Tigers Jaw
Tigers Jaw (Scranton, PA)
Pat Brier – drums
Brianna Collins – keyboard / vocals
Adam McIlwee – guitar / vocals
Dennis Mishko – bass
Ben Walsh – guitar / vocals
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Spirit Desire 7-inch (Tiny Engines)
Release Date: August 11, 2009
I used to tell people that Tigers Jaw reminded me of a poppier Archers Of Loaf or a more punk version of Pavement…except with keyboards and a blatant disregard for apostrophes. I would randomly throw out comparisons to Superchunk, Weezer and even The Weakerthans, although the band never directly reminded me of any of them.
Looking back, I’m not sure that it did Tigers Jaw any favors or properly conveyed how amazing and unique its songs truly are. Of course, my point was not that the Scranton, PA five piece is aping any of those bands; it was simply that Tigers Jaw cranks out an extremely infectious, somewhat twisted and slightly off-kilter brand of nostalgic indie rock that transmits in a way that’s as relevant today as it would have been fifteen years ago. Bands like Archers or Superchunk made what they were doing sound almost effortless and infinitely catchy, even though few can replicate their songwriting prowess or craftsmanship…let alone the fiery punk energy and enthusiasm poured into each track. Read more…
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Media
* Bio (pdf)
* Album Art (hi-res)
* Band Photo 1 (hi-res)
* Band Photo 2 (hi-res)
* Band Photo 3 (hi-res)
* Band Photo 4 (hi-res)
* mp3s
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Self-Titled CD (Prison Jazz)
Release Date: September 23, 2008
The very last thing I want to do – because it’s tired hyperbole that’s been perpetrated upon the listener a million times before – is suggest that any band has crafted a new and unprecedented sound by molding the many diverse traits of influential artists that came before. In other words, if I mention that Tigers Jaw sounds like it could seamlessly blend in with bands of the early 90’s Chapel Hill indie scene just as well as it could amidst today’s DIY punk sect, you might roll your eyes and mutter a few choice words in my general direction. Or if I remark that this scrappy young Scranton P.A. band – with all five members under the age of 20 – transmits like a grittier so-and-so or a poppier you-know-who but with the enthusiasm of that what’s-their-name, I may lose your attention altogether.
Okay…duly noted.
With that out of the way, the honest to-god-truth is that Tigers Jaw has written an absolutely stellar, twisted indie pop album that defies traditional categorization. And by “twisted,” I mean that the band’s latest Self-Titled full length tends circumvent conventional pop structures in favor of something a bit more high-energy and off-kilter while still adhering to a slacker groove and uniquely casual melodicism. Read more …
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Media
* Bio (pdf)
* Album Art (hi-res)
* mp3s
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Press Contact: Chuck Daley / Beartrap PR / chuck@beartrappr.com / (704) 649-7128
