French Kicks

Infobox musical artist
Name = French Kicks


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = New York, USA
Genre = Garage rock
Post-punk revival
Indie rock
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Startime International/Vagrant Records
URL = [http://www.frenchkicks.com/ Official website]
Current_members = Nick Stumpf Josh Wise Lawrence Stumpf
Aaron Thurston
Past_members = Jamie Krents
Matthew Stinchcomb

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.

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. 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.

Their video for their single "So Far We Are" also features actress Olivia Wilde.

Discography

Albums

* "One Time Bells" (2002, Startime)
* "The Trial of the Century" (2004, Startime)
* "Two Thousand" (2006, Startime/Vagrant)
* "Swimming" (2008, Vagrant)

EPs

* "French Kicks" (1998, My Pal God)
* "Young Lawyer" (2001, Startime)
* "Close to Modern Remixes" (2003)
* "Roller" (2006)

Compilation appearances

* "The My Pal God Holiday Record 2" "Alabaster City"
* "" "1985" (Alt Version)

External links

* [http://www.frenchkicks.com Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/frenchkicks MySpace page]
* [http://www.vagrant.com/artist/index/7 French Kicks Site on Vagrant Records]
* [http://www.freeindie.com/2006/09/french_kicks.html French Kicks] on FreeIndie
* [http://www.hatesomethingbeautiful.com/?p=483 Interview] from Hate Something Beautiful
* [http://woxy.lala.com/music/loungeacts/index.php?id=116 French Kicks live on WOXY.com, July 31, 2006]