Tag Archives: Algernon Quashe

12.10.10
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Miniature Tigers Get Intimate at The Guest Apartment

 

In a mix between VH1’s Storytellers and La Blogotheque, The Guest Apartment keeps things on a simpler side, much like its name.  Miniature Tigers are one of the latest group to get the feature’s treatment, playing a miniature set comprised of a single guitar, plenty of harmonies, and the majority of the band taking up percussive roles.  Tambourines tap, shakers shake, and the band talks about the creative process for songs they perform from their latest album, Fortress (Modern Art).  You wouldn’t know it from these live renditions, but expect Fortress to exhibit some darker vibes.  The band mentions gearing up to record by watching “The Shining” in a converted woodland 19th century church.  Sound familiar?  That’s because bands from Beach House to the B-52’s have shared the same recording space, not that you should expect the same output from this band.

Check out the living room jam over at baeble’s website and find Fortress out now on Modern Art.

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10.26.10
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CMJ 2010 Photos: Miniature Tigers @ Music Hall of Williamsburg


One of our favorite bands ever hit up the Music Hall of Williamsburg during CMJ. We totally had flashbacks of interviewing a young Mini T’s during their first ever NYC visit in 2008 at the festival. How time flys. We feel like proud parents. View all of the photos from the show HERE!

08.20.10
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The Spinto Band with The Miniature Tigers @ Mercury Lounge, NYC -8/13/2010

A little late, I know, but one hell of a show. Spintos + Mini T’s + One Show = AMAZING!

06.04.10
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Miniature Tigers Release New Video and Announce Tour with The Spinto Band! (a.k.a. My head just exploded in EXCITEMENT!)


Whenever, and if ever, two of your favorite band’s tour together, most people consider it extremely lucky. Yesterday it was announced that the Miniature Tigers are not only doing their first headlining tour, but they are taking The Spinto Band along with them as openers.

Can we say ‘Dream team’? Because I’m going to.

The groups will be taking over the U.S. in full force this summer for your listening pleasure.

The Miniature Tigers have also just released their first video for the single “Gold Skull,” from Fortress (Modern Art), due out July 27th. The new record was produced by no other than The Morning Benders’ frontman, Chris Chu, and also features a produced track (“Gold Skull”) by Alan Palomo, better known as Neon Indian. The Spinto Band are also working on new material so be prepared to be filled with new tunes this summer by both bands.

Check out the tour dates below, and the new video from the Mini T’s!

“Gold Skull” by Miniature Tigers.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Miniature Tigers with The Spinto Band

July 21, 2010- The High Dive – Seattle, WA
July 22, 2010- Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
July 23, 2010- Hotel Utah Saloon- San Francisco, CA
July 24, 2010- Spaceland – Los Angeles, CA
July 25, 2010- House Of Blues- San Diego, CA
July 27, 2010- The Rhythm Room- Phoenix, AZ
July 29, 2010- Kilby Court- Salt Lake City, UT
July 30, 2010- Larimer Lounge- Denver, CO
July 31, 2010- Santa Fe Brewing Company- Santa Fe, NM
August 2, 2010- The Loft- Dallas, TX
August 3, 2010- Stubbs – Austin, TX
August 5, 2010- The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
August 6, 2010- Triple Rock Social Club- Minneapolis, MN
August 8, 2010- LOLLAPALOOZA – Chicago, IL
August 10, 2010- Pike Room- Pontiac, MI
August 11, 2010- Musica- Akron, OH
August 12, 2010- TT The Bear’s- Cambridge, MA
August 13, 2010- The Mercury Lounge, New York City, NY
August 14, 2010- TBA
August 15, 2010- North Star Bar- Philadelphia, PA
August 17, 2010- The Black Cat- Washington, DC
August 18, 2010- Sonar Club Stage- Baltimore, MD
August 19, 2010- Local 506- Chapel Hill, NC
August 20, 2010- The Star Community Bar- Atlanta, GA
August 21, 2010- The Blackbooth- Orlando, FL

06.03.10
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Free Energy with Jukebox the Ghost and Miniature Tigers @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC – 5/29/10


On Saturday night, as I drove to the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, I wasn’t sure what to expect. From the lineup, I had one thought about each band.

1. I love the Miniature Tigers.
2. Who in the world is Jukebox the Ghost????
3. What’s all this hype about Free Energy’s live show anyway?

Well, mysteries were about to be solved tonight. The crowd was filled with mostly college and high school girls, that were trying to be ‘too cool’ for their own good. Mixed in with your average hipster and random frat guy, I was sort of afraid what I was going to get here.

Miniature Tigers were up to the stage first, as singer Charlie Brand sported a very noticable new haircut. The band played songs off their upcoming record, Fortress (Modern Art) that is due out on July 27th. Everytime I see the Mini T’s they seem to get better and better, if that is even possible. Displaying their newest single “Gold Skull,” and old hits like “Cannibal Queen,” they sure know how to get the crowd going. Many new fans were won over that night.

