Psychobilly freaks don’t get your creepers in a knot, but Tiger Army singer/guitarist Nick 13 expects the band to do their first cross-Canada headlining tour some time in the very near future.
“I don’t know if it’s just speculation… maybe my own heartfelt desires but I think we’re on track for a proper Canadian tour,” he says with excitement. “I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, ‘cause if it doesn’t happen soon, it won’t happen for a really long time… but I can’t help it.”
Able to count the times this psychobilly power trio responsible for such luminary efforts as The Power Of Moonlight and their recent tertiary album III: Ghost Tigers Rise have actually made it into The Great White North, 13 knows his fans won’t take such news lightly. Yes, they’ve been here, but only to spend a whopping 30 minutes “warming us up” for The Reverend Horton Heat and Rancid.
“Well, you can’t argue with that kind of company,” says 13, defending his punk rock brethren. “We were just lucky enough to get up there, let alone open for those bands, so we’re counting our lucky stars. To that effect, we’re even lucky to be putting out our third album, so this is all gravy.”
Speaking of Ghost Tigers Rise, Tiger Army fans should be prepared for an odd experience. More relaxed and perhaps experimental than previous outings, some psychobilly traditionalists are still trying to pick their jaw up off the floor after hearing tracks like “Wander Alone” and the lilting progression of “Santa Carla Twilight.”
“I’ve heard that this an album you need to hear a few times before truly appreciating,” admits 13, choosing his words carefully. “Even I don’t think its potential is fully realized at first. But once you really get into it, it’s a long-burning album where you hear new elements every time you put it on. That’s the kind of album I would hope for, not one of those ‘instant classics’ where you love it right away but forget about it forever after a week of listening to it.”
The album’s diverse nature – a weird blend of moody rockabilly with ‘80s new wave – can be chalked up to 13’s own realization of the songs he’s always heard in his head. He’s proud that he is finally able to make the notes meet what’s going on in his inked noggin.
“With the first two albums, I think those songs were great, but they suffered from my inability to flesh them out,” he concludes. “There were all of these melodies and arrangements; accents and such that were more implied than actual. As I listen to those songs, I can still hear what I MEANT to say, but it wouldn’t translate. That’s why Ghost Tigers Rise is so different. Somehow I made those implied parts real and I think it really adds to the Tiger Army sound. Now we’ll see how the kids pick on us for it.”
