Born as a summer replacement for Air Farce on CBC Radio in the 1980s, The Frantics rode geeky and creepy male antics to big laughs, blazing a trail for The Vestibules and even The Arrogant Worms. Recently reunited and unabashed by age, the four fellows are flush with material to wrinkle noses and scare secretaries. Musical send-ups are the strong suit. “You Need Me” features an unbathed Lothario over a hard blues. “Kiss My Ass (I’m a Monarch)” is like Randy Newman without the subtlety. The name says it all. Irony who?
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2010.