.
— Storm Surge of Reverb: Surf & Instro Radio
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19346
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 09:22 AM
Yes, it's a different direction than the first two. There was a large gap in time between those two and the third. It's still a glorious album.
Here is Ivan's review.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 09:31 AM
Yep, Fathom This! is a fantastic album indeed, though I haven't listened to it in a while. I'll have to revisit it. I was just recently struck by the writing and tones on the first album.
There must be someone in the surf intelligentsia with a good Frankie Blandino story!?
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
Last edited: Apr 24, 2013 09:34:42
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19346
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 09:40 AM
Ruhar wrote:
There must be someone in the surf intelligentsia with a good Frankie Blandino story!?
Some good stories in this thread:
http://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/236/
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 09:55 AM
Brian wrote:
Ruhar wrote:
There must be someone in the surf intelligentsia with a good Frankie Blandino story!?
Some good stories in this thread:
http://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/236/
Thanks Brian! I had forgotten about the Continental Magazine interview referenced in that thread.
Here for posterity:
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
Last edited: Apr 24, 2013 09:57:17
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ParkRowe
Joined: Apr 01, 2013
Posts: 147
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 12:00 PM
The only record i heard and own is Fathom This!. I love it too!
Frankie is incredible~ technique and tone to die for!
i've been looking for the first 2 but never found them. anyone know where i can get em?
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 12:12 PM
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ParkRowe
Joined: Apr 01, 2013
Posts: 147
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 12:26 PM
thanks... but ya that's a bit too steep.
bummer..
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matt
Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Posts: 656
Boston, MA
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 12:51 PM
Looks like it's still available from Musick? I just got the Space Cossacks/Fathoms split 7".
— Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters
Boston's Premier Surf/Noir Combo
http://www.heatonsurf.com
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ParkRowe
Joined: Apr 01, 2013
Posts: 147
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Apr 24 2013 01:48 PM
thanks Matt.. that looks ok
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Jun 15 2013 12:51 AM
Just stumbled across this video that I hadn't seen before of The Fathoms doing Apache. Some cool up close footage of Frankie Blandino!
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Jun 15 2013 09:52 AM
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19346
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Jun 15 2013 09:58 AM
Fantastic!
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2274
North Carolina
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Posted on Jun 22 2013 09:41 PM
Greatness. No two ways about it.
Encore, Frankie & The Fathoms, Encore!!!
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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