The brainchild of Bay Area punk scene stalwart Nick 13, the modern day Tiger Army stems from the front man’s obsession with the work of 1940s and 50s luminaries such as Hank Williams, Garth Brooks and Elvis Presley. A cursory glance at 13’s Instagram feed and it is a sea of diners, tiki bars and the wide open roads that paint that archetypal picture of classic Americana.

However, among the crooning ballads, Tiger Army still have that unique venom that make them one of the trailblazers of such a niche genre. 13 has that signature howl and lilting vocal range that allow seamless transitions between riotous punk songs and the kind of song you’d hear playing in the lounge bar of a Raquel Welch film.

Armed with a handful of Pomade, an exceedingly tight pink shirt and a spotlessly white Gretsch guitar, Tiger Army stride out on stage. The opener of ‘Prelude: Tercio de Muerte’ is a surf rock instrumental that wouldn’t feel out of place in the early work of Quentin Tarantino, while we first hear that 13 howl on relatively new track ‘Beyond The Veil’.

Unlike previous Tiger Army sets, this evening doesn’t rely on newer material and it is a pleasant stroll through the band’s extensive back catalogue. There is a treat for the long-time fans with an airing of the delicious fast-paced rockabilly track, ‘Cupid’s Victim’. 13’s intricate guitar work is matched by the rumbling slap of the upright bass by Djordje Stijepovic.

Given 13’s vocal range, Tiger Army shows switch between grimy punk in a sweaty basement to the refinery of a lounge act playing through the haze of cigar smoke and brandy glasses. The wonderfully swaying ballad of ‘Dark and Lonely Night’ sits alongside the 50s-inspired ‘Prisoner of the Night’ which, in turn, compliments the iconic ‘Pain’.

However, underneath the country aesthetics, 13 has a punk heart and happily reminds us of a time when Tiger Army would be on the bill with Dropkick Murphys and AFI. Airing the anthemic ‘Never Die’ and the defiant ‘F.T.W’, prior to which 13 concedes that “the world is pretty fucked up right now,” it’s a vintage performance from the California trio.

The overall sound of the band may have softened in the years gone by but there are two things that remain – Nick 13 is the only man to make a soul patch look cool and, more importantly, Tiger Army never die.

TOM WALSH

It seems a simpler place – free from the consuming world of social media, fake news, viral marketing and fascistic governments. It’s a fixation that courses through Nick 13’s body of work, from the psychobilly, punk riffs of Tiger Army, to the country western sounds of his solo records. He sees the world through the filter of a bygone era where Hank Williams was in the charts and Mickey Mantle was slugging them out of Yankee Stadium.

That’s why it seems entirely apt that Tiger Army return with an album entitled ‘Retrofuture’. 13 has always insisted that “Tiger Army never dies”, but the psychobilly favourites had certainly been in hibernation until they were reawakened in 2016 with their first record in nine years, ‘V•••–’.

While ‘V•••–’ indulged Tiger Army’s punk sensibility, ‘Retrofuture’ delves into 13’s love affair with country music and classic rock and roll to create a delicately eclectic record. The opening track ‘Prelude Tercio De Muerte’, an instrumental introduction, borrows themes from Mexican mariachi and the kind of classic surfer tracks you’d expect to find in mid-90s Quentin Tarantino films.

However, they stride into their rhythm with the classic rockabilly-inspired ‘Beyond The Veil’ which is every inch the classic Tiger Army sound we are so accustomed. The slapping upright bass compliments the rolling drum beats while the vibrato of guitar underscores 13’s signature melodic, howling vocals.

The Tiger Army front man has an incredible knack of shifting his singing style from the ultra-macho screams demonstrated in the thrashing ‘Eyes Of The Night’ to dulcet, quivering tones akin to a 1950s crooner in the charming ballad ‘Valentina’. The latter is a delightful love song which instantly puts you in the smoke-filled champagne clubs of Sunset Boulevard of days gone by.

Among the neon signs and long drives across the Nevada deserts, 13 does seemingly pull his head above the parapet during ‘Devil That You Don’t Know’. While he is steadfast in his rule of not mixing music and politics, there are hints in this grooving, stomping anthem of political commentary, as he utters “they say the devil you know is better than the one you don’t know”, subtle references to America’s flawed decision of choosing Donald Trump over Hilary Clinton.

It is only a momentary glance before Tiger Army are back into tales of lost loves in the swaying ‘Black Neon’. ‘Retrofuture’ is bookended with the instrumental ‘Night Flower’ which puts us in the hillbilly bars on a dusty road in Texas while ‘Shadowlight’ place us back on the sunlit streets of Los Angeles.

The country Nick 13 and Tiger Army portray is the one we want to live in. And with ‘Retrofuture’, for 45 minutes, you can take yourself there and live that slice of Americana we keep being told has been burned to the ground. Make America Retro Again.

TOM WALSH

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Starting a new series in August? The sun must have melted our brains – and you’re quite right. What with the heat and festival season, it’s been a struggle. But as always, it’s the music that’s got us through and these tracks are warming our hearts more so than the blistering heat.

So grab your headphones, unwrap that Choc Ice and settle yourself in for the inaugural Punktastic Presents: Playlist.

Oh, and don’t forget to follow the playlist to keep up to date with our additions as we go through the month.

Blondie – ‘Dreaming’

Channel 4’s recent screening of Trainspotting 2 gave us a reminder of how good Blondie’s ‘Dreaming’ is. As Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie continue to scheme and search for their place in the world, 20 years on from the original, Debbie Harry’s angelic vocals speak of always wanting something better. Despite its 1979 release, the escapism of the words “dreamin’ is free” still resonate in the shitshow that is 2019.

TOM WALSH

IDLES – ‘Mercedes Marxist’

I’m a late convert to IDLES. I’ve always been pretty dismissive of them. They felt like a psuedo-political gimmick at a time I was actively avoiding politics. But, much like how i can’t get away from politics, I can’t deny IDLES. They’re just too fucking good. There’s a subtlety behind most tracks – both lyrically and sonically – and Joe Talbots delivery is stunning, as he spits out every venomous word. Angry, anthemic and angsty, ‘Mercedes Marxist’ follows that formula and its clear that IDLES remain on top form.

ANDY JOICE

https://youtu.be/IoxivC5GVAU

Solence – ‘Death Do Us Part’

The follow up to the equally cinematic ‘Heavy Rain’, Solence are rapidly proving to be one of the most exciting up and coming bands of 2019. Death Do Us Part is as dramatic as the name implies, bringing both darkness and light together with a driving beat and gigantic chorus. Bring on an album (soon, please).

GEM ROGERS

Northlane – ‘Talking Heads’

I’ve always been a big fan of Northlane, but there’s something about this track in particular that left me speechless after the first listen. They’ve always been heavy and groovy, but not quite like this. It’s sinister, unpredictable and brimming with hooks – this is one of Australia’s finest exports on top of their game.

DAVE STEWART

Tiger Army – ‘Devil That You Don’t Know’

I want to live in the America that Nick 13 imagines. A country populated with Cadillacs, diners and endless dusty roads. Tiger Army’s ‘Devil That You Don’t Know’ is a jiving, swinging slice of Nick 13’s patented pychobilly punk. Whether Nick is referencing the current political climate when his howls of “they say that the devil that you know, is better than the one you don’t know”, or whether it just comes to him on those long drives through California plains. Either way, it lays down the marker for the bands forthcoming sixth album.

TOM WALSH

InMe – ‘The Next Song’

‘Overgrown Eden’ was my ‘Hybrid Theory’. It was my gateway into alt music. Comparing ‘The Next Song’ to anything off ‘Overgrown Eden’ is like comparing apples and oranges. What it lacks in obvious angst, it makes up for in subtly, depth of character and a technical prowess that comes with fifteen years of experience. Silky, soothing and soaring high enough to crack a seagull in the beak, Dave McPherson’s voice is as strong as it’s ever been. There’s something delicate but punchy about the melodies that melds itself perfectly to the incredibly versatile vocals.

ANDY JOICE

Sleep Token – ‘The Offering’

No one knows who Sleep Token is or when he’s going to release new music, but when he does it’s nothing short of spectacular. This track in particular is stunning, effortlessly weaving soft and sultry vocal tones with delightfully heavy guitars and groove-soaked drum work. I’m addicted to the mystery, and you should be too.

