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Frenchy and the Punk
OriginNew York City, United States
Genres
Years active2005–present
LabelsEA Recordings
Websitewww.frenchyandthepunk.com

Frenchy and the Punk are a Euro-American Acoustic Alternative post-punk cabaret duo based in New York City. They were listed in the top 25 duos in May 2012 by Yahoo Music Blog's List of the Day.[1] Punk guitarist Scott Helland, originally from the bands Deep Wound and Outpatients, formed Frenchy and the Punk with singer Samantha Stephenson in 2005. The group was originally called The Gypsy Nomads.[2] They adopted their nickname Frenchy and the Punk prior to their first European tour in 2011.[3]

Sound and style

Their sound has "elements of cabaret, gypsy and rock" [4] on par with The Dresden Dolls and Gogol Bordello[5] and Stephenson's vocal style has drawn comparisons to Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees.[6][7] Guitarist Scott Helland is known for creating a wall of sound onstage and has been "using looping guitar techniques since the 90s" [8] Another facet to Frenchy and the Punk's sound is their drum instrumentals that mix a Taiko-esque feel with a Carnival of Rio intensity[according to whom?].[9][10]

French connection

Stephenson was born in Lyon, France [3] and her autobiographical song "Yes! I’m French" offers the witty line "When those jokers served up freedom fries / I saw Lady Liberty rolling her eyes."[11] They released the all French CD Eternal Summer in 2008 with Samantha "crooning sultry, original French pop tunes in a classy cabaret fashion."[12]

Punk connection

Guitarist Scott Helland was a founding member of the legendary Massachusetts hardcore punk bands Deep Wound with J Mascis and Lou Barlow[13] and Outpatients in the early eighties. He was also a member of the NYC Hardcore bands School of Violence and Darkside NYC in the nineties. He began releasing solo instrumental records in 1996 and started the all instrumental spy noir, surf themed project Guitarmy of One which has released 2 albums in the late 2000s.[14]

2014 and beyond

In 2014, after the release of their 4th full length album Bonjour Batfrog, Frenchy and the Punk performed at Scotland's prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Fest.[15]

In 2016, they performed in England, Canada and across the US. In 2019 they performed in West Africa in Grand Lahou, Ivory Coast. The duo has been touring year-round since 2005.

In January 2019 they released a video for the song Lanky Bell Bottoms from their forth-coming album Hooray Beret. The 10 song album was released in April 2019 with 3 music videos for the songs 'Sing', 'Wah', 'Lanky Bell Bottoms' and 2 lyric videos for 'Monsters' and 'Fastball'. [16]

Discography

See also Scott Helland

Albums

Year Title Name Label
2007 Thread & Stone[17] The Gypsy Nomads Exotic Aquatic Recordings
2008 Eternal Summer[18] The Gypsy Nomads Exotic Aquatic Recordings
2008 At the Carnivale Eclectique[19] The Gypsy Nomads Exotic Aquatic Recordings
2010 Happy Madness[20] Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2011 Live at Bube's Brewery DVD Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2012 Hey Hey Cabaret[21] Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2013 Elephant Uproar[9] Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2014 Cartwheels EP[22] Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2014 Bonjour Batfrog Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2016 Batfrog Tracks Lyric & Photo Book Frenchy and the Punk Paris Punk Press
2019 Hooray Beret Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2020 The Storm is Call for Rebuilding (Single) Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2021 Hanging on the Telephone (Cover) Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2022 Zen Ghost Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings
2023 Cities in Dust (Cover) Frenchy and the Punk EA Recordings

Featured in compilations

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dynamic Duos — Two For The Price of One!". www.yahoo.com. 10 May 2012.
  2. ^ Digitalis, Raven: "Goth Craft", page 14. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2007
  3. ^ a b Block, Jordan: "Sepiachord Interview", http://www.sepiachord.com/index/interview-frenchy-and-the-punk/ 2013
  4. ^ "Frenchy and the punk « Search Results « ATLRetro". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  5. ^ Parker, Chris. "Come to the cabaret". Colorado Springs Independent.
  6. ^ "New Threads: New tunes from Gypsy Nomads, Mad Dog and the Smokin' Js and Deadbubbles". 5 December 2017.
  7. ^ "High Energy Steam-Powered Pixies! An interview with Frenchy and the Punk". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  8. ^ "Steamstock: Frenchy and the Punk". steampunk-music.com.
  9. ^ a b "Here Come the Drums!". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  10. ^ "Frenchy and the Punk - The Chase - Official Video from DVD" – via www.youtube.com.
  11. ^ "Chronogram Magazine - February 01, 2011 - CD Review: The Gypsy Nomads". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  12. ^ "Chronogram Magazine - July 01, 2008 - the Gypsy Nomads". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  13. ^ Cogan, Brian: "The Encyclopedia of Punk", page 74. Sterling Publishing, 2006
  14. ^ Blush, Steven; Petros, George (Oct 1, 2001). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Feral House. p. 244. ISBN 9780922915712. Retrieved Aug 10, 2017.
  15. ^ "Frenchy and the Punk - Edinburgh 2014". August 18, 2014.
  16. ^ "Frenchy and the Punk - Lanky Bell Bottoms (Official Video)". YouTube.
  17. ^ "Thread & Stone - The Gypsy Nomads | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  18. ^ "Eternal Summer - The Gypsy Nomads | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  19. ^ "At the Carnival Eclectique - The Gypsy Nomads | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "Happy Madness - Frenchy and the Punk | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  21. ^ "Hey Hey Cabaret - Frenchy and the Punk | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  22. ^ "Ninja Fish Music : Album Review: Cartwheels (2014)". May 20, 2014.
  23. ^ "Blood in the Soundtrack, a review of "Steampunk" Volumes 1 & 2". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-24.

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