Tigertown (17/10/2012)
In the midst of a tour of the East coast of Australia, Sydney's Tigertown had a chat with The 59th Sound about Ryan Adams, artistic inspiration and Nova FM. Charlie was delightful – well-mannered, charming and candid.
A 1st generation Indian-Australian who grew up in Nashville, Charlie met and married band member Chris, and the rest of the Tigertown clan is family.
So I understand it that you and Charlie, fellow Tigertown band member, are married. Tell me how this special family band begun. How did you and Charlie meet and decide to start making music together?
We both played in different bands, and then we jammed together, and it was kind of cute. Then we thought, 'we need a bassist'… And Tigertown grew from there.
Your influences are phenomenal as listed on Unearthed (Fleetwood Mac & Ryan Adams). What is your favourite Ryan Adams album?
Heartbreaker, I think. It's the most raw and country. 'Call Me On Your Way Back Home' makes me want to cry! And I love 'Sweet Carolina' too – anything with Emmylou Harris singing on it is great.
Have you ever seen Adams live?
Yes! Chris took me to his gig at the Sydney Opera House as a surprise present. We kissed in the car for two hours playing Ryan Adams. And it was great because [Adams] played all of his stuff – from all the albums.
How do you write songs?
Chris and I write Tigertown's songs.
Growing up in Nashville, I had a strong country background. The likes of Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash are all about songwriting as storytelling. So I mostly write when I'm feeling sad – the lyrics come to me, and I pick up the guitar.
Chris hums guitar riff and a sick melody, chords etc. and then I add lyrics.
'Go Now', Chris wrote when we first met – [the idea in the song is to] run away with me and escape the world.
Tigertown's music is ace, because it's genuinely indie, but it's also really hook-laden, catchy and accessible. I can hear a mainstream station like Nova FM picking it up for rotation, which is great for sales but not for pretentious fans. How do you feel about this?
We're definitely not anti-Nova. The more people that wanna play music, and the more people that it can reach, the better.
Triple J has been heaps good to us, playing us and the new EP. Triple J Unearthed is awesome. It gives any band a chance to be heard even if they don't get radio play.
You have recently been touring along the East coast – how was your Melbourne show on Sunday?
We played at The Worker's Club on Sunday – it was packed out and there was a heaps cool vibe.
What other venues in Melbourne have you played?
We have played The Toff – it's cool, I liked it. Every place we've played in Melbourne has been so awesome. I love Melbourne – the scene is really cool down there.
Tigers are an important animal in your lives as I understand it. How did you get your name?
We have our ethnicity in there, with the Tiger reference. And as for the Town part, we wanted to have a name that created a place that people could go to.
To me your sound reminds me of Sydney's Jinja Safari. Are you a fan of the band? To what extent would you say your music is influenced by your contemporaries?
We love to listen to new music. I've heard a little bit of Jinja – Chris knows Cam really well from Jinja Safari. They've probably been an inspiration to our music – but our music is slowly starting to become our own. When you're starting to develop and fit comfortably in our own style it's pretty cool.
One person said once about our sound that “it is like if Angus & Julia Stone and Fleetwood Mac had a BBQ”, which is a pretty cool description.
Where have you toured, and which places have been your favourites?
Within Australia, Hobart beautiful and so much fun.
Where would you most like to tour?
India. I have been before – it's amazing. And the jewellery there is too – amazing and SO cheap!
Rebecca McCann
A 1st generation Indian-Australian who grew up in Nashville, Charlie met and married band member Chris, and the rest of the Tigertown clan is family.
So I understand it that you and Charlie, fellow Tigertown band member, are married. Tell me how this special family band begun. How did you and Charlie meet and decide to start making music together?
We both played in different bands, and then we jammed together, and it was kind of cute. Then we thought, 'we need a bassist'… And Tigertown grew from there.
Your influences are phenomenal as listed on Unearthed (Fleetwood Mac & Ryan Adams). What is your favourite Ryan Adams album?
Heartbreaker, I think. It's the most raw and country. 'Call Me On Your Way Back Home' makes me want to cry! And I love 'Sweet Carolina' too – anything with Emmylou Harris singing on it is great.
Have you ever seen Adams live?
Yes! Chris took me to his gig at the Sydney Opera House as a surprise present. We kissed in the car for two hours playing Ryan Adams. And it was great because [Adams] played all of his stuff – from all the albums.
How do you write songs?
Chris and I write Tigertown's songs.
Growing up in Nashville, I had a strong country background. The likes of Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash are all about songwriting as storytelling. So I mostly write when I'm feeling sad – the lyrics come to me, and I pick up the guitar.
Chris hums guitar riff and a sick melody, chords etc. and then I add lyrics.
'Go Now', Chris wrote when we first met – [the idea in the song is to] run away with me and escape the world.
Tigertown's music is ace, because it's genuinely indie, but it's also really hook-laden, catchy and accessible. I can hear a mainstream station like Nova FM picking it up for rotation, which is great for sales but not for pretentious fans. How do you feel about this?
We're definitely not anti-Nova. The more people that wanna play music, and the more people that it can reach, the better.
Triple J has been heaps good to us, playing us and the new EP. Triple J Unearthed is awesome. It gives any band a chance to be heard even if they don't get radio play.
You have recently been touring along the East coast – how was your Melbourne show on Sunday?
We played at The Worker's Club on Sunday – it was packed out and there was a heaps cool vibe.
What other venues in Melbourne have you played?
We have played The Toff – it's cool, I liked it. Every place we've played in Melbourne has been so awesome. I love Melbourne – the scene is really cool down there.
Tigers are an important animal in your lives as I understand it. How did you get your name?
We have our ethnicity in there, with the Tiger reference. And as for the Town part, we wanted to have a name that created a place that people could go to.
To me your sound reminds me of Sydney's Jinja Safari. Are you a fan of the band? To what extent would you say your music is influenced by your contemporaries?
We love to listen to new music. I've heard a little bit of Jinja – Chris knows Cam really well from Jinja Safari. They've probably been an inspiration to our music – but our music is slowly starting to become our own. When you're starting to develop and fit comfortably in our own style it's pretty cool.
One person said once about our sound that “it is like if Angus & Julia Stone and Fleetwood Mac had a BBQ”, which is a pretty cool description.
Where have you toured, and which places have been your favourites?
Within Australia, Hobart beautiful and so much fun.
Where would you most like to tour?
India. I have been before – it's amazing. And the jewellery there is too – amazing and SO cheap!
Rebecca McCann