Rocking It With LenCat, John Franks

It’s a Friday night at the Smoking Pig and John Franks and the LenCat band are getting the stage ready for a long night of classic blues and rock.

The country-raised harmonica player seems relaxed before performing in just a few hours.

His laid back yellow polo, red tie, blue jeans, and matching yellow PF Flyers outfit just add to the easy going vibe that he gives off.

The atmosphere in the restaurant is light and, at this point, still quite empty. While the rest of the band brings in their equipment, Franks introduces me to the group.

“This is LenCat, also known as big daddy, he rocks the lead guitar.”

LenCat: “We try to rock out if we can, but this is a smaller venue so we’re going to keep it light tonight.”

Franks: “Were actually downsizing right now, I’m playing a Kalamazoo that’s only eight watts and I’m usually pushing 60 watts.

“I actually prefer this because we all come down and it means that I can play with a little more finesse. We can also hear each other better.”

The noise from LenCat tuning out his old 74 blues guitar over the speakers draws Franks' attention towards the stage for a second, before he looks at me and says with a big smile, “I just love that old blues sound.”

Franks has been playing the harmonica since he was 3 years old.

“I played trumpet in high school, which I started in sixth grade, but I always liked the harmonica ... When I was about 16 my uncle was a famous country music player so all my cousins played, [too]. Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, and all those people would come to my house and we would have family reunions where all the kids would play before all the adults would play. I just thought everyone in my family could play music. Everyone just picks an instrument. I learned to play all that Dixieland on my harmonica.”

Filled with a sense of enthusiasm, Franks grinned and raised his eyebrow focusing on me and began to tell me about his and the band’s musical style. 

Franks hums the bass guitar sound. “AJ Leddy, he’s a grunge rock, punk rock, heavy metal drummer, you know, but it’s funny, he can really play the blues,” he says about his fellow band player. “It’s a nice mesh, we really complement one another on stage.” 

Leddy recalls his own experience playing with Franks through their first few years. He said Franks' energy and unique harmonica skills “make the band sound a lot more complete."

Being a musician among others who come from different styles of music, Franks' country twang harmonic tones have had their own effect on his band.

Minutes later Franks excuses himself, heads for the stage and counts off with a harmonica and microphone in his hand, “1, 2, 3.” LenCat strums his guitar, filling the room with its sound.

Leddy works the drums ever so lightly, as bass cords hum in the background.

Franks then gets the cue from LenCat, who ends his smooth solo, and slowly he begins to blow into his harmonica while closing his eyes in concentration.

The song goes on for four minutes, as Franks moves around the stage, holding the harmonica hidden in his hand.

His head bobs to the music for just a moment, and it isn’t long before the band plays in unison.

The small venue is now filled with the music and heads all around the packed restaurant are moving up and down to the rhythm.

Editor's Note: The following article was written by San Jose State journalism student Robert Rodarte for Saratoga Patch as part of a class assignment.