Strange Boys
Encyclopedia
The Strange Boys are an American rock 'n' roll band based in Austin
, Texas
, composed of Ryan Sambol (guitar, lead vocals, harmonica), Philip Sambol (bass), Greg Enlow (guitar), Mike La Franchi (drums), Jenna E. Thornhill DeWitt (saxophone, backing vocals), and Tim Presley (backing vocals). Their music incorporates stylistic elements of garage rock
, punk
, R&B and country music
.
in 2001 as a punk duo by Ryan Sambol and Matt Hammer while the pair were in 8th grade. Ryan's brother Philip returned to Dallas from college and joined in 2003.
The band released their debut Nothing EP in 2007 on Dusty Medical Records and in 2008 their first full-length album, entitled and Girls Club via In the Red Records
on March 3, 2009.
In late 2009 the band underwent some line-up changes, with drummer and founding member Matt Hammer being replaced by Seth Densham, originally of Mika Miko
(who disbanded in October, 2009). Jenna Thornhill-DeWitt, also a former member of Mika Miko, was added as saxophonist and backing vocalist, and Tim Presley, of Darker My Love
, also joined to contribute backing vocals. Seth left the group and Mikey La Franchi joined on drums.
Around the same time, the newly-outfitted line-up of the Strange Boys signed a deal with UK record label Rough Trade
to distribute their material outside of the US, and also announced details of their second album, Be Brave, which was released on February 22, 2010 (UK) and February 23, 2010 (US). The album was preceded by a single release of the title track, 'Be Brave' on January 25 (UK) and January 26 (US). The band released their third album, Live Music (Live pronounced [lɪv], rhyming with give), exclusively on Rough Trade in October, 2011.
The Strange Boys have toured alongside acts such as Darker My Love
, Night Beats
, Mika Miko
, Fucked Up
, Crystal Antlers
, Chain and the Gang, Spoon
, Deerhunter
, and Julian Casablancas
.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, composed of Ryan Sambol (guitar, lead vocals, harmonica), Philip Sambol (bass), Greg Enlow (guitar), Mike La Franchi (drums), Jenna E. Thornhill DeWitt (saxophone, backing vocals), and Tim Presley (backing vocals). Their music incorporates stylistic elements of garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, R&B and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.
History
The Strange Boys were formed in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
in 2001 as a punk duo by Ryan Sambol and Matt Hammer while the pair were in 8th grade. Ryan's brother Philip returned to Dallas from college and joined in 2003.
The band released their debut Nothing EP in 2007 on Dusty Medical Records and in 2008 their first full-length album, entitled and Girls Club via In the Red Records
In the Red Records
In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
on March 3, 2009.
In late 2009 the band underwent some line-up changes, with drummer and founding member Matt Hammer being replaced by Seth Densham, originally of Mika Miko
Mika Miko
Mika Miko was a band formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California. In 2004 they gained local popularity for their frenetic live performances. Featuring Victor Fandgore , Jet Blanca , Michelle Suarez, Jessica Clavin, and Jon Erik Edrosa, the original line up of the band made its first demo CD-R, its...
(who disbanded in October, 2009). Jenna Thornhill-DeWitt, also a former member of Mika Miko, was added as saxophonist and backing vocalist, and Tim Presley, of Darker My Love
Darker My Love
Darker My Love is an indie psychedelic rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of 5 members. Tim Presley, a former member of the band The Nerve Agents and also a visual artist responsible for much of the band's imagery, formed the band in 2004 and contributes vocals and guitar...
, also joined to contribute backing vocals. Seth left the group and Mikey La Franchi joined on drums.
Around the same time, the newly-outfitted line-up of the Strange Boys signed a deal with UK record label Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
to distribute their material outside of the US, and also announced details of their second album, Be Brave, which was released on February 22, 2010 (UK) and February 23, 2010 (US). The album was preceded by a single release of the title track, 'Be Brave' on January 25 (UK) and January 26 (US). The band released their third album, Live Music (Live pronounced [lɪv], rhyming with give), exclusively on Rough Trade in October, 2011.
The Strange Boys have toured alongside acts such as Darker My Love
Darker My Love
Darker My Love is an indie psychedelic rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of 5 members. Tim Presley, a former member of the band The Nerve Agents and also a visual artist responsible for much of the band's imagery, formed the band in 2004 and contributes vocals and guitar...
, Night Beats
Night Beats
The Night Beats are an American Psychedelic, Garage and Soul group based out of Seattle, Washington. The group consists of Lee Blackwell , James Traeger and Tarek Wegner...
, Mika Miko
Mika Miko
Mika Miko was a band formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California. In 2004 they gained local popularity for their frenetic live performances. Featuring Victor Fandgore , Jet Blanca , Michelle Suarez, Jessica Clavin, and Jon Erik Edrosa, the original line up of the band made its first demo CD-R, its...
, Fucked Up
Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
, Crystal Antlers
Crystal Antlers
-History:Early HistoryThe band started as a 3 piece, Kevin Stuart , Errol Davis and Jonny Bell in late 2006 in Long Beach, California. Stuart, Davis, and Bell met while attending a music class in High School...
, Chain and the Gang, Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
, Deerhunter
Deerhunter
Deerhunter is an American four-piece indie rock group originating from Atlanta, Georgia. The band, consisting of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver, and Lockett Pundt, have described themselves as "ambient punk," though they incorporate a wide range of genres, including noise rock, art...
, and Julian Casablancas
Julian Casablancas
Julian Fernando Casablancas is an American singer-songwriter and musician of The Strokes. Casablancas pursued a solo career during The Strokes' hiatus, releasing the album Phrazes for the Young on November 3, 2009....
.
Discography
- Nothing EP (Dusty Medical Records, 2007)
- Isn't It Pretty To Think So 7" (In The Red Records, 2008)
- The Strange Boys and Girls ClubThe Strange Boys and Girls Cluband Girls Club is the debut album by the band The Strange Boys. It was released via In The Red Records on March 3, 2009 in the USA and a day earlier in the UK....
(In The Red, 2009) - Be Brave 7" (In The Red/Rough Trade, 2010)
- Be BraveBe BraveBe Brave is the second album by the band The Strange Boys. It was released via In The Red Records.-Track listing:# "I See" - 3:08# "A Walk On The Bleach" - 3:05# "Be Brave" - 2:58# "Friday In Paris" - 2:17# "Between Us" - 3:20# "Da Da" - 2:32...
LP (In The Red/Rough Trade, 2010) - Live Music LP (Rough Trade, 2011)