Speakeasy Tiger
Encyclopedia
Speakeasy Tiger was an American pop
band from Denver, Colorado.
Speakeasy Tiger was founded in 2008 by Kyle Simmons (vocals)
, Peter Schmidt (piano
, synth
, keytar
) and Lauren Gale (bass)
. Shortly thereafter members Lucas Gordon (drums)
and Tavis Alley (guitar
) were recruited to finish the bands lineup.
In early 2010 vocalist Kyle Simmons left Speakeasy Tiger and was replaced by frontwoman Katrina Stone. In the fall of 2010 the group announced it would take an indefinite hiatus after members Katrina Stone and Peter Schmidt left the band.
to pop.
The name Speakeasy Tiger was derived as a satirical play on the words speakeasy and blind tiger, which individually are both slang for the reference of illegal establishments selling alcohol during Prohibition
. Original vocalist Kyle Simmons is quoted saying:
The group began looking for members to finish the line up in November 2008. They found drummer Lucas Gordon hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado
, having previously played in the metalcore
band The Murder Formula. Promptly after, guitarist Tavis Alley, who attended Brigham Young University
at the time, was recruited to the Mile High City to finish the line up after responding to a Facebook
ad from the band looking for guitarists.
Lucas Gordon comments on the change:
Speakeasy Tiger released its debut album The Public on July 11, 2009. The album was an immediate success reaching the College Music Journal
Billboard top 200 albums chart. It peaked at position 142 and was a top 20 add for the week of August 29, 2009.
In November 2009, the group went back into the studio to remaster the single off The Public entitled "Oil Rising" at The Blasting Room
in Fort Collins, Colorado
, with producer Lee Miles. The single was released in April 2010 shortly before the departure of vocalist Kyle Simmons.
Not long after the tour, however, Schmidt and Stone announced to the band that they were quitting, providing little explanation why. The band was in pre-production on a new EP at the time, but the project has since been abandoned.
Speakeasy Tiger has since been on hiatus, with Tavis Alley and Lauren Gale joining the Denver-based band, Monroe Monroe.
Drummer Lucas Gordon quotes:
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band from Denver, Colorado.
Speakeasy Tiger was founded in 2008 by Kyle Simmons (vocals)
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, Peter Schmidt (piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synth
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, keytar
Keytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
) and Lauren Gale (bass)
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. Shortly thereafter members Lucas Gordon (drums)
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Tavis Alley (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) were recruited to finish the bands lineup.
In early 2010 vocalist Kyle Simmons left Speakeasy Tiger and was replaced by frontwoman Katrina Stone. In the fall of 2010 the group announced it would take an indefinite hiatus after members Katrina Stone and Peter Schmidt left the band.
Formation and debut album (2008–2010)
In the summer of 2008 original vocalist Kyle Simmons took her solo folk project Girl Named Kyle in a different direction, pairing with Peter Schmidt and Lauren Gale to form a backing band for her improvised compositions. Soon after the Denver based group changed its name to Speakeasy Tiger after making the decision to change genres of music from folkIndie folk
Indie folk is a music genre that arose in the 1990s from singer/songwriters in the indie rock community showing heavy influences from folk music scenes of the 50s, 60s and early 70s, country music, and indie rock. A few early artists included Lou Barlow, Beck, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith...
to pop.
The name Speakeasy Tiger was derived as a satirical play on the words speakeasy and blind tiger, which individually are both slang for the reference of illegal establishments selling alcohol during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. Original vocalist Kyle Simmons is quoted saying:
The group began looking for members to finish the line up in November 2008. They found drummer Lucas Gordon hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, having previously played in the metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band The Murder Formula. Promptly after, guitarist Tavis Alley, who attended Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
at the time, was recruited to the Mile High City to finish the line up after responding to a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
ad from the band looking for guitarists.
