The last 12 months have seen Perth’s Tired Lion begin to stand out as one of Western Australia’s most exciting new bands, thanks to their many accomplishments – including showcasing at Singapore’s prestigious Music Matters Live, wowing crowds at the 2014 WAM Awards, touring nationally for their debut EP All We Didn’t Know, supporting the likes of Gyroscope, The 1975, Kingswood, Luca Brasi, and Velociraptor, and being nominated for the Most Popular Live Act at the 2014 WAM Awards.
Recorded with Dave Parkin (Emperors, Snowman, Karnivool) in their home town of Perth, the first single of their upcoming second EP is I Don’t Think You Like Me, a fresh take on 90s nostalgia that rings both true and loudly to the ears.
Fronted by the enigmatic Sophie Hopes, Tired Lion’s infections melodies are brought forth with raw honesty and intensity, calling back to the rich tradition of strong Australian front women. Acting as the perfect yin to her yang, Sophie is backed Matt Tanner, Ethan Darnell and Nick Vasey who play with passion, precision and a ‘take no prisoners’ approach, making Tired Lion a powerful act worth keeping your eyes (and ears) on.
Today, Tired Lion will commence touring their sophomore EP Figurine, a touchstone moment for the band: it’s their very first national headline tour. There’s been much kicking goals for Tired Lion of late – there aren’t too many music lovers who aren’t aware of and enamoured by their incredible mash-up of Violent Soho and The Smashing Pumpkins not too long ago on triple j’s Like A Version. For the scores of bands who aspire to follow a similar path to this ever-escalating band, guitarist Matt Tanner shared his perspective and knowledge for this week’s Savvy Seven.
The best live music venues in my area are…
Amplifier Bar, because that’s where we always wanted to play when we first started going to gigs, plus Ian the sound guy is an absolute legend. There’s also The Bird (Northbridge) which is smaller, intimate and has the best vibes, it’s a go to if it’s your first date.
The music scene in Perth is…
Talented, Quirky, Thriving, Motivating.
My top business tip for new artists is…
Don’t skip to new trends all the time, stick to your guns. If you’re convinced what you’re doing is right and that makes you all happy, then it’ll be right for listeners and make them happy. *insert cheese emoticon*
In my opinion, the most important issue facing the music industry is…
It’s really hard to say, and I don’t think any of us in TL know what the most important issue really is, although we know there must be heaps. My advice for people that love music as consumers is to keep on going to gigs when bands are in town, and if you dig the music, buy the record.
When on the road, my favourite pit stops are…
Petrol stations! You can’t beat an overcooked pie, an overpriced drink and a stretch of the legs. Otherwise if any bands are travelling over to WA and head on a road trip down south, be sure to stop in at the Miami Bakery. Their pies definitely aren’t overcooked and taste delicious.
My biggest career mistake has been…
It’s hard to say at this stage. I feel like so far Tired Lion has been more of just a family of four people rather than a career, doing what we do and not overthinking things. We’ve got a team helping us do all the responsible stuff these days so we just focus on writing tunes and staying tight. I guess if we ever got to the stage where someone told us or dictated to us how we should sound or how we should write and we listened to them… I’d be pretty disappointed in future us!
My best advice for emerging artists is…
Personally I think nothing else matters besides the fact that you keep that love of making and performing music. It’s even better when you’re on the journey with friends who you can call your family. Don’t forget where you started!
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