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TIGER AIRWAVES
The Tiger & Me's debut album, From a Liar to a Thief, was
one of Howzat!'s 2010 faves. A thrilling adventure, we called
it "circus folk". For their next hat-trick … The Tiger &
Me are unleashing three EPs, "exploring a descent into madness,
the ensuing struggle and ultimate embrace of insanity".
Heavy concept. Singer Jane Hendry, aka "The Tiger", explains
that the songs are about delusion, realisation and acceptance.
"Some songs explore the minds and actions of characters
who are, slightly or otherwise, unhinged and blissfully
unaware; other songs reflect their emotional response to
realising that things aren't what they thought, and others
tell the story of acceptance and moving forward, imperfect
but self-aware."
So, it's a concept series of EPs. What's Jane's favourite
concept album? "Easy - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
Band."
You're a young band, what do you do: an album or an EP?
"Interesting question. I think it really depends on your
circumstances. It's important to get your stuff out there
and EPs allow you to release material more regularly. Having
said that, an album is often seen as a more serious endeavour
and I think it enables a band to show more depth than an
EP. After releasing and touring From a Liar to a Thief,
we were really keen to get back into the studio and we definitely
wanted to keep the momentum going. The EP series enables
us to generate more momentum than if we went back to the
studio to do a second album. However, by early next year,
the series will be complete and will be an album in three
parts."
The Tiger & Me - who launch The Howling Fire EP at the Toff
on Saturday, July 9 - have done a mix of pub gigs and festivals;
what do they prefer? "I don't think we have a preference.
Getting on the festival scene was a goal of ours and we've
revelled in the opportunity. But we love doing the Melbourne
pub gigs, particularly the residencies we've had at the
Builders Arms and the Sporting Club. The crowds are just
fantastic - we even have a dedicated bunch of swing dancers
who come to the shows and carve it up. It's messy and noisy
and sweaty. It feels like a riot could break out at any
time - a swing dancing riot!"
The Tiger & Me are like the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, insomuch
as they have three lead singers - Jane, Ade Vincent and
Tobias Selkirk. "I'm a big lover of harmonies and we're
very conscious that with three lead singers and three great
backing vocalists we've got a lot of scope for a full vocal
sound." What's Jane's all-time favourite duet? "Simon and
Garfunkel. I also like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury's
Under Pressure, and Ade insists that I mention Aerosmith
and Run DMC (Walk This Way)."
BRIGHT EYES, BIG CITY
After the stunning success of last week's cover of Elton
John and Kiki Dee's Don't Go Breaking My Heart, D. Rogers
and Emma Heeney might be doing another duet this Thursday
as their Builders Arms residency climaxes. Last week's winning
"cover me" suggestion came from Sophie Koh's manager, Tom
Collins, who proposed Bright Eyes' Lua. Fans are hoping
that Dave and Emma do the Conor Oberst/Gillian Welch version.
This week's support act is Duke Batavia, the new project
for Dave's old Klinger buddy Ben Birchall.
OUT OF SIGHT, BUT NOT OUT OF MIND
James Freud was a genuine rock star. The industry needs
more personalities like him. Sadly, James died last November.
He would have been 52 today (June 29).
MID-SEASON BLUES
Just like the Bombers, the Australian music industry is
having a mid-season slump. Howzat! has compiled a mid-year
report and the chart results make for sad reading:
- Just three Australian singles have reached the Top 10
in 2011 (Guy Sebastian's Who's That Girl, Havana Brown's
We Run The Night and Stan Walker's Loud).
- A total of 13 Australian singles have reached the Top
40. The only chart years to have a worse start are 1956,
'57, '58 and '59.
- Eight songs have topped the 2011 charts; just one of them
is a homegrown hit. Who's That Girl is the only local chart-topper
for the past 20 months.
- Ten albums have topped the Australian charts this year;
just one of them is a local release (Drapht's The Life of
Riley, which spent one week on top).
- A total of 12 Australian albums have made the Top 10.
Howzat knows that a lot of fine Australian music has been
released this year, so why isn't it charting?
MYLES FROM HOME
Howzat!'s favourite Adelaide artist, the magnificent Myles
Mayo, hits Melbourne this week, to support Micah P Hinson
at the Toff on Thursday. It's a duo show, but Myles will
be back with a full band in August.
CHART WATCH
Wes Carr's new single parks itself at 33.
We Run The Night HAVANA BROWN (number eight)
Loud STAN WALKER (10)
From The Music THE POTBELLEEZ (25)
Been A Long Time WES CARR (33, debut)
The Grates arrive at 11.
Seeker Lover Keeper SEEKER LOVER KEEPER (number seven)
Secret Rituals THE GRATES (11, debut)
Roy DAMIEN LEITH (16)
Aphrodite KYLIE MINOGUE (35)
Down The Way ANGUS & JULIA STONE (36)
Midnight Remember LITTLE RED (40)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
So, Let It Go THE TIGER & ME
Buyer's Remorse D. ROGERS
You Can SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR
Baby Don't Cry CATHERINE TRAICOS
My Little Tokyo MYLES MAYO
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