Jukebox the Ghost took to the stage next. I had not a clue as to who this band was besides a name slip here or there. I was completely blown away by them. Singer Ben Thornewill’s voice and piano playing alone is one of the most incredible combinations I have heard in quite some time. The song that really got me hooked was called “Hold It In,” which is the most sugary-indie-pop song ever made. The band releases their new record in September and played plenty of new songs…so they said. I didn’t know the difference at this point. The crowd was into it, clapping and singing every word along with the band.

So far the all of the acts were amazing, and now it was time for Free Energy to take the stage.

Free Energy reminds me of The Guest era of Phantom Planet. Maybe it is because singer Paul Sprangers reminds me a bit of Alex Greenwald in looks and voice. This band is EXPLOSIVE on stage. Free Energy really lives up to the ‘energy’ part of their name. The band was hopping across stage (except for the bass player who never seems to budge), and dancing around. The fans were dancing too. This was a beyond fun show. From their newest single “Bang Pop” to everything else, the crowd and the group did not stop one bit. Sprangers is a charasmatic, energenic frontman who really knows how to work the crowd. The wierd thing is though, it seems to come naturally to him. He doesn’t seem to be working at it.

This is one of the most astonishing show lineups I have ever experienced. I’m still not fully recovered from the mass amounts of fun that I had at that show. We all had fun.

When the show ended I was thinking this about each band.

1. I can’t wait to get the new Miniature Tigers album in my hands!
2. Will there be any Jukebox the Ghost records left at the merch table?
3. Why is Free Energy so awesome?

and lastly…

4. Can we do it all again??!!

FOR MORE PICTURES OF THE SHOW, CHECK THEM OUT HERE

05.02.10
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Miniature Tigers w/ The Grates, The Stationary Set @ Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY – 4/21/2010

With the spring breeze in the air on an early night in Willimsburg, Brooklyn last Wednesday, fans packed the Knitting Factory to see the Miniature Tigers play their first show EVER in the BK area. Four of the nicest guys took time out to greet friends and fans that they passed throughout the night.

Hitting the stage first was The Stationary Set. The room was already starting to get packed for this indie buzz band. Trading instruments like something you would see at a Sloan show, and seperate precussion that you would experience while seeing Pavement, were both driven throughout. Lead singer (most of the time at least), Andrew Lutes, has one of the most poppiest voices I’ve heard in a long time. Though these boys may be on a small label they certainly have a big label sound and potential. I can only imagine we will be hearing more about The Stationary Set in the coming months.

The next to take the stage was Australia’s own, The Grates. The quintet led by charasmatic and energenic front woman, Patience Hodgson, literally blew the crowd away (even down to her golden chucks). What we were in for, and I’m sure no one was aware, was a 45 minute set of pump-your-fist-dance-your-ass-off music. If you didn’t look like you were having fun Hodgson got in your face and made sure that you did. And who could resist? The Grates play amazing indie pop tunes with a dab of Gwen Stefani style. Heading into the crowd several times, she really won the whole crowd over, leaving a once skeptical audience wanting more.

Around 10pm, the Miniature Tigers took the stage with big grins on their faces. Rick Schaier’s signature moustache is noticably gone, and I couldn’t help but think of the fresh faced CMJ newcomers I had originally met in 2008 and interviewed in a diner. It’s amazing how far they’ve come since their first New York City trip.

Most of the night was filled with upcoming material from their second record, Fortress (ModernArt) that is due to be released this summer. Produced by musician/friend/tourmate Chris Chu of The Morning Benders, you can really feel how the group has crafted their songs further from the early versions they have been playing recently on their last couple of tours.

New tracks like “There’s a Japanese Woman in My Closet,” and “Bullfighter Jackets,” were amazing to hear live on stage and really started to give the audience a glimpse of what the new album is going to sound like. Singer Charlie Brand’s voice is more brilliant in tone than ever. For a few songs, the band switched it up a bit as Schaier
took to the keyboard and synths and guitarist Algernon Quashie went behind the drums. Though I am not sure of the title, Rick took the lead vocals on one track that was very un-Mini T’s like but it was incredible nonetheless how it switched things up.

Brand also came out from behind the guitar and went mic-stand solo for a track as well. The band has become quite popular with fans and fellow musicians alike as there was some giggling high school girls in the corner, and you could see Tim Or of The Morning Benders and Christian Rudder of Bishop Allen watching the show from the center of the crowded room.

Everytime I see the Miniature Tigers they get better and better. I’m not sure how it’s possibly but they manage to pull it off flawlessly every single time. Watch out for Fortress this summer, and the band will most certainly be on tour thereafter. Be sure to check them out when they pass by your fortress!

FOR MORE SHOW PICS CLICK HERE