French Kicks
Encyclopedia
French Kicks are an indie rock
group from New York City
, USA
. Their sound is a mix of garage rock, post-punk, and modded pop.
Three of the original four band members, bassist Jamie Krents, vocalist/drummer Nick Stumpf, and vocalist/guitarist Matthew Stinchcomb, are from Washington, D.C.
They were heavily influenced by the hardcore
scene that flourished during their youth in the D.C. area. They began playing together in a series of bands while in their teens and then all attended Oberlin College
in Ohio, where they continued to play together. The three friends then moved to Brooklyn, New York after college, where the French Kicks were formed with vocalist/guitarist Josh Wise, a Princeton grad who originally hailed from Huntsville, Alabama.
Having performed their first shows at Luna Lounge on Manhattan's Lower East Side, in 1999 they released a self titled EP The French Kicks under the label My Pal God. Soon, after a lot of touring, the band signed to Startime International. They soon released the Young Lawyer EP in 2001. The group then embarked on a tour with fellow garage rockers The Vue
and The Walkmen
. In 2002 they released their first full length album, One Time Bells
. Jamie Krents departed the band the next year, and was replaced on bass by Lawrence Stumpf, Nick's younger brother. The following year they headlined Sepomana, WRMC
91.1 FM's annual music festival. In 2004, their next album, The Trial of the Century was released. Another personnel change occurred when Nick stopped playing drums at live shows to concentrate on his lead singing. A series of temporary drummers filled his spot until the band settled on Aaron Thurston, a Massachusetts native. In late 2005, Stinchcomb announced that he was leaving the band.
In early 2010, rumors circulate that the band may have broken up or has held off work indefinitely.
Their video
for their single
"So Far We Are" also features actress Olivia Wilde
.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Their sound is a mix of garage rock, post-punk, and modded pop.
Three of the original four band members, bassist Jamie Krents, vocalist/drummer Nick Stumpf, and vocalist/guitarist Matthew Stinchcomb, are from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
They were heavily influenced by the hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
scene that flourished during their youth in the D.C. area. They began playing together in a series of bands while in their teens and then all attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio, where they continued to play together. The three friends then moved to Brooklyn, New York after college, where the French Kicks were formed with vocalist/guitarist Josh Wise, a Princeton grad who originally hailed from Huntsville, Alabama.
Having performed their first shows at Luna Lounge on Manhattan's Lower East Side, in 1999 they released a self titled EP The French Kicks under the label My Pal God. Soon, after a lot of touring, the band signed to Startime International. They soon released the Young Lawyer EP in 2001. The group then embarked on a tour with fellow garage rockers The Vue
The Vue
The Vue or The Vue Charlotte is a tall skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was completed in 2010 and has 50 stories. The sales center for The Vue is located on the bottom floor of 101 Independence Center at the corner of Trade and Tryon streets....
and The Walkmen
The Walkmen
The Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer...
. In 2002 they released their first full length album, One Time Bells
One Time Bells
-Track listing:All songs written by French Kicks unless otherwise noted.# "Wrong Side" – 3:28# "When You Heard You" – 2:33# "Down Now" – 4:01...
. Jamie Krents departed the band the next year, and was replaced on bass by Lawrence Stumpf, Nick's younger brother. The following year they headlined Sepomana, WRMC
WRMC
WRMC-FM is the full power, student-volunteer-run radio station of Middlebury College. WRMC broadcasts a variety of content types, including talk, news, and radio drama, although the vast majority of the schedule is music of all genres...
91.1 FM's annual music festival. In 2004, their next album, The Trial of the Century was released. Another personnel change occurred when Nick stopped playing drums at live shows to concentrate on his lead singing. A series of temporary drummers filled his spot until the band settled on Aaron Thurston, a Massachusetts native. In late 2005, Stinchcomb announced that he was leaving the band.
In early 2010, rumors circulate that the band may have broken up or has held off work indefinitely.
Their video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
for their single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"So Far We Are" also features actress Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is an American actress and fashion model. She began acting in the early 2000s, and has since appeared in a number of film and television parts, including roles in the serial-drama The O.C. and The Black Donnellys. She portrayed Dr...
.
Albums
- One Time BellsOne Time Bells-Track listing:All songs written by French Kicks unless otherwise noted.# "Wrong Side" – 3:28# "When You Heard You" – 2:33# "Down Now" – 4:01...
(2002, Startime) - The Trial of the Century (2004, Startime)
- Two ThousandTwo ThousandTwo Thousand is the third full-length album by New York-based indie rock band French Kicks. It was released on July 18, 2006.-Track listing:# "So Far We Are" – 3:44# "Also Ran" – 4:15# "Cloche" – 4:26# "Knee High" – 4:55# "Keep It Amazed" – 5:19...
(2006, Startime/Vagrant) - SwimmingSwimming (French Kicks album)Swimming is the fourth full-length album by New York-based indie rock band French Kicks. Their first self-produced album, Swimming is marked by a more stripped-down sound than is found on their previous albums...
(2008, Vagrant)
EPs
- French KicksFrench Kicks (EP)-Track listing:# "Arena" – 3:46# "White" – 3:59# "Take In Water" – 4:28# "So Many Cakes" – 4:48...
(1998, My Pal God) - Young LawyerYoung LawyerYoung Lawyer is an EP by New York City-based indie rock group French Kicks.-Track listing:# "Young Lawyer" – 3:00# "Living Room Is Empty" – 4:57# "The 88" – 3:40# "Call Our Hands" – 3:02# "Destro" – 4:26# "Piano" – 2:57...
(2001, Startime) - Close to Modern RemixesClose To Modern RemixesClose to Modern Remixes is an EP by French Kicks consisting primarily of remixed versions of "Close to Modern". The track was originally released on the album One Time Bells.-Track listing:# "Close to Modern " by Eucho – 4:06...
(2003) - Roller (2006)
- Covers (2008, Vagrant)
Compilation appearances
- The My Pal God Holiday Record 2 "Alabaster City"
- This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based CompilationThis Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based CompilationThis is Next Year is a compilation album released July 17, 2001 by Arena Rock Recording Co.-Disc 1:#"Radio" – The Walkmen#"I've Got A Fang " – They Might Be Giants#"Wasting In The Sun" – #"Keep Your Feelings To Yourself" – Clem Snide...
"1985" (Alt Version)
External links
- Official website
- MySpace page
- French Kicks Site on Vagrant Records
- French Kicks on FreeIndie
- Interview from Hate Something Beautiful
- French Kicks live on WOXY.com, July 31, 2006