With a sound described as giving a nod and a wink to the cabaret dens and speakeasies of old, The Tiger and Me were rated one of Australia's six best Unearthed roots bands by Triple J and have amassed rave reviews in their short lifespan thus far. We dig deeper into the wondrous world of The Tiger and Me.
yourGigs (yG): What bands got you into music and which ones are you still inspired by?
The Tiger and Me (TT&M): I can answer both questions with the Beatles. This applies to Tobes [Tobias Selkirk] and Tim [Keegan] as well. Jane [Hendry] was and is very much a Janis Joplin fan, and learnt to sing listening to her music. Our new drummer Sarah [Galdes] has only recently joined the band and is much younger than us so I'm going to go out on a limb and say The Wiggles.
yG: Do you remember your first time (on stage)?
TT&M: As a band, our first gig was very forgettable. We were just a duo (Jane and myself) when we started. We called ourselves Rastus, because we thought it was a cool word. It turns out this is an ethnic slur. The lesson is, always Google a word you think you've made up.
The playing itself was also not my favourite memory. While we were both very at home on stage in general, as we played regularly in other people's bands, we quickly realised it's a completely different animal when it's your own band, and you're driving the thing.
yG: If you put your band's collective iPod/mp3 players on shuffle, what would come up?
TT&M: Statistically I think anything by Beirut has a good chance of coming up.
yG: What acts would you most like to share a stage with and why?
TT&M: I would choose Ed Harcourt, because he is my all-time favourite musician. Jane is right here and just nodded in approval. Ray LaMontagne, Beirut, and Jolie Holland would also be more than acceptable.
yG: Best gig you've played?
TT&M: North by Northeast in Toronto was a great gig for us, despite a certain broken hand incident, which I'll elaborate on in the next question. It was somehow the best gig and worst gig for us all in one...
We got a great response from a packed venue, at an international festival, with a great line-up. We were pinching ourselves. We got some good reviews from the show and loved the festival as a whole. That's hard to beat.
yG: Worst on stage moment?
TT&M: I broke my hand falling down some stairs the night before the North by Northeast show. I was convinced it was fine, up until the moment before we were due on stage and one of my guitar fingers just wouldn't work. I quickly downed a bunched of painkillers and several wines, and somehow made it through the show. Halfway through I couldn't feel my legs. Brilliant.
yG: What's your favourite venue to play in Australia and why?
TT&M: The Toff in Town in our home of Melbourne-town is fantastic. The whole aesthetic of the place is right up our alley, with its red curtains and cabaret feel.
yG: One gig in history you wish you were at?
TT&M: The Beatles' rooftop concert. I'm pretty sure there would be a full band consensus on that one.
The Tiger and Me launch the first single of their impending debut album November 7 at the Curtin Band Room.
Andy Ryan
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