The Gypsy Nomads
| Frenchy and the Punk | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, United States |
| Genres |
Folk Punk Punk cabaret Steampunk |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | EA Recordings |
| Associated acts | Scott Helland, The Gypsy Nomads, Deep Wound, Outpatients |
| Website | www |
Frenchy and the Punk are a Euro-American folk punk cabaret duo based in New York City. They are regarded as one of the top steampunk cabaret performers in the world and were listed in the top 25 duos in May 2012 by Yahoo Music Blog's List of the Day. Scott Helland formed Frenchy and the Punk with singer Samantha Stephenson in 2005. The group was originally called Scott Helland and the Traveling Band of Gypsy Nomads before being shortened to The Gypsy Nomads. They adopted their nickname Frenchy and the Punk prior to their first European tour in 2011.
Their sound has "elements of cabaret, gypsy, celtic and steampunk" on par with The Dresden Dolls and Gogol Bordello and Stephenson's vocal style has drawn comparisons to Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees. Guitarist Scott Helland is known for creating a wall of sound onstage and has been "using looping guitar techniques since the 90s" 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.
Stephenson was born in Lyon, France 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.” They released the all French CD Eternal Summer in 2008 with Samantha "crooning sultry, original French pop tunes in a classy cabaret fashion."
Guitarist Scott Helland was a founding member of the legendary Massachusetts hardcore punk bands Deep Wound with J Mascis and Lou Barlow and Outpatients in the early eighties.
"Perhaps no band puts the “punk” into the steampunk sound than an in-your-face feisty little duo named Frenchy and the Punk." Sharing the stage with fellow steampunk luminaries Abney Park, Steam Powered Giraffe, Professor Elemental and The Men That Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing, Frenchy and the Punk have performed at many of the biggest steampunk conventions in the US including Steamcon,World Steam Expo, Steampunk Worlds Fair and the Steampunk Empire Symposium, with appearances at the Watch City Steampunk Festival, as well as events in France, England and Germany. Their video for the song House of Cards features "prominent steampunks from the Northeast" making cameos and acting out a Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes inspired murder mystery. Their popularity continues to rise amongst the steampunk community through endless touring and cheeky videos such asMake Out from their breakthrough 2010 CD, Happy Madness. In January 2013, their song Steampunk Pixie, from the 2012 Hey Hey Cabaret CD was named one of the Top 10 Steampunk songs by Behind the Steam Blog. They have also performed at Conventions that cater to the Sci-fi, Comic Book, Anime and Fantasy Fan Realm including DragonCon in Atlanta, GA,Comicpalooza in Houston, TX,MegaCon in Orlando, FL and MarsCon (Williamsburg, Virginia). Their music also has Dieselpunk elements and a mystical flair lending them popularity and featured slots at numerous festivals that celebrate the Faerie Lore like Faerieworlds in Oregon, Spoutwood Fairie Festival in Pennsylvania and 3 Wishes Faery Fest in the UK hosted by FAE Magazine. They were Nominated "Best Band 2013" by Steampunk Chronicle's Readers Choice Awards and nominated "Best Band 2012" by SteamCon's Airship Awards. Their music has appeared on TV on the NY Ink Movin' On UP Episode, and HG TV's Home Strange Home Steampunk Episode. Stephenson, "the woman with staggering charisma and flamenco hips" was named one of the '25 Women to Watch' by Yahoo Music Blog's List of the Day in March 2011.
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Wikipedia