Music

HIGH FIVES: Tigers Jaw

by Sam Sutherland

Every week, High Fives asks five bands five themed questions over five days. This week, we’re trying to understand Kanye West and his new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by talking about music’s biggest megalomaniacs.

I first saw Tigers Jaw play live about a month ago, near their hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was a sold-out all-ages show at Philadelphia’s the Fire, and kids were legitimately stage diving to music that I would hesitate to describe as stage-dive-able. But that’s the level of enthusiasm that exists for these punk-ish upstarts, and for good reason; they’re fusing the energy of their hometown’s punk scene and melding it with a strikingly mature approach to songwriting and sound, coming off like a mix of early Get Up Kids and your dad. But, like, really fucking good. With a string of increasingly solid releases under their (young, small) belts, the passion of their live show was a demonstration of the exciting places this band could go. Their latest full-length, Two Worlds, was just released this week on the endlessly solid Run For Cover Records.

Who is music’s greatest megalomaniac?

I think Kanye West is a pretty big megalomaniac. Also, Lady Gaga. They have successfully gained the most eyeballs in recent music and pop cultural history. Recent, as in the most recent business year. To turn those eyeballs, one must be pretty accepting and okay with exorbitant amounts of attention… and money.

Do you think that you would lose your mind, too, if you achieved a Kanye-like level of fame?

That status must be exactly what Kanye wants. But, personally, I can’t imagine people caring about the dumb stuff that happens in my everyday life at all. When you’re commanding and moving more money than you know what to do with, things get randy. I mean, the sole act of demanding $100 for concert tickets from people who obviously cannot afford them… that alone would make myself and most of my friends who play in bands go mad. MAD, I TELL YOU.

If you could interrupt one person at an awards ceremony, who would it be?

Eddie Vedder. To tell him that I love him. Or Bobby Barnett from our friend’s band, Captain, We’re Sinking, to tell him that I love him more than Eddie, who would hopefully be standing next to me.

Do you think rich, successful musicians who go crazy were already crazy to begin with?

Hm, do you mean losing their minds because of the money and status that they gain after becoming a “successful” musician? If so, I feel as though a change in status – social or monetary – either elevates the confidence of people or demeans them, depending on their personality. For example, Kanye – since he seems to be that guy in these questions – must have been hoping for the elevated status, because he seems to revel in it. While certain artists, such as Kurt Cobain, Elliott Smith, Jeff Mangum, receded when they were given a pile of money. Not crazy, I don’t think, just very different personalities. I don’t know any of these people, and I am making assumptions like a jerk. I’m sorry for that.

Given ten million dollars you were forced to spend recklessly, what stupid thing would you spend your money on?

I have no idea. Buy out a tiny portion of the McDonalds corporation and make them start carrying Tigers Jaw t-shirts?