by Nancy L. Foster

The rich, cello-like tones of local musician Ad Frank wafted through the low-lit rooms of the Toast Lounge in Union Square July 9 as part of the second installment of The Somerville News Friday Night @ Toast series.

Frank’s lush music and stunning, cinematic wordplay entertained a crowd of longtime devotees and newly-won fans.

Like Morrisey, the Magnetic Fields, and Paul Weller, Frank delves into the depths of pop, even veering into lounge-land, without sacrificing soul.

Frank said that his unusual moniker has a very ordinary origin.

“My first name is Adam and my last name is Frank. Ad is shorter. I’ve probably saved myself hundreds of hours by not saying that extra syllable, and lost thousands explaining it.”

In addition to his solo work, Frank also plays with Aaron Tap and Paula Kelley in the Boy Joys, a Bee Gees tribute band. Tap also puts out Frank’s recordings and promotes them.

Tap said Frank is perfect for their roster.

“The first thing that one tends to notice about Ad is his sardonic, self-deprecating wit. But I’ve always been more interested in the dark and serious subtext of it all – which is sort of what the label is about. It’s pop music, but with a gloomy undercurrent, and Ad is ideal in that regard.”

Frank said his collaborations with Tap began with their friendship.

“He had a label called Jackass Records. When I put out my first solo record I asked if I could put it out on his label so I wouldn’t have to make up my own label name,” Frank said. Then Jackass became a real label and changed its name to Stop, Pop, and Roll, and I was asked to be their flagship artist.” Frank said he also appreciates the benefits of working with a label run by a fellow musician.

“He definitely understands how psychopathically attached to the songs I am. Another label might ask me to shorten my song titles to something under twenty syllables, or something that ties in more with the lyrics. Aaron either understands from his own experiences or at least he knows I will fight – and use my nails – if he asks me certain things that might make sense from a marketing point of view, but that don’t sit well with me,” Frank said.

Frank said he feels most influenced by the music of David Bowie.

“Bowie certainly got to me earlier than the others. I especially admire his ability to write about all these science-fiction themes and not have it sound pompous or goofy, but deeply personal. For example, one minute you’ve never heard of Major Tom, and then, five minutes later, he’s dead and you’re left with this deep loss. Lyrically, I like anyone who can write about loss and still keep his wit – and his wits.”

Frank said he began recording in 1990 with his band Miles Dethmuffen.

“We got called ‘arty’ a lot,” Frank said. “I think that means that we had good ideas, but couldn’t play our instruments well.”

After Miles Dethmuffen, Frank was in the band Permafrost. Toward the end of his time with Permafrost, he recorded his first solo album, “Mr. Fancypants,” in 2001. Frank said that while this first solo effort was a little rough, it was the right move for him at the time.

“It was very do-it-yourself. I recorded the whole thing with my friend John Bean in his living room. I recorded the acoustic guitar first and then had the other musicians come and try to play along. Silly! But Permafrost was on its last legs and I was dying to put something out. Also, Permafrost was perceived as a collaborative effort, so I was sort of aching to establish myself as a songwriter – so much so that the arrangements were more of an afterthought.”

After his debut, Frank followed with the one-two punch of “In Girl Trouble” and “A Lotta Devotion” in 2003.

Frank’s set at Toast drew primarily from his most recent work, and the crowd was appreciative. He opened the set with “Barking Up The Wrong Girl,” accompanying himself on electric piano.

Billy Borgioli, a visual artist and rock-and-roll guitarist from Somerville, said, “I hear elements of David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Elton John, but not so much that Ad Frank seems to be copying. The keyboard style is a combination of classical and pop, but the style of singing and songwriting is strictly his own.”

After several songs, Frank switched to a nylon stringed classical guitar. His vocals, already amazingly powerful, projected even more.

Frank’s witty stage patter helped him charm the audience into a tight rapport. When Frank asked for a drink and was given a glass of water, he chided, “This is water! I’m thirsty, not dirty!”

The audience laughed, and soon Frank was away on another song. His live rendition of “The Dulles Brothers Were Here” got the warmest reaction of the evening.

“Ad Frank is great,” said one attendee. “He reminds me of Bowie, or the pop of the Cure or Depeche Mode.”

A complete surprise was Franks’s version of Bowie’s “Letter To Hermione.” The vocals were gorgeous and heart-wrenching. That’s was a hard number to follow, but he kept the quality up with “A Little Devotion” – a hypnotically catchy, original song on Frank’s most recent record. Tom Weathern, a graphic artist from Allston, said, “Ad is a great performer, singer and songwriter. I’m looking forward to his upcoming album with the Fast Easy Women. I hear it’s going to be called ‘Mantastic.’”

Frank, ever the devoted showman, happily extended his set 15 minutes which immensely pleased the crowd.

Cal Johnston, a water filtration technician from Melrose who came out for the show, said he has been an Ad Frank fan for over a decade.

“I’ve been following Ad’s music since Miles Dethmuffen and Permafrost,” Johnston said.

“His songs are never fluffy. They are always emotional and from the heart.”