The Fathoms "Fathomless" 1996

With The Fathoms I use Fender amps, a 65 Fender Jazzmaster, and for reverb I just started using the Electro Harmonix "Holy Grail Reverb". It's the closest thing to a reverb tank without all the hassles; people can't tell the difference. Also a Dano "Dan Echo" and an old boss "Trem Pan" trem pedal. Jerry uses Fender amps, Gretsch and Fender guitars and my old Vox Continental organ. Paul uses Fender "P" bass and GK head and Ampeg speakers. Doug uses Gretsch drums (I think). Interview with Frank Blandino by email on May 28, 2005I had the pleasure of spending Saturday night (4/2) with Mike and Sandy from 9th Wave and Brian Clammage of The Clams as we headed to Worcester, MA to check out The Fathoms triumphant return at Vincents, a small out of the way bar in an industrial park. Hard to find (the neon sign in the front window proclaims "This is it" - ed.), but it has lots of atmosphere & dead animals on the walls. I was pleasantly surprised to see Too Fast Jim Nichols of The Nebulas already there ahead of us. He was later joined at a corner table by two more Nebulas, Dan-o and Frodo.
The bar was small and the sound was big. The semi-new line up for The Fathoms is:
Frankie Blandino - Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Jerry Miller - Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Paul Tomasello - Bass, Doug Hinman - Drums, also plays with Jack Smith & the Rockabilly Planet
Frankie stuck to his Jazzmaster except for one brief tune in the second set when he grabbed his Strat, announced it sucked and went back to the classic Jazzmaster. Jerry Miller was ripping out some fine chops on his brand new orange Gretsch with mother of pearl inlays on the neck. Nice looking and a very nice sound. Normally I'm too far away to see what the instruments are, but this place is so cozy that I was able to sit up front, just 3-4 feet from band.
The band played 3 sets, all instrumental. Not a mike stand in sight. Amazing repertoire of music for 4 gentlemen who have only practiced together four times before last night's show. I asked Frankie why he decided to return to surf and re-create The Fathoms after a 7 year hiatus. He responded with "It's the only band and the only music I have had any real success with". I can understand this as every song and every set was chock full of hard fast twang and reverb. It's easy to hear the influence of Frankie's other talent, exceptional steel guitar playing. I have never seen anyone play as fast as Frankie Blandino and the band kept right up with him. At times his hands were a blur, especially during "Telstar", "Slaughter on 10th Avenue", "Baja", "Journey to the Stars", and "Apache". But it was not all covers.
The Fathoms played a few songs off The Fathoms CD Overboard and a new tune, " Fathom This" in the first set. Once everyone was comfortably shimmying around the bar Frankie announced to all with in earshot that, "THIS song started me on the road to ruin." The tune was, of course, "Fathomless". They later ripped into a sultry version of Link Wray's "Rumble" and that's when the clothing started to come off. The third and final set ended with a medley of Ventures covers: "Walk Don't Run", "Perfidia", "Lullaby of the Leaves", and back to "Walk Don't Run". However, as the band tried to leave they were quickly called back for one final rendition of "Diamondhead" as an encore.
I had a chance to chitchat with Frankie throughout the night and again before he left. We discussed what he wanted for the future of The Fathoms. Around 10 PM Frankie said he just wanted to make it through this first show. Believe it or not, Frankie was a little nervous. But at the end of 4 hours of music Frankie was all smiles as he jokingly told me all he really wants is shorter drives and lighter amps. Well, a lot of folks out there can agree with that. The night ended with hugs & kisses all around and a quick "I love you" for yours truly. Frankie, right back at ya'!
Can't end this review without giving credit and thanks to Mike Rosado and NESMA for being so supportive and convincing Frankie Blandino to bring back The Fathoms. The next Fathoms show will be on May 7 at The Midway in Jamaica Plain, MA. Frankie expects to have more original Fathoms tunes ready for this show, both newly written and songs off of their previous CDs. Aloha, 'til we meet again, I remain - The Blue StingRaye 4/2/05 Official NESMA reviewertrax:

1. Fathomless 2. Riptide 3. Blandingo 4. Five Fathoms Deep 5. Groovy Boots 6. Getaway Car 7. Piranha 8. Rockabilly Surfer 9. Incognito 10. Backslider 11. Crystal Ball 12. Dune Buggy 13. Night Scene 14. Brainstorm 15. Shadow of a Doubt 16. Cerveza on Dee Mesa 17. Kwajalein