Jane Hendry - vocals, violin
Ade Vincent - vocals, guitar, piano
Sarah Galdes - drums
Tim Keegan - bass, vocals
Tobias Selkirk - piano accordian, piano, vocals
Influences
Ed Harcourt, The Be Good Tanyas, Ray Lamontagne, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Beirut, Ben Folds, Martin Martini and The Bone Palace Orchestra, Beirut, Kroke
These people are from Melbourne, and we are lucky to be able to see them play regularly, and sometimes even collaborate with them. Their influence is huge, both musically and otherwise:
Dylan Young, Brendan Welch, Kel Day, Tobias Cummings, James Sidebottom, Jess McAvoy, Young Werther
Sounds Like
"Their new single Big Trapeze fits right in with the circus imagery and has a very romantic, European feel to it...It's good fun and very easy listening".
THEDWARF.COM.AU
"The Tiger and Me, a cute romantic and musical couple, delivered a very charming set of spare, violin-laced cabaret-pop...that struck the right balance between grounded and theatrical."
CBC (Canada)
"With both a male and female vocalist, you’re in for a treat with the charming vocal interplay between Jane Hendry and Ade Vincent."
THE DWARF.COM.AU
"...an entwined and tight partnership. The Forsaken Few and Murderer in Uniform fly the album on towards the Paul Kelly/George airstrip, concentrating on a tightly compact and generally profound set of lyrics."
BEAT MAGAZINE (Melbourne)
"The vocals are sung with pure and simple qualities with velvety harmonies bringing together the collection of songs on the album."
"Split lead vocals...showcase how these impressive lyrics are interpreted."
RADIOINDY.COM
"Elements of country rub up against a cabaret feel and some Gypsyish tendencies. Accessible but esoteric enough to still stand out".
NOW MAGAZINE (Toronto)
"a live looped circus act enters...making it hard to know what circus tent you’ve entered!"
BEAT MAGAZINE (Melbourne)
"A feisty, circus-folk ramble with genteel cabaret leanings, in ‘Big Trapeze’ The Tiger and Me walk the treacherous tightrope of new and old; dark and light. Stomping piano and old-world gypsy fiddle transport you to another time, under a Big Top, tapping one’s toe and swinging one’s hips."
GEORGIA FIELDS (Melbourne)
"Their music reminds me a lot of other Melbourne groups like The Spoils and The Orb Weavers with its folk, roots grounding combined with a touch of country and a theatrical element. If you enjoy the sounds of acts like Beirut and Angus & Julia Stone then be sure to check out The Tiger and Me."
THEDWARF.COM.AU
"If you like a little folk music entwined with a little country beat you will not be disappointed when you hear the album 'The Tiger and Me'."
RADIOINDY.COM
The Tiger and Me have been described as folk with gypsy and cabaret flavours. However, they offer something much more interesting than new-world longing for the drama and high stakes of old. The big-top energy of the Melbourne five-piece ignites with male/female lead vocals surrounded by driving piano, lusty violin, upright bass, drums, banjo, guitar, ukulele, a chorus of voices and a trilby-wearing accordionist. Their live show is an event for the ears, for the soul, and for all those rampant feet out there looking for the ultimate place to whirl and stomp.
They are currently recording their debut LP at Newmarket Studios. Featuring recordings of songs previously heard on Live at Manchester Lane and a host of new material, the album represents the culmination of the band’s growth from promising duo to captivating band.
'Big Trapeze' is the first single from the album, and was launched to a packed house at The Curtin Bandroom in early November. It is now available online at all major digital distributors.
The Tiger and Me began life as a duo when Ade Vincent and Jane Hendry recorded six songs in late 2007 which, originally intended as demos, were released as an EP after friends in the industry declared the recordings to be worthy of release. The self-titled EP received strong support from radio in Australia, including leading station Triple J, which interviewed the duo and broadcast several of their songs. They were also featured as one of ‘six of the best’ unearthed roots bands in Australia in Triple J's 'Jmag'.
The band’s diverse blend of influences, including Beirut, Jolie Holland, Martin Martini and Béla Bartók, represents the arrival at the style of music lead songwriter Ade Vincent spent his youth trying to locate. It was unearthed by songstress Jane Hendry, whose penchant for old cabaret tunes, 1940s wartime songs and the Hungarian waltzes for violin she played as a youngster created the spark that was needed.
The EP was successful in generating interest in the duo and drawing comparisons to the likes of Angus and Julia Stone. Their expansion to a band for their sell-out show at Manchester Lane in April 2008, however, marked the group’s true birth as they added Tim Keegan’s upright bass (previously seen playing for Liz Stringer and Jaimi Faulkner), Paul Daniel’s poetic drumming (Brendan Welch) and Tobias Selkirk’s quirky accordion playing (Tobias Cummings: Band). The show was recorded and released, capturing the band’s juxtaposition of high-energy shout outs and gentle folk melodies.
Immediately following the release of their live album, they undertook a tour of Canada, including shows at North by Northeast in Toronto and Vancouver’s New Music West Festival, before returning to play an east-coast support tour with Jess McAvoy in late 2008. They began 2009 with a string of successful headlining shows around Melbourne, drawing excellent crowds and acclaim from the Melbourne music community, as they made the public sit-up and take notice with their growth from sweet duo to raucous five-piece.
The Tiger and Me’s music shows more of a wink and a nod to the old cabaret den or speakeasy tradition than a blind adhesion to it. They have velvet plushness, braces, and accordions. And banjos. And unscripted whooping. The Tiger may have started out as a quirky kitten, but it is now well and truly grown, ravaging the curtains and threatening to topple your expectations with its outsize tail.
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We're playing our last headline show for the year at the Order of Melbourne this thursday. Be great to see you there before we go into hibernation for a while.
Angie releases her second solo album 'Eat My Shadow' in Australia tomorrow!
We have a very special deal for you all, JB Hi-Fi are offering a SIGNED, TWO DISC edition of Angie's album.
The
first disc contains the full 12 track album, the second disc contains a
5 track EP of Angie covering some of her favourite songs, including
tracks by The Smiths, Australian Crawl, Laura Veirs and others.
On top of that we're offering a beautiful Angie Hart tea-towel (dishcloth to you Americans!) as part of the deal. Be quick!
Hey there, We are in Melbourne launching our new album This Sat 24th Oct at The John Curtin Band Room (29 Lygon St, Carlton, VIC). Playing with us on the night are local artists Ronit and Dreamtwins. We love to see you guys there. Yours forever, Special Patrol.
Hundred Fire Management
presents a very special Friday Night Fire on Grand Final eve, Friday September
25, at Edinburgh Castle. On a weekend usually associated
with the big men of sport, Friday Night Fire will feature three of the best
female acts in Melbourne.
Kick this huge weekend off with Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Suzannah Espie
and Krista Polvere. Doors at 9pm.
Wow Your songs are really beautiful.. You guys, James SideB, John Flanagan and I should do a gig ( that is probably too many acts...) but it would be nice wouldnt it...