DAVE STEWART

The Menzingers – ‘Anna’

The Menzingers are back and ready to build on the success of 2017’s cathartic ‘After The Party’. ‘Anna’ is classic ‘Zingers with instantly catchy hooks, schmaltzy, twee lyrics about wanting a beloved friend to return home and endless references to their beloved Philly. For a band that kind of meandered for a number of years, they are finally making their mark as every millennial struggling with getting older’s go-to driving band. Album number six is due out in the autumn and we’re already goddamn pumped.

TOM WALSH

The Rocket Summer – Blankets

Gem Rogers

Bryce Avary is one of a kind. When it seems impossible to put your emotions and deepest feelings into words, Bryce is able to step in and make even the most impossible and tumultuous places in our minds make sense, and new single ‘Blankets’ is one of his most beautiful creations yet. Evoking the kaleidoscope of colours that accompany seventh album ‘Sweet Shivers’, it is a foot tapping, gliding electro-pop song, loaded with delicate harmonies and hopeful joy. The world would not be the same without The Rocket Summer, and ‘Sweet Shivers’ is set to be just as defining as the albums it follows.

It is taken from the LA psychobilly trio’s fifth album ‘V…-‘, which was released last year on Rise Records and Luna Tone Records.

The video shows the band leading up to the creation of their latest album, ‘V’, which came out earlier this year via Rise Records. It coincides with Tiger Army’s UK tour, which kicks off this week.

You can see the dates for the tour below, along with part one of the documentary.

November
17 LONDON Electric Ballroom
18 GLASGOW G2
19 MANCHESTER Sound Control

‘V’ marks the band’s first full-length album in nine years, having last released ‘Music From Regions Beyond’ in 2007.

One thing I enjoy about my position as a photographer is being able to check in on my once favorite bands that are still around and see what they’ve got. It leads to some fairly interesting experiences. I was intrigued to see the kind of crowd that Darkbuster, Tiger Army, & Dropkick Murphys could draw in 2016. I’m not the least bit surprised to see how much crossover there was. In turns out one of the differences between me seeing a lineup like this in 2016 and if I had in 2002 is that it turns out it takes a lot more for me to be impressed by a show than simply seeing a band I was into 14 years ago. There was certainly a different kind of crowd that night than who would have come out then. For as many fans that were legitimately excited to see these bands, there were a handful who really flipped out for “Shipping Up to Boston” and the 6 or 7 $8 beers that preceded it. It turns out I’m old now, but a different kind than a lot of the sing alongers.

Darkbuster have been around nearly as long as Dropkick and I was quite fond of them in high school. Anything with the words ‘Boston’ ‘Ska’ ‘Punk’ suited me just fine. Sometimes you don’t realize how much your opinion on a band can change until you are confronted with it 14 years later. The crowd was really digging them and I had a blast hearing old favorites. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this new album brings them the best. Tiger Army ably demonstrated that you can be perfectly capable of captivating a crowd without playing their city since 2008 or releasing material since 2007. With their Rise Records debut due this spring, I was glad to hear some new material. It definitely fit right in with the songs that were hits 8 years ago. While I could have done with a few more of the heavier songs from their repertoire, it was a ton of fun to finally catch Tiger Army after missing them at Warped Tour so many years ago.

I have caught the Dropkick Murphys a lot over the years and one of the best things is that even after so many times, they still manage to vary up their set lists enough that I have never seen the same show twice. I never thought I’d see them play ‘Good Rats’, but there it was putting a big smile on my face. They also changed things up a bit by coming into the crowd and doing acoustic renditions of old favorites so the folks could sing along. Following this, the band announced they were cutting a song because someone in the crowd professed to know and be able to perform ‘The Dirty Glass’. She killed it and was a lot of fun to see.

Anyone in the mood for taking a dip in the nostalgia pool should check out this tour. All of these bands still play on point and are excited to still be getting people riled up with their music after all these years. Particularly Dropkick Murphys. Twenty years is an impressive amount of time for a band to be together and it’s nice to see one I admired so greatly doing as well as they have. I don’t think it’s any secret that their rabid fanbase will gladly support Dropkick for as long as their willing to stick it out. As long as they do, I’ll happily keep my on what they’re up to.