Tigers Jaw
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.[2] Their most recent album, I Won't Care How You Remember Me, was released in 2021.
Tigers Jaw
Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
2005–present
- Summersteps
- Prison Jazz
- Photobooth
- Run for Cover
- No Sleep
- Tiny Engines
- Shout Out Loud Prints
- Topshelf
- Memory Music
- Black Cement
- Hopeless
- Ben Walsh
- Brianna Collins
- Teddy Roberts
- Colin Gorman
- Mark Lebiecki
- Adam McIlwee
- Mike May
- Dennis Mishko
- Pat Brier
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."[3]
History[edit]
Early years and Tigers Jaw (2006–2012)[edit]
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.[4] In later interviews, the band cited Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance as early musical influences.[5]
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."[6]
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."[7] In November 2012, the group supported Title Fight on their headlining US tour.[8]
Charmer (2013–2016)[edit]
On March 21, 2013, Tigers Jaw made an announcement on their Tumblr:
Studio albums