Frank the Baptist never had humble beginnings. Here are a few local, San Diego headlines clipped from newspapers in the late nineties, before they bought their passports: “Local Underground Rock Band Given Key to the City”, “Mayor Forces Frank to Share Talents With the Rest of the World”, and “Baptist Staunches Rabid Monkey Attack- Singer/Guitarist Comes With Kung-Fu Grip!” You get the idea.

So Frank the Baptist, after winning every trophy and medal that San Diego had to offer, set out to share its vision of bonhomie and buttered toast with the Outer Marches. Starting with Los Angeles and other Southern California locales, they made media splashes large enough to dampen the lapels of several Austrian record label mobsters, and before long they were doing musical contract killings for Strobelight Records.

That record deal has spawned, to date, two releases that only served to whet the North American scene’s appetite, bringing the Baptist invitations to play in other states and at other festivals, not the least of which was the traveling behemoth Convergence, this time in Chicago for the 2004 event.

European tours, more events in California… The man in the top hat, and his troupe, is in great demand. Frank the Baptist has somehow invented a New Rock that everyone wants to hear, is grateful for, but somehow never existed.

Frank the Baptist has climbed up and out of the tree fort, and is swaying in the high branches overhead. Frank the Baptist has grown wings, and we will listen to the music they make as they circle towards the sun.

I only wonder one thing: when they get there, could it be that the Sun People will already have their T-shirts?-Lucas Lanthier