Miniature Tigers Keep 'Freebird' Jokes Alive at CMJ

Posted on Oct 20th 2010 10:00AM by Alex Suskind
Comments

Brandon Lee

Screaming for song requests at concerts is nothing new -- sometimes bands play into them and sometimes they don't. At Tuesday night's Miniature Tigers show at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg, 'Lolita,' 'Japanese Woman Living in My Closet' and 'Goldskull' -- all of which are off the group's latest album, 'Fortress' -- were among those yelled by a few of the fans in attendance.

Instead of playing into the crowd's demands, Tigers' lead singer Charlie Brand did them one better. "Next, we're going to play 'Freebird,'" he joked, referring to the old -- and extremely clichéd -- tradition of requesting the famed Lynyrd Skynyrd tune during concerts. Despite the southern rock reference, the band opted to perform their eerie folk track 'Dark Tower.'

Helping kick off the first night of the 30th Annual CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, Miniature Tigers opened for singer-songwriter Kevin Devine with an abbreviated seven-song set that did not disappoint. Despite having only a half hour to play, the band was on point all night, drawing exclusively from their new record.

Opening up with the summery pop track 'Tropical Birds,' the Phoenix natives sounded almost identical to their studio work. And although they played standouts like 'Bullfighter Jacket,' which was produced by Chris Chu from the Morning Benders, and the psychedelic-influenced 'Rock N' Roll Mountain Troll,' what was noticeably missing was arguably the best song off of 'Fortress,' the Neon Indian-produced 'Goldskull.' Yet, even without it (or 'Freebird,' for that matter), it didn't seem to damper the crowd's enthusiasm and spirit as they danced and sang along to the Tigers' catchy pop melodies.

Watch Miniature Tigers on the Interface