Fond of Tigers
[gigpress_shows scope=upcoming artist=155 limit=10]
Fond of Tigers: The best of the best.
By Oswaldo Perez Cabrera
Time to talk of one of the best bands in the world and the third installment of the Intelligent music series. A super group of friends. Seven of the most creative and acclaimed musicians of Vancouver created this ensamble that could be classified as post rock, but it really eludes all categorizations, for some is rock, for others is free jazz, but it could be also an experimental improvisation. According to Wikipedia the band started as a solo project of guitarrist Stephen Lyons in 2000 and became a full band in 2003. The band includes some of the best performers in their instruments, so that makes it a super band. Band members include Stephen Lyons on guitar, JP Carter on trumpet, Morgan McDonald on piano, Jesse Zubot on violin, Shanto Bhattacharya on bass, and Skye Brooks and Dan Gaucher on drums.
The music is very melodic and beautiful, it is also introspective and mysterious, it is lively and loud at times, but serene and peaceful at others, then craziness and dementia takes over and attack the audience. You get the picture. It is an eclectic collection of soundscapes. Listen to the song hebvark for a perfect example of their talent. You can guess they have rock and jazz backgrounds. Its a perfect mix of genres, listen to the tune Continent Western for another example, it is a 9 minute piece of meshing melodies and sounds, a journey to individual landscapes and moods. Its mesmerizing. The suburbs are for lovebirds is sinister and concrete, Stockhausenish at times. Here you are hated is more on the progressive side, more Zappaesqueish. They really take you through a trip of great musical dimensions. They have two very recommendable productions.
On June 20, 2006, they released the debut album a thing to live with. Their second album, Release the Saviours, was released on November 27, 2007. Both albums are on Vancouver-based creative-music label Drip Audio, operated by Jesse Zubot. They swear on their webpage that the third album is almost ready. I can´t hardly wait.
Fond of Tigers don´t perform very often, but they are one of the Vancouver Jazz festival´s favourites and have also played at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, the Guelph Jazz Festival, and the Sled Island Music Festival. Of course they are also one of CiTR favourite bands. Regarding their name, I guess they really like felines with stripes.
The band is performing at the TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival on July 3rd at the Commodore Ballroom with Deerhoof, its going to be madness. Don´t miss it.