Lucas Gordon comments on the change:
Speakeasy Tiger released its debut album The Public on July 11, 2009. The album was an immediate success reaching the College Music Journal
College Music Journal
College Music Journal, commonly known as CMJ, is a music events/publishing company which hosts an annual festival in New York City, the CMJ Music Marathon, as well as a weekly magazine of and for the music industry and college radio stations in the United States and Canada. It publishes top 30...
Billboard top 200 albums chart. It peaked at position 142 and was a top 20 add for the week of August 29, 2009.
In November 2009, the group went back into the studio to remaster the single off The Public entitled "Oil Rising" at The Blasting Room
Blasting Room
The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, built by members of Descendents, ALL, and Black Flag, including punk drummer Bill Stevenson....
in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
, with producer Lee Miles. The single was released in April 2010 shortly before the departure of vocalist Kyle Simmons.
Addition & Departure of Katrina Stone (2010)
In May 2010 after rumors of vocalist Kyle Simmons' struggles with other band mates the band revealed the vocalist's departure from the band. After canceling a string of tour dates, the group took a small hiatus to search for a new vocalist. In June 2010 Speakeasy Tiger announced the addition of frontwoman Katrina Stone as an indefinite member while assuring they would not be canceling summer tour dates on The Vans Warped Tour.Not long after the tour, however, Schmidt and Stone announced to the band that they were quitting, providing little explanation why. The band was in pre-production on a new EP at the time, but the project has since been abandoned.
Speakeasy Tiger has since been on hiatus, with Tavis Alley and Lauren Gale joining the Denver-based band, Monroe Monroe.
Musical style and influences
- Speakeasy Tiger blends a mix of several different genres together including American rockAmerican rockAmerican rock is rock music from the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and country music, and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music. The creation of American rock music was highly influenced by the British Invasion of the American pop...
, pop, post-Britpop, and electro. Band members have stated various musical influences including Freddie Mercury, Cyndi Lauper, BT, Coldplay, The Killers, and Jimmy Eat World. - Speakeasy Tiger has been hailed for its use of the Keytar, an instrument which was popular in the early 1980sNew Wave musicNew Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
. - Fans and critics have often compared the group to Muse, The Killers, Paramore, No Doubt, and Blondie
Music with a voice
Band members have stated that when writing music, they feel compelled to create music that manifests feelings of love, compassion, and caring in listeners. The group has teamed with various non-profit organizations including Keep A Breast and online blogs including Vans Girls Blog to promote a national sense of community through music.Drummer Lucas Gordon quotes:
Current members
- Lucas Gordon- Drums (2008–Present)
- Lauren Gale- Bass (2008–Present)
- Tavis Alley- Guitar (2008–Present)
Former members
- Peter Schmidt- Piano, Synth, Keytar (2008–2010)
- Katrina Stone- Vocals (2010)
- Kyle Simmons- Vocals (2008–2010)
- Elliott Peters- Guitar (2008–2008)
- Brett Peters- Drums (2008–2008)
Discography
- The Sore Throat EP (2008)
- The Public (2009)
- Oil Rising- single version (2010)
Tours and festivals
- Independently toured western United States September 2009
- Independently toured the Southern United States October 2009
- Independently toured the midwestern United States November 2009
- Monolith Music FestivalMonolith FestivalThe Monolith Festival is a music festival held at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. The first festival took place September 14–15, 2007 on 5 stages, including the Red Rocks main stage.The 2008 Monolith Festival was held on September 13–14....
2009 *Monolith Festival 2009 Promo Video* - Vans Warped Tour 2010Warped Tour 2010Warped Tour 2010 is the 16th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. The first bands were announced on December 18. The 43-date tour kicks off on June 25, 2010 in Carson, California and ends August 15, 2010 in Hillsboro, Oregon.On...
appearing on the Kia Kevin Says Stage
Interviews and press
- KCSU Top 25 albums of 2009
- 303 Magazine: Speakeasy Tiger Gone Hunting
- Absolutepunk.net Unsigned Showcase: Speakeasy Tiger
- Alternative Press Issue 265: Warped Tour