The jury was out, as far as Parisist was concerned, on the advisability of a New York band pretending, coyly, to be French.

But last night at the Paris-Paris, Nous Non Plus made their case loud and long, converting all naysayers with their dizzying energy, brilliant lyrics and infectious melodies, all rooted in a solid drumbeat. And, it turns out, one member of the band, one who does a lot of singing, is actually French. Nous Non Plus (unlike its previous incarnation as Les Sans Culottes) is proving to be way more than a gimmick, and more than just the sum of their influences.

The band's energy, unfortunately, was unmatched by the crowd's; Lead singer Jean-Luc Retard tried to get the audience to sing along to "Lawnmower Boy" ("Je suis [beat beat] un garçon") but met with resistance. Maybe it was too early, or too late, on this particular Tuesday night, but the crowd, with a few exceptions, did not seem ready to rock. Some bounced along to the catchy revenge tune "Tant pis pour toi" and its chorus of "la"s, but the rest were immobile... Tant pis pour eux.

But that didn't keep the band from delivering a solid show, making their way through the hit songs that have landed them on Rolling Stone's Back Page charts.

Their influences are tangible and their use of them beyond reproach-- take "Fille atomique," directly descended from Dutronc at his best, mixed with Gainsbourg's affinity for types of girls--rollergirls, poupées and all. Or their irresistible "Monokini" whose key modulates higher, and higher, and higher, in a dreamy vocal arrangement evocative of some 1960s beach movie soundtrack.

François Hardonne delivered a wicked trumpet solo on "Monokini," and Celine Dijon delivered a killer cover of Nena's 99 Luftballons, in the original German, no less, and then wailed a rendition of "Touch Me" that owed more to Janis than to Jim.

The verdict is in: if you've ever spent a moment lamenting the passing of the golden age of French pop music, lament no more and get yourself some Nous Non Plus. And if you do not know of what we speak when we refer to the golden age of French pop music, check them out anyway.

Incidentally, the band which followed was great; check out Hey Gravity, whose album will be released in France in March.