Ghost Tiger
Santa Barbara, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2011
Music
Press
Why we love GHOST TIGER here at GMP:
The Ghost Tiger vibe is surreal. The surprise that they are from our hometown meant we were lucky enough to catch one of their live performances here in Santa Barbara, which was completely unexpected. And was it a memorable experience - the venue went from a calm dinner ambience to a packed dance floor with no room to move - a complete 180 from before they took the stage. Their energy just continued to grow and grow throughout their set. And it says so much about a band's ability to captivate a crowd when they’re given a split second “mic-check” soundcheck and 30 short minutes to play - and they delivered big time, wasting not a moment to leave an impression on everyone in the room.
The description the band gives themselves is spot on - Their sound is indie-rock mixed with a 60’s girl group vibe supported by rhythms rooted in African and other world styles. It’s a genuinely organic connection between everyone in the band. To remove any one instrument or part would disrupt the entire Ghost Tiger sound. They’ve done such a good job of meshing their instrumentation, which at first looks fairly standard, but sounds completely new with a serious edge all their own.
Why you need to know about GHOST TIGER:
They’re the entire package - It’s a mind blowing experience getting to see them live, and the energy they give off translates directly into their recordings. It’s all about the vibe with this band and the stellar wall of sound they create. We haven’t even mentioned how catchy their hooks and melodies are. They’ve found a way to be completely universal but also niche and boutique - that might sound overstated, but we think you’ll get exactly what we mean once you give them a listen. - Ryan
Ghost Tiger are a five-piece local outfit specializing in the kind of organic, heart-on-your-sleeve romantics found in similar artists like Sharon Van Etten and Edward Sharpe (minus the jesus freak shtick). Built around the wry poetry of frontwoman Alixandra Macmillan-Fiedel, Ghost Tiger’s music incorporates earthy guitar work, layered harmonies, and an especially active rhythm section– “folky” and “groovy” aren’t words you’d typically use to describe a band in one breath, but the combination of Chris Stansell’s complex percussion and bassist Kevin Evans’s airtight lines makes for music that’s engaging to both ass and intellect. You might’ve seen them rock SoHo or KCSB-FM in recent years, and their recently released “Birdfeeder” serves as a pretty good representation of their high-minded, high-energy sound.
Today, we’re proud to present a never-before-seen, exclusive video debut from Ghost Tiger. “Covered In Gold” is a waltzing ballad that captures the band at their most pastoral, with halcyon guitars that conjure open plