Who would be crazy enough wanting to be out at night in cold, dark & wintry Melbourne?

Well, Frankie Wants Out! And I was out too, along with a couple of hundred other diners and swing music aficionados. Alright,I ‘ll be honest – the boss thought I needed to experience a dose of the hard economic times we are presently experiencing so he kept me back at work on Wednesday night. But I no complain .......... as it suited me fine on Wednesday night with the National Gallery of Victoria (on St Kilda Road) currently presenting the “Art Deco – 1910 to 1930” exhibition.

The exhibition featured media to painting, photography to fashion, films, architecture & jewellery for that period. As part of exhibition theme to epitomise all the glamour, opulence & hedonism of that Jazz/Swing Age and in that era of prohibition, Mafia gangsters, flappers & Hollywood movie stars, the Gallery put on swing music by the band, Frankie Wants Out, as well as a 20 minute Charleston dance demo by four very pretty young ladies, fabulously dressed in 1920’s flapper style. Free entry to all comers! The flappers demo starts at 7pm followed by the band at 7.30 playing 2 sets, and finishes about 9pm.

I enjoyed the “flapper” Charleston demo although I felt it would have been nice to also showcase “partner” Charleston dancing that a lot of us enjoyed doing at gigs.

“Frankie Wants Out” is an 8-piece retro / neo swing band with 4 of the guys on brass, drums, Bull Fiddle Double Bass, Rhythm guitar and finally the hyperactive and acrobatic Andy Coates providing the vocal. The band plays Swing similar to Setzer’s Swing, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Royal Crown Revue.

I thoroughly enjoyed their performance on the night. Andy Coates is exciting to watch on stage with his high energy performance. The band exudes excitement and swings strongly with the boys on the big brass. The mainly non dancing crowd (but lots of teenagers “jiggling” on the dance floor) was enthralled by the band performance playing fast tempo swingin’ tunes, including songs from their first CD release – the Melbourne Way. One could Rock & Roll and Jive to most of their music so don’t be deterred although I did observe some of the Swing Patrol kids obviously were struggling to keep up with the band at times, not even with their fast feet Charleston. The band was mainly playing for the non dancing crowd that night and Andy Coates confirmed this later when I chatted with him briefly after the show. He said the band normally “slows” it down for the dance crowd.

Not quite Rock & Roll I agree but if you are in the city next Wednesday night either working or looking for something to do - whether dancing, enjoying big swingin’ tunes or dining in at the Gallery, then why not drop in to the National Gallery of Victoria?

Frankie Wants (you) to be Out too!!