Tiger Trap
Encyclopedia
Tiger Trap was an all-female twee-pop foursome composed of high school friends Angela Loy and Rose Melberg
, with Heather Dunn and Jen Braun. The group recorded for K Records
. The name "Tiger Trap" comes from the very first Calvin and Hobbes
cartoon. Formed in Sacramento, California
in 1992, they managed to garner something of a cult following before disbanding only a year later. Their last concert took place at Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA in December 1993. Bands they played with include Heavenly, Unwound, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Girl Trouble, Mecca Normal, Beat Happening, and Tsunami.
Along with Beat Happening
, Lois
, Tullycraft
, and Black Tambourine
they are considered to be one of the most influential bands of the American
twee pop movement. Melberg went on to become a solo artist as well as playing with the bands The Softies
, Go Sailor
, and Gaze
. Dunn went on to play drums with Lois and the reformed Raincoats.
Rose Melberg
Rose Melberg is a musician and songwriter from Sacramento, California who has sung and played guitar as a member of Tiger Trap, The Softies and Go Sailor as well as on her own material. She also played drums and made some songwriting contributions with the band Gaze...
, with Heather Dunn and Jen Braun. The group recorded for K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
. The name "Tiger Trap" comes from the very first Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes is a syndicated daily comic strip that was written and illustrated by American cartoonist Bill Watterson, and syndicated from November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995. It follows the humorous antics of Calvin, a precocious and adventurous six-year-old boy, and Hobbes, his...
cartoon. Formed in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
in 1992, they managed to garner something of a cult following before disbanding only a year later. Their last concert took place at Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA in December 1993. Bands they played with include Heavenly, Unwound, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Girl Trouble, Mecca Normal, Beat Happening, and Tsunami.
Along with Beat Happening
Beat Happening
Beat Happening is an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members...
, Lois
Lois Maffeo
Courtney Love is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Although never achieving mainstream success, she has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 90s Olympia, Seattle and DC based musician.-as Lois Maffeo:albums*The...
, Tullycraft
Tullycraft
Tullycraft is an indie pop band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 1995. They have been associated with the genre of twee, in fact, they are considered to be one of the forefathers of the American twee pop movement alongside Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, and Beat Happening...
, and Black Tambourine
Black Tambourine
Black Tambourine was an influential twee pop band and one of the earliest Slumberland groups of the early 1990s. Formed in Silver Spring, Maryland, the band comprised singer Pam Berry, Brian Nelson, Archie Moore and Mike Schulman...
they are considered to be one of the most influential bands of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
twee pop movement. Melberg went on to become a solo artist as well as playing with the bands The Softies
The Softies
The Softies were a musical duo consisting of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia, whose genre was love songs using only their two voices and electric guitars....
, Go Sailor
Go Sailor
Go Sailor was a short-lived Berkeley based twee pop band. Its members included Rose Melberg of Tiger Trap and the Softies , Paul Curran of Crimpshrine and Amy Linton of Henry's Dress...
, and Gaze
Gaze (band)
Gaze were an indie pop band based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They released two albums on K Records during the late 1990s.-Members:* Miko Hoffman - guitar/vocals* Megan Mallett - guitar/bass* Rose Melberg - drums-Discography:...
. Dunn went on to play drums with Lois and the reformed Raincoats.
Discography
- "Words and Smiles" from a split 7" with Bratmobile (Four Letter Words Records, 1992)
- "Supercrush" b/w "You and Me"; "Hiding" [released as volume 36 of the International Pop Underground series]
- Tiger TrapTiger Trap (album)Tiger Trap is the only album released by the band Tiger Trap. It was produced by Calvin Johnson who founded K Records and is a member of Beat Happening.- Track listing :# "Puzzle Pieces"# "You're Sleeping"# "Eight Wheels"# "Supercrush"...
(K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
, 1993) - "Baby Blue", from Julep (Another Yoyo Studio Compilation) (Yoyo Recordings, 1993)
- "Hiding" re-released on the International Hip SwingInternational Hip SwingInternational Hip Swing is a compilation CD released by the label K Records in 1993.International Hip Swing gathered together a selection of recordings previously released in the series of "International Pop Underground" 7" 45 vinyl singles....
compilation [assembled of songs from the International Pop Underground singles series] (K Records, 1993) - "Supreme Nothing", from the Stars Kill RockStars Kill RockStars Kill Rock is a 1993 album by various artists and was released on the Kill Rock Stars label.-Track listing:# Tiger Trap - "Supreme Nothing"# Godheadsilo - "Nutritious Treat"# Frumpies - "Fuck Kitty"# Jack Acid - "Cheap Tragedies"...
compilation (Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, 1992) - "Alien Space Song" from split single with Henry's Dress (Slumberland RecordsSlumberland RecordsSlumberland Records is an American independent record label formed in 1989 in Washington, D.C. area and currently based in Oakland, CA. The label has released recordings from artists including Velocity Girl, Honeybunch, Lilys, Stereolab, St...
, 1994) - "Girl with a Guitar" from "The Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls" soundtrack (Planet Pimp Records, PPR-009, 1994)
- Sour Grass EP (K Records, 1995)