On a Friday night, brothers Steve and Jeremy Lublin walked onto the stage at Frankie’s Inner-City, in East Toledo— the same stage where Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer each played years before. The Lublin brothers were back in their home town, visiting from New York City, along with the other members of their band, Jeremy and the Harlequins. They are one of countless bands who have played at Frankie’s since it opened in 1945, and continue to play there as the venue begins its 8th decade.
Virginia to Nirvana
In 1945, Frank and Virginia Andriacco moved their Italian restaurant from UpTown’s Adams Street to the East Side’s Main Street. There, Frank served spaghetti and pork chops while Virginia played music. Her eight-piece band, Virginia Wixey and The Gentlemen of Swing, played a series of swing songs and standards. The Andriaccos began inviting other bands to play, too. “[Frankie’s] has always been about keeping the music scene alive in Toledo,” said the Andriaccos’ grandson, Rob Croak.
Croak took over Frankie’s in the 1980s and converted it to a full-time music club. The club’s far wall is filled with framed posters from the heyday of alternative rock and grunge. Nostalgia radiates throughout the building’s interior. A Flock of Seagulls, Goo Goo Dolls and Limp Bizkit all performed at Frankie’s— stars of past eras that came to play in Toledo at Frankie’s invitation.
Keeping it alive with Innovation
Innovation Concerts, a company started four years ago by its President, Broc Curry, books the majority of shows at Frankie’s. Curry first started booking for Rob Croak in 1995. Frankie’s hosted the Black Keys and the White Stripes in the late 90s, before their steady drums and electric guitars went platinum and then became background music in movies and car commercials. “Frankie’s is keeping the history of live music going,” said Curry.
Frankie’s hosts music of all genres, with both bands and patrons frequently travelling from out of town. I recently saw Cursive, from Omaha, Nebraska, there. In the audience, I stood next to a woman who drove to Toledo from Cleveland, and a man who drove down from Detroit. Despite being a regional destination, Frankie’s also proudly, and continually, showcases bands from Toledo.
At the Cursive show, Innovation booked two local bands to open for them, a skuzzy power-rock band called Awesome Job, and a quirky art-rock group called Good Personalities. Innovation tries to expose local bands to music fans from outside Toledo. “It’s important for us to be here for that local community,” said Cody Sizemore, who books bands with Curry. “There’s a lot of really good talent in Toledo,” she added.
A night at Frankie’s
During the Lublin brother’s show, the room was hot and full— Frankie’s can only hold 300 people. The stage was lit by four round spotlights, and a neon red “Frankie’s” sign that hangs over the bar. People in the audience held their hands stretched around 32-ounce cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon. The crowd pushed to the stage, within arm’s reach of the band. Jeremy and the Harlequins performed cleanly— like professionals. Their songs had a rockabilly flare, with 4-part harmonies and choreographed shoulder sways. Then, after midnight, the crowd began to chant “Tonight-We-Party” while sirens blared as the headliner, legendary party-rocker, NYC’s Andrew W.K., came out dressed in all white.
The crowd became a giant mosh pit as people shoved back and forth. Beer and sweat rained from indeterminate directions. I picked up a shirt from the floor, thinking it was one of the handful of new t-shirts that W.K. had thrown from the stage. It wasn't. Someone in the pit was shirtless, lost in the music and the people who came to hear it.
Frankie’s Inner City, 308 Main St.
419-691-7464 | innovationconcerts.com
Author’s Note: After I wrote this article, I learned that Innovation Concerts plans to take a break from booking shows at Frankie’s after November, 2015. I wish both Innovation and Frankie’s a busy future after this break, as they are vital Toledo’s live music scene.
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Dorian Slaybod is an attorney happily living in Toledo.
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