March 28-April 3, 2002

musicpicks

French Kicks

Rock/Pop

The adjective "crunchy" is normally applied to bands in Birkenstocks. But Brooklyn's French Kicks, who dress more hipster than hippie, make music that really crackles when you bite down on it. Take, for example, the title track from their EP Young Lawyer (Startime): It's irresistibly off-kilter, catchy precisely because of its atonal riffing and a cacophony of pre-chorus vocals that echo from every speaker of whatever stereo's blasting it. It's a power pop song that will forever be lodged inside that part of the brain devoted to harnessing melodies because it sounds like it's about to blow a fuse. Redefining the ever-elusive idea of "pop" seems to be second nature for the French Kicks, and they take on that task gleefully, from their shout-it-out choruses to their hyperactive version of "Talk Dirty to Me."

Thu., March 28, 9 p.m., $7, with Vue, Ty Cobb and The High-Tops, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

—Maura Johnston

-- Respond to this article in our Forums -- click to jump there