Remember all those shitty shows that you and your friends would hit up on the weekends as teenagers, usually held at a rec center or YMCA, where you’d pay three dollars to watch eleven local bands play horrible sets—except for one band? Sure, you knew the other bands and bought their merch of the tables for cred purposes, but you and everyone else in the room knew that there was only band there that would be playing shows post-prom. That band was the French Kicks.
Three of the four French Kicks have played together since high school—and in the warmest, fuzziest way possible, their sound reflects it. Swimming, their fourth album, delivered their best work to date and radio friendly jams like “Abandon” (love the hand claps!) while still maintaining the kinda-deep lyrics and unpolished sound that still pleases anyone who spent their baby-sitting money on homemade sew-on patches because they knew for sure that some day their favorite band would make it sorta big.
you know i feel bad, because when “one time bells” came out i was OBSSESSED with it for whatever reason (it’s still a good listen, btw)…then somehow, i rapidly lost track/interest. if memory serves they tried to get a little too slick for my tastes. i did love “abandon” when i heard an mp3 of it somewhere, though - seemed like a good combination of their past and present. thanks for the reminder to check out that record!
The French Kicks: the band I’ve seen live more than any other group, and never once because I actually wanted to. But at the same time, I’ve never not enjoyed seeing them play.