French Kicks Announce Two Area Shows in February (Vagrant)

French Kicks are back home and have announced shows in Hoboken and Brooklyn next month. The band is playing Maxwell's on Feb. 13th (Tickets are $10 in advance) and The Bell House in Brooklyn on Feb. 21st (Also on the bill are Pomegranates and tickets are $12).

French Kicks were busy in 2008 as they released their fourth full-length, Swimming, which took the band in a new direction. This was followed by "Covers - EP", where the band covered Lindsey Buckingham, The Ramones and others. Three of the four songs on Covers were recorded live in the studio and this gives the songs a loose and relaxed feel.

For anyone who hasn't listened to Swimmers, there are a couple live performances from French Kicks that are available as free (and legal) downloads. The band recorded a session for WOXY that features three tracks from Swimmers and a Daytrotter Session the features four tracks from the disc.

Links:
French Kicks' Website

French Kicks are Playing Bowery Ballroom on September 24th

French Kicks are headlining the bill at the Bowery Ballroom on September 24th. The band is touring behind their fourth album Swimming (Vagrant) which was released earlier this year to strong reviews.

Swimming is the first disc to be produced and mixed by the band and the band shows a new level of artistic maturity. The band's garage/post-punk roots haven't been abandoned but the band is exploring more melodic territories. You can check out some tracks from Swimming on a Daytrotter session that the band recorded over the summer. One of my favorites is "Over The World".

French Kicks are playing with Passion Pit and Salt & Samovar at the Bowery Ballroom show. Tickets are $15.00.

Links:
French Kicks' MySpace Profile
French Kicks' Website