Faux Jean

Between the mod rock imagery and the glam-inspired attitude, Faux Jean is one of the most distinct forces in turn of the century Minneapolis music. Delivering garage rock revivalism that revolves around the harmonies of singers Matty Schindler and Nicole Kalodrich, the band took the area by storm and garnered label attention shortly after hitting the live circuit. Going under the stage names Faux Jean and Jean Angel, Schindler and Kalodrich were the founding members along with the curiously named drummer Grinder. Schindler had already put together the demos for the project by the time the others joined on, but the trio worked well together and began drafting in more members. First came Dax Eckel (AKA Jean D'ax,) a keyboardist that actually heard the demos and learned to play all the songs before even approaching Schindler about joining. Bassist Cody Horton (AKA Faux Wayne) and guitarist Al Weiers (AKA Gene Wire) were the last to join, and the six-member band began to perform around Minneapolis soon after. Audiences were familiar with several of the members from their previous bands already, so getting into Faux Jean's snotty garage rock came easily to the local scene. But when Susstones Records heard their self-released album, they immediately picked it up and began distributing it in 2002. The band stepped into the studio to put together the follow-up while their debut, Kiss Life on the Lips, began circulating nationally that summer.