Powerhouse alt rock trio Tigercub have been reaching incredible heights with the help of some of their heroes. The UK band, Jamie Stephen Hall (vocals and lead guitar), James Allix (drums) and Jimi Wheelwright (bass), have already fell in good graces with Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard and are opening for Perry Farrell and Porno For Pyros.
I talked to lead vocalist Jamie Stephen Hall about how rock is ruling the roost in the UK, how Tigercub came to fruition, and their goals for the rest of 2024.
How did the band get together?
Myself (Jamie) and our drummer James met at the university of Sussex and started jamming together and formed Tigercub in 2010 we had a different bass player until 2012 where we met Jimi at Brighton Electric and he joined the band.
It seems like England has its rock on lockdown but is slowly permeating over to the States. Thoughts on rock music in 2024?
The way music in general is consumed in the modern era has totally levelled the playing field for artists. It’s allowed many bands from niche sub genres to find large audiences and grow and I think that’s had a huge impact on the quality of rock music being released at the minute. So, I think rock music in 2024 is diverse, exciting and exploding again.
The band’s sound incorporates a bit of Muse plus alternative rock from the 90s. Is Muse an influence on the band?
I grew up listening to Muse, so they have a nostalgic appeal to me listening back as an adult, I love how harmonically complex they are from a compositional standpoint but with pop sensibilities and a super heavy aesthetic.. Rachmaninov meets Rage Against the Machine..what’s not to like!
You worked with Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam on the remix of “Show Me My Maker”. What was that experience like and what is it like being on his record label?
It is a huge honor to even know Stone, let alone have him back and promote Tigercub’s music. Acknowledgment like that from a legend like Stone is an immense confidence booster. The music industry can be a very mucky space full of charlatans and nefarious characters so I feel blessed to get to work with such genuinely nice people who love great music!
Do you enjoy being on the road versus the studio?
They’re two sides of the same coin. Being in the studio represents potential and is so so so exciting, it’s this precious, innocent time where you are trying to build something great out of nothing and for that time only it exists free of judgment and bias. That is very sacred to me but, on the other hand touring is the reward for all of the hard work and it is entirely based on sharing a moment with people that love what you do. They’re both equally amazing parts of the cycle
You will be playing SXSW and Shaky Knees Music Festivals. What does it mean for the band to be featured on such prestigious festival circuits?
It means so much to be a part of these festivals, we are playing alongside our heroes, it doesn’t get better than that!
You will also be playing alongside Porno For Pyros on their farewell tour?
Yes, we are currently on tour with them. They and their crew are so lovely we’re having a great time!
How does your latest album, 2023’s The Perfume Of Decay, compare to your other works?
It’s a lot darker and heavier, in my opinion it’s much more stylistically coherent than our other records.
Is your goal to promote the album while out on tour this year?
Yes we are promoting The Perfume of Decay on this tour
When will you reconvene in the studio to make new music?
Probably towards the end of 2024.
