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Tigers Jaw

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Tigers Jaw
Tigers Jaw in 2015
Tigers Jaw in 2015
Background information
OriginScranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Years active2005–present
Labels
Members
  • Ben Walsh
  • Brianna Collins
  • Teddy Roberts
  • Colin Gorman
  • Mark Lebiecki
Past members
Websitetigersjaw.com

Tigers Jaw is an American rock band from Scranton, Pennsylvania, that formed in 2005. The group was co-founded by Adam McIlwee and Ben Walsh, with Walsh serving as the only consistent member throughout. The band's current lineup consists of Walsh, keyboardist/vocalist Brianna Collins, drummer Teddy Roberts, bassist Colin Gorman, and guitarist Mark Lebiecki. Their first album, Belongs to the Dead, was released in 2006. They issued two more albums before announcing a hiatus in March 2013. However, their record label, Run for Cover, stated in August 2013 that the band's breakup was not official. Their fourth album, Charmer, came out in June 2014, and their fifth, Spin, in 2017.[3] Their most recent album, I Won't Care How You Remember Me, was released in 2021.

Pitchfork has described the band's sound as possessing "the jangle of old indie rock, the stylization of new indie rock, and the simultaneously introspective and community-minded concerns of the fourth-wave emo bands for whom they're something of an authority figure."[4]

History

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Early years and Tigers Jaw (2006–2012)

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Ben Walsh and Adam McIlwee started the group during high school, with the former playing drums and the latter providing vocals and guitar. The band got its name from a song by lo-fi band the Microphones. Brianna Collins joined on keyboards and backing vocals after the first few months.[5] In later interviews, the band cited Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance as early musical influences.[6]

AbsolutePunk gave their self-titled album a generally positive review, noting that "Tigers Jaw is fueled by emotionally-driven lyrics brought to life by vocalist Adam McIlwee, whose voice is one of those that reveal passion while at the same time giving the impression that he's barely trying. Aforementioned opener "The Sun" is one of the better tracks on the album, offering up a well-organized mix of Tigers Jaw's two personas."[7]

Another punk music website, Punknews.org, in their critique of the band's eponymous album, felt that the tracks "Plane vs. Tank vs. Submarine" and "Chemicals" were particularly notable for "solid guitar work in the form of weeping, goosebump-inducing solos. Strong vocal harmonies and bouncy guitar work carry both 'I Saw Water' and 'Heat' to heights other bands would have a hard time reaching."[8] In November 2012, the group supported Title Fight on their headlining US tour.[9]

Charmer (2013–2016)

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On March 21, 2013, Tigers Jaw made an announcement on their Tumblr:

"After our show in Scranton two weeks ago, Adam, Pat, and Dennis let Ben and I know that for personal reasons they are unable to do Tigers Jaw anymore. This was a surprise for the both of us, but everyone is on good terms, and we respect and support them and their decisions.

A full band Tigers Jaw lineup (consisting of Ben and I with the help of some talented friends) will be doing a full US tour in May–June as well as the UK dates of the previously announced tour with the Menzingers in August. We regret to announce that we will have to cancel the mainland Europe dates. We apologize to the promoters, venues, and anyone who bought tickets.

These are likely to be the last Tigers Jaw tours for the foreseeable future. U.S. tour dates will be announced soon. Thanks.

- Brianna"[10]

Many fans interpreted this announcement to mean that the band was breaking up. However, both Walsh and Collins clarified that they would continue with Tigers Jaw as a two-piece. Members of Basement filled in during their 2013 UK tour, while members of Balance and Composure filled in for the US dates. After the announcement, Brianna did an interview, where she said that "I know Ben and I really want to work on a new record, put something out. It'll happen."[11]

After leaving Tigers Jaw, Adam McIlwee pursued his experimental solo project Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. Under this name, McIlwee blended emo and goth esthetics with cloud rap and trap, became a key member in musical groups such as THRAXXHOUSE and GothBoiClique, and famously collaborated with the late Lil Peep.

Tigers Jaw announced their next studio album, Charmer, on March 21, 2014, along with the single "Nervous Kids". Charmer reached No. 49 on the Billboard Charts. They played a U.S. tour with Touché Amoré and Dads in mid-2014.

