Tiger Army Never Dies

If you’ve never been to a psychobilly show, add it to your list of things to do before you die. The flat tops are always well groomed and greased, the ladies’ lipstick is red as cherries and you can count on seeing a showcase of Cadillacs like you’ve never seen. The subculture surrounding psychobilly music has roots in 50’s rock n’ roll and ties to early punk, yet has a unique style that cannot, and will not, be mistaken for any other genre of music. From The Cramps to Nekromantix and of course today’s Tiger Army, the foundation is still strong and the upright bass still pulsates like a broken heart.  

With their most diverse and progressive album yet, Tiger Army’s Nick 13 isn’t taking any prisoners. Having come from a small town with only one stop light to the streets of Los Angeles, Nick 13 hasn’t skipped a beat since Tiger Army’s debut self titled album released in ‘99. Brace yourself for the psychoarmy revolution on August 24 as the band takes Chula Vista by storm, wrapping up this year’s Warped Tour. I had the pleasure of picking Nick 13’s brain just long enough to find out that everything you read on Wikipedia isn’t necessarily true.

What did you set out to achieve with Music From Regions Beyond and why do you feel it's your best album to date?

Sonically, we wanted to make the best-sounding record of our career so far -- we succeeded, with the help of producer Jerry Finn. Creatively, I wanted to make a musically diverse record that stayed true to the music we've made in the past while pushing forward into new territory at the same time. I wanted each song to be a little different, to take the listener on a journey that covered everything from fast and aggressive to slow and melancholy, stopping at many points in between. I'm very happy to say that I think we did that too.

How was life growing up in a small town like Ukiah, California?

I didn't like it too much. Everything I was interested in seemed to be somewhere else and the average person had no clue. On the plus side, the intense boredom that resulted from living there was one of the reasons I got so deeply into music and I formed a lot of lasting friendships with the people that I did relate to that are still strong to this day. It wasn't easy but it made me who I am, so I wouldn't change it.

Do you consider yourself "straight edge" today?  How did the straight edge scene play a part in your life when you were younger?

I didn't for many years, but I do today. When I was younger, it taught me a lot about people's insecurity, thinking for yourself and going against the herd.

When and how did you find yourself falling in love with Psychobilly music?

Before I knew about it, I loved early punk and 50s rock n' roll, and was intrigued by the connection between the two in music and style. I was also into all things dark, literature, cinema and music (in the form of deathrock, goth, postpunk or horrorpunk). When I found out about the psychobilly subculture in Europe, it was like someone had created something just for me.

What is your favorite Tiger Army song to date?

I don't have one.  The songs are like my children -- some might be better at certain things than others, but I love them all. They're also very different. I love the raw energy of a song like "Hotprowl" from the new record, which works on a completely different level from a song like "In The Orchard."

I read that you've appeared in a couple movies like David Lynch's Inland Empire. Is acting something you'd like to pursue in the future?

It's not a burning desire. Acting is a discipline and if I was going to do it, I'd want to do it all the way. If an interesting opportunity came up and I had the time, maybe. Music is my focus though. Writing, fashion and interest in design in general are all probably higher on the list, but right now all my spare time is taken up by Tiger Army and I like it that way.

Tell me about your passion for horror movies. I read you're a big collector of horror movie props - any truth to that?

Someone put that on Wikipedia, and like many things there, there's no truth to it.  I don't know where that came from. I've never owned a horror movie prop in my life. What is true is that I'm into vintage horror -- the 1930s through the early 60s being my favorite era. They did atmosphere back then in a way that seems to have been lost.

Any particular reason you decided not to include IV in the album title?

This album was the start of a new chapter.  The number thing was fun for awhile and it lost its appeal.  I don't want to be confined to do anything when it comes to our records.

How does it feel to play the main stage on the Warped Tour? I hear you guys are going to be one of the main acts all summer long.

Should be a good time! We did a month on the main stage in 2004, but not really as a headliner. We typically went on around noon that time. We'll see what it's like as a headliner. This year will also be the first time we've done the entire tour.

Your first show was on Gilman Street in Berkeley, opening for AFI.  Do you feel the East Bay punk rock scene is as strong as it once was when you guys were coming up in the world?

I don't really know, to be honest. I moved to Los Angeles in 2000, so I'm far from an authority on the current scene in the East Bay. The Bay Area music scene in general took an awful hit in the late 90s with the whole dot-com thing, that's one of the reasons I and a lot of other musicians left around that time.  Clubs closed, practice spaces closed, no one could afford rent. I hear it's come back a bit and I hope that's the case.

It hasn't been an easy road for Tiger Army given the lineup changes and turmoil you've experienced as your fan base grew.  What advice would you give to aspiring punk rock bands?

Two things, that both sound generic on the surface but can't be overemphasized.  First, be yourself.  No one wants to hear an imitation of something else, it's not original and it will never be as good as what you're trying to copy.  Everyone has influences, so find a way to take those influences and twist them into something new.  If you're not putting yourself and your own style into your sound, why should anyone else care?  Secondly, never give up.  If you believe in what you're doing and you're doing it for the right reasons, keep doing it.  It may take months or even years, but if you keep it going, good things will happen eventually.
    
What would you be doing with your life if you weren't a musician?

Hard to say -- being dead or in jail are distinct possibilities.  Barring that, I think I'd be a writer in some shape or form.

What's the best part of being a headlining artist?

We've done a lot of support slots and festival tours.  It's fun to reach new people in situations like that, but nothing beats the feeling of playing your own show where everyone in the room knows your music and is there to see you.  The energy that can come from a crowd in that situation is amazing, it could light cities.