Release Date: May 1, 2025
Label: Independent
Jono Jones, Jeff Turner, Karen Dobronyi, and Ferenc Dobronyi are Frankie and The Pool Boys. Their latest release, Endless Drummer (a take-off on the Beach Boys' Endless Summer album title), arrived on the first day of May. Most people familiar with that release would catch that inference straight away.
Although I was a newcomer to Frankie and The Pool Boys' music, I
immediately recognized their Endless Drummer as a heartfelt tribute to
the 'first wave' of surf instrumental music from the '60s. Their respect for
this era is palpable in every note.
Several different influences and sub-genres emerged during surf
music’s golden age, and nearly all are touched upon in the 15 tracks here. They
are brought to life again with all the colors, imagery, and musical excellence
that one group of musicians can muster and make authentic. They do it with
exuberance and excellence from beginning to end.
Here are the drummers that contributed to the 15 tracks: Dusty
Watson (The Sonics, Slacktone), Lorenzo Valdambrini (Surfer Joe), Jeremy
Rexford (Pollo Del Mar), Enrico Ragni (Bradipos 4), Gracie Malley (Greasy
Gills), Naotaka Seki (Surf Coasters), Pieter Dedoncker (Los Venturas, Surfer
Joe), Martyn Jones (The Mermen), Eric Ruel (Drifting Sand, Pool Boys), Tony
Bald (The TomorrowMen, Combo Tezeta), Pablo Baza (Tikiyaki Orchestra), and
Jonathan Rodriguez (The Deadbeats, Combo Tezeta).
So here we go, kicking things off with "Grind My
Beans." Right from the first note is that familiar drum beat and
steady bass line. The guitar is soaked in reverb and echo, and then Ferenc, not
one to hold back on his leads on guitar, cuts loose with some rocking lines as
the piano occasionally comes in for a little sprinkle here and there. The
sounds keep gaining in intensity and complexity as it reaches a crescendo of
sound, then the downward turn of the tide to fade out perfectly.
"Wiggle Room" begins with the unmistakable sound of a
Hammond organ, a staple of '60s music and TV shows like I Dream of Jeannie. The
organ is the primary driver here, evoking a nostalgic, psychedelic sound that
was popular in that era. Ferenc gets another opportunity to show us his skills
on the six-string with a strong showing.
"Seki Go Eleki" takes another twist and turn with
slicing guitar licks, the whammy bar, and fine glissando playing. There are
many subgenres and a multitude of elements in surf. This one is in high gear
from start to finish, with colorful sounds and plenty of tempo changes.
"Swamp Thing" is purposeful in its
approach to create the image of the famous character in horror flicks.
The bass and drums are key here as the guitar lays down its
pinpoint licks, as that bottom end prods along like the track's namesake. Then
suddenly, a saxophone enters the mix to give it more swagger with a bluesy
feel. This one is a real rocker with just enough elements of surf to safely
stay in the confines of that genre without drifting too far out to sea.
"Tattoo of a Broken Heart" takes a different approach,
with a spaghetti western feel yet rockin' every step of the way. Again, we see
how the surf sub-genres can significantly change one track. However, the guitar
reminds you that the core here is surf instro. Towards the end, it sounds like
the cowboy just jumped on the horse and rode into the sunset. A very cinematic
track!
"Moorea Mon Amour" is very tasteful and reminded more
of what Ferenc would be playing in his main gig, Pollo Del Mar, with those
psych elements woven into this blanket of musical excellence created here. A pleasing
rhythm is put down by the bottom end, and the spooky-like organ adds more
flavor to the finish.
"East of the Reverb Dial" has a shimmering water and
warm sun sound. The bass is prominent here, and the guitar takes different
roads to enhance all the instruments that populate this track. The feeling
captured here is intrigue and mystery, like spy vs. spy but very surfy. The
elegant guitar lines find the perfect landscape to land on.
"Chroma Key" begins with a vintage '60s organ sound.
The guitar comes in strongly, with intense playing that beautifully mixes rock
and surf. Then, some more gorgeous glissando picking creates an atmosphere familiar
with the classic first wave. Some of the leads played here are excellent; it
was like a newly sharpened blade cutting through anything with ease. It is the second
longest track at 3:51.
"The Ambassador's Twist" immediately gets you in the
right mindset with the word “twist.” Then the "percolator" guitar
sound makes its entrance. This is spot-on 60s surf; it doesn't get any more
original than this. The band stepped right into that period, picked up their
equipment, and started playing like they created it.
Guitar-based music works well for this band, and this track
speaks to that loud and clear. It is so crisp and clear, which is what first
attracted me to this music in the 90s, when I was in love with The Ventures and
The Shadows.
"Quicksilver" reverts to more atmospheric surf rock,
creating all that imagery associated with being on the beach in an exotic
island setting. The track's title may not indicate, but that is what you will
hear—it's all there. There are lots of changing tempos and musical shifts,
making it one of the more complex tracks. Some of the best guitar work yet is
on this one.
"Brotherhood Way" is another shift in approach with a
more mellow introduction. The bass and drums are significantly slower as the
guitar returns to the reverb-drenched sounds, as delicate keys pepper it in
choice places. This is mesmerizing music, and suddenly the sounds get more
dramatic with the drums becoming louder and more purposeful than another quick
shift with the guitar plucking way down on the fretboard and a gradual
explosion of sounds in the most beautiful way, with all the instruments coming
together. This is their masterpiece. All the elements of surf, island sounds, psych,
and rock merge for just shy of 4 minutes.
"Super Bloom" starts with a strange sound, like a
subway coming to a halt. Then boom! This takes off into rocking surf instro
land. The energy is at the highest level at all positions in the band. The
guitar playing is extraordinary, as it usually is. The difference here is some
consistently rocking and rapid-fire surf licks coming at you full force. The
slower parts on guitar are surf spy thriller-like licks before they go back to
cutting it loose and rocking.
"You Only Live Twice" has a tribal rhythm and a nice
piano at the outset. Then the guitar comes in nicely with some smooth lines.
The rhythm is island-like, as if you were watching the dancers at a luau in
Hawaii. Such beauty is created here, putting you in a different time zone and
setting from start to finish.
"Walk Away Renee" is a classic '60s tune many folks
will remember fondly. This is a big step away from all the previous tracks. The
eclecticism of this music is a tribute to all the contributing talents, and
this is one more example of their abilities to change things radically and
still pull it off impressively—very nice instrumental cover.
"More Memories Than Time" is the closer, and now you
are wondering how this will end after the last track. Well, here we go with
another huge change, this time with vocals. It sounds like vintage pop-rock of
the '60s to a tee. The drums and bass are spot on, and the keys and guitar are
superb. This music is excellent, and the vocals are delightful. Listening to
this track, I thought of the Yardbirds more than once. It gave me chills.
Endless Drummer is a marvelous trip in the
way-back sound machine with stellar modern-day production values. The best of
both worlds collide for a fantastic and consistent album. My interest did not fade
once while listening to all 15 tracks. My interest and attention intensified.
The eclectic approach makes this a classic recording for many music lovers. Of course, there is a lot of cross-over appeal and nostalgia, and the central core of their sound, surf, serves as the springboard to many treats and ear candy.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck- Surf Music and Art Founder
May 29, 2025
Tracks:
01. Grind My Beans 03:13
02. Wiggle Room 02:53
03. Seki Go Eleki 02:29
04. Swamp Thing 03:15
05. Tattoo of a Broken Heart 02:52
06. Moorea Mon Amour 02:15
07. East of the Reverb Dial 02:51
08. Chroma Key 03:51
09. The Ambassador's Twist 03:19
10. Quicksilver 03:32
11. Brotherhood Way 03:58
12. Super Bloom 03:14
13. You Only Live Twice 03:09
14. Walk Away Renee 02:20
15. More Memories Than Time 03:53
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