They went on a U.S. tour with Lemuria and Somos in early 2015. In May 2015, it was announced that Tigers Jaw would be touring the U.S. with New Found Glory and Yellowcard in late 2015. In June 2015, the band played in Brazil and performed three acoustic shows in New York, Philadelphia, and Somerville. Tigers Jaw toured Australia in July 2015. In August 2015, they toured in the UK/Europe with Foxing. The band then performed various acoustic shows before undertaking another UK/Europe tour with Basement in February and March 2016.

spin, Eyes Shut, and I Won't Care How You Remember Me (2017–present)

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On March 22, 2017, spin was announced for release on May 19 through Black Cement Records, with a U.S. tour starting the same day.[12] The album saw the release of three singles: "Guardian," "June" and "Window." In 2018, the band also performed several shows commemorating the ten-year anniversary of the band's self-titled album.[13]

In 2019, the band released a new stand-alone single, "Eyes Shut." The track was recorded in the sessions for spin, but did not make the final cut. The single served as the title track of a new EP, which paired it with acoustic versions of "Guardian," "Follows" and "Eyes Shut."[14] 2019 also saw the addition of touring musicians Teddy Roberts and Colin Gorman as full-time members of Tigers Jaw.

In 2020, the band released a new song entitled "Warn Me." It marked the band's first release as part of the Hopeless Records roster. Although "Warn Me" would not appear on the band's then-untitled sixth studio album, the band confirmed they had been in the studio with Will Yip working on it.[15]

In October 2020, the band released a new track, "Cat's Cradle", serving as the official lead single to their sixth album, I Won't Care How You Remember Me. Three other singles followed from 2020 to 2021: "Lemon Mouth",[16] "Hesitation",[17] and "New Detroit". The album was released on March 5, 2021,[18] along with a record release show on YouTube.

Musical style

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The band's style has been described as having evolved from emo and pop punk into indie rock. AllMusic has termed their lyrics as "personal and incisive" and "emotionally powerful".[19]

Band members

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Timeline

Discography

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Main article: Tigers Jaw discography

Studio albums

References

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  1. ^ Drew Necci, Marilyn (June 14, 2013). "Tuesday: Tigers Jaw play last VA show at the Camel". RVA Magazine. InkWell Ventures. Retrieved June 29, 2024. Their emotionally-driven songwriting grooves like some older midwest emo bands such as The Promise Ring...
  2. ^ Deming, Mark. "Artist Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "Tigers Jaw never said they were breaking... – Run for Cover Records". Facebook.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Cohen, Ian. "Tigers Jaw: spin Album Review". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media.
  5. ^ "Vans Girls". Vansgirls.tumblr.com.
  6. ^ "Tigers Jaw & Will Yip Talk 'Spin,' New Label Black Cement | Billboard". Billboard.com. March 24, 2017.
  7. ^ "Tigers Jaw - Tigers Jaw". Absolute Punk.net. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  8. ^ "Tigers Jaw - Tigers Jaw". Punknews.org. November 18, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  9. ^ Colwell, Matthew (August 13, 2012). "Title Fight announce headlining tour dates with Pianos Become The Teeth and Single Mothers". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  10. ^ "tigers jaw — Announcement". Tigersjaw.tumblr.com. March 21, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  11. ^ "Tigers Jaw: An Interview with Brianna Collins". Thewaster.com.
  12. ^ Lars Gotrich. "TIGERS JAW, After Shakeup, Announces New Record And Shares New Song 'Guardian'". Npr.org. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  13. ^ Casteel, Beth (June 25, 2018). "TIGERS JAW ANNOUNCE S/T 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Hojsak, Sarah (October 2, 2019). "Tigers Jaw surprise released a surprise acoustic EP, Eyes Shut". The Key. WXPN Radio. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  15. ^ Yoo, Noah (June 25, 2020). "Tigers Jaw Share New Song "Warn Me"". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  16. ^ Chelosky, Danielle. "Tigers Jaw Move Forward". spin.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  17. ^ Dad, Bad. "Tigers Jaw Drops Hesitation". thatsgoodenoughforme.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Yoo, Noah (October 22, 2020). "Tigers Jaw Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song: Watch". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  19. ^ "Tigers Jaw". allmusic.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  20. ^ "Tigers Jaw UK Tour Video". YouTube.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  21. ^ @jlthetimeholder (August 14, 2023). "Been having a blast with the @tigersjaw crew down under, filling-in for the one and only @theodoreroberts" – via Instagram.
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