An Austin, Texas-based Englishman with an eclectic retro-pop palette, Nic Armstrong and his band the Thieves pair Beatlesque melodies with bluesy American trad rock and vintage Kinks, Who, and Rolling Stones-inspired guitar riffage. Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Armstrong spent his formative years immersed in music and art. His One Little Indian-issued debut album, The Greatest White Liar, dropped in 2004. In 2006 Armstrong released If We Can't Escape My Pretty under the name IV Thieves via New West. Armstrong eventually relocated to the bustling music mecca of Austin, Texas, where he set up shop and began recording both solo and with the Thieves. ~ James Christopher Monger