Frank McComb Event

Spaghettini, Seal Beach, CA

Keyboard & Vocals: Frank McComb

Guitar: Andre Frappier

Bass: Anthony Crawford

Drums: Robert Miller (aka Manimal)

Percussion: Gary Stanionis (aka ‘G’)

Shekere & flute: Arch Thompson (AT)

First up, a little stage banter!

Anonymous~

“Does anyone know if there’s an extra music stand?”

“I love seeing my wife out there.”

With a tweek here and a tweek there, sound was adjusted. It was time to roll.

Frank McComb~

“Okay! Man, it got quiet in here! Put a brotha’ on the spot.” Guitarist Andre Frappier wasn’t quite finished readying his strings. “Oh, that’s loud! We know it works! So, does anyone like cartoons? You’re not gonna recognize this one by the time we get done with it!”

Frank hit the keys with Linus and Lucy. I could tell immediately he wasn’t kidding about switching it up! He made it his own from the first note. Percussionist Gary Stanionis added an amazingly-realistic woodpecker sound while busy, busy, busy hopping up his rhythm corner. Cool cat, bassist Anthony threw more than his two cents in, jazzing it up with a twist and a Cheshire Cat grin. Frank laid out his chops and offered up a drumming opportunity. A fiery riff emanated from drummer Anthony Miller. Heads were boppin’ and feet were thumping.

Frank~

“Mr. Robert Miller, drums!”

Audience member~

“Alright!”

They led straight into a tune that took my mind straight to an African jungle. Frank’s smooth voice took Where Were You When I Needed You to jazz euphoria.

Frank~

“God bless you. That was supposed to be Where Were You When I Needed You. Andre Frappier on Guitar! This next song goes out to the first lady in the house. That’s my wife!”

The intro, title and vocals for Love Natural told it all. Frank’s stellar vocals melted every heart in the place. Percussionist ‘G’ and drummer Robert Miller were superstars on this cut. Stanionis gave every bit of his usual 150%. Wow!

McComb~

“Robert Miller! Let’s do Fools. I’m sure somebody knows a lot of them! Ain’t gonna go to church though.”

The next tune had sort of a rainforest vibe. They heated it up, taking it to the limit with the amazing energy of Arch Thompson on shekere in the corner pocket. Frank’s magic fingers volleyed one to bassist Anthony who smoothed his way in with a mellow chill, then torched it.

Frank~

“Lord have Mercy! Anthony Crawford! You can see a bald-headed brother with white teeth back at the bar. This next one is a song about a couple who in public is happy, but in private it’s a different story. Church is quiet now! Hey, I’m tryin’ to help ya out! So you brothers, we can’t leave our women on an island. Don’t leave your woman on an island because she leaves us on one too. If we don’t take out the trash, she don’t cook!”

Frank tore it up on keys on Left Alone. The awestruck crowd roared.

McComb~

“All the way from Baltimore, Maryland! Hey, AT! I want to say something about one of the baddest churches in Rancho Cucamonga.” Frank acknowledged Demetri, who’d come all the way from Boston, Massachusetts by way of Athens, Greece to hear him play. “Wow, you came that far?! I wanted to say ‘hi’ to Silos who came from Indonesia. It’s his first concert in the United States and I’m honored he came to mine!”

Frank gave it up on the keyboard while Arch Thompson threw in a hip swivel and offered some of the sassiest flute playing I’ve ever seen or heard. Gary laid into the snare, then cut loose and split his percussion toy box wide open. Guitarist Frappier inched out of the pocket with the flute not far behind. Talk about stage presence, it was a fight to the finish with these two! The band played with perfect synchronicity while wowing us with Cupid’s Arrow. The off-the-chain flautist, completely unbelievable! He let it go with an arched back that rivaled Gumby. What a superstar! Gary’s frenzy on percussion created a collaboration that blew me out of the water.

Frank joked~

“Was he alright? The brotha knows how! Where’d you get all that wind from man? It’s from liftin’ all them weights! Be back in thirty minutes.” He reintroduced the band.”

Second set was positively out of this world! Every one of these guys was on their game, in the zone and insanely good!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Frank McComb, his incredible keyboards, voice and vibe. You simply must come back soon!

© August 2010 Lynn M. Olson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED