France Has The Bomb

France Has The Bomb is an alternative rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, described as "the new sound of Minneapolis!" in 2009 by Rolling Stone magazine.[1] The group consists of Srini Radhakrishna (vocals, guitar), Hideo Takahashi (guitar), David Storberg (bass) [2] and Alex Rose (drums). The group has received considerable airplay on Minneapolis' Radio K.[3][4]

France Has The Bomb
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States
GenresAlternative Rock
Years active2007–present
LabelsDusty Medical, HoZac, Shit Sandwich
MembersSrini Radhakrishna, Hideo Takahashi, David Storberg, Danny Henry
Past membersJacques Wait, Brian Shuey, Alex Rose
WebsiteBandcamp

History

The group was formed by Srini Radhakrishna in 2007 when he moved back to Minneapolis after attending grad school in Chicago, Illinois. He originally recruited Danny Henry and Brian Shuey to help him record some songs that he had written while in Chicago. The original intention was for the band to just be a recording project, but when Jered Gummere, a former bandmate from the Guilty Pleasures, invited Srini to open for his current band, the Ponys, additional members were recruited to form a live band.[5]

The band was signed by Dusty Medical Records who released their debut 45 "World Of Mirrors". They were next picked up by HoZac Records who released their next 45 "Invisible Angle". A split 45 with the band Tiger Bones followed on Shit Sandwich Records.

In May 2018, the lineup of Daniel Henry, Srini Radhakrishna, David Storberg, and Hideo Takahashi released the digital LP ...But We Must Cultivate Our Garden.[6]

The Band's Name

Srini stated that he didn't want a band name like "The Somethings" or a name that gave an indication as to the genre of the band.[3] The band's name was coined by Brian Shuey.[5]

Influences

Srini cites bands such as The Clean, The Folk Implosion, Wire and Guided by Voices as influences.[3][5] Jacques Wait described the band's sound as "dance-y, garage-y indie rock that kicks ass but is also fun" [3] Journalist David Hansen described the sound as "jagged-edged pop-rock".[7]

Reception
  • Rolling Stone magazine described the band as "Rocketing tempos, right-angle guitars and ragged-throated vocals."[1]
  • Christopher Matthew Jensen, of the City Pages, described the band's sound as "an aural painting of the rock 'n' roll canon".[3]
  • David Hansen, also from the City Pages, described their songs as "four-minute nuggets gleam like uncut gems".[8]
  • Brett Cross, from Victim of Time magazine, said the band "play a brilliant concoction of pop-tinged rock that straddles the lines between a number of genres and refreshingly defies the one word categorizations often used to describe a certain sound".[9]
  • In another review, Brett Cross said the band "lay out cagey, self-conscious tunes that sprawl a sonic map that their peers would have a hard time keeping up with".[10]
  • David Hansen, writing for vita.mn, said the band "manages all the explosiveness of our thermonuclear allies across the pond, without all the snooty posturing".[7]
  • Brian Banks, editor for the UK's "Music Vice" magazine, described the band as being "rich in garage and post-punk flavours".[11]

Members

Current members
  • Srini Radhakrishna (vocals, guitar) - Football, Guilty Pleasures, White Outs
  • Hideo Takahashi (guitar) - Birthday Suits, Sweet JAP
  • David Storberg (bass) - the Misfires, Double Bird, Signal to Trust
  • Danny Henry (drums) - The Soviettes, The Awesome Snakes, International Robot

Past members
  • Jacques Wait (bass) - Rank Strangers, Pink Mink, Mark Mallman, Ouija Radio (producer), The Soviettes (producer)
  • Brian Shuey (guitar) - International Robot, the Dynamiters
  • Alex Rose (drums) - Vampire Hands, the Chambermaids

Discography

Singles
  • "World Of Mirrors" / "Cold Hands" (Dusty Medical Records - DMR-11) 7" 2008
  • "Invisible Angle" / "Grim Trigger" (HoZac Records - HZR-025) 7" 2008
  • "Open Wound" / "Walk Right" (Tiger Bones) (Shit Sandwich Records - SS-180) 7" 2009

Albums
  • ...But We Must Cultivate Our Garden (Diminished Arc Records) LP 2018[6]

References
  1. "Hype Monitor". Rolling Stone. February 19, 2009. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  2. Lunney, Tigger (July 22, 2010). "Double Bird's Dave Storberg talks beer, bands, and the Rockin' East Side". City Pages. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  3. Jensen, Christopher Matthew (April 2, 2008). "France Has the Bomb, but no leader". City Pages. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  4. "In-Studio Performance: France Has the Bomb". Radio K. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  5. Lunney, Tigger (February 5, 2010). "5 Questions: France Has The Bomb blowing up the Turf Club with the Ponys Saturday". City Pages. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  6. "But We Must Cultivate Our Garden". Bandcamp. 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  7. Hansen, David. "France Has the Bomb EVENT". vita.mn. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  8. Hansen, David (September 10, 2008). "France Has the Bomb talk nuclear balance and the benefits of age". City Pages. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  9. Cross, Brett (June 3, 2008). "BREAKING SOUNDS: France Has The Bomb 7". Victim of Time. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  10. Cross, Brett (November 6, 2008). "France Has The Bomb Meets up with A/V Murder in Milwaukee". Victim of Time. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  11. Banks, Brian. "Fucked Up Weekend 2009". United Kingdom: Music Vice. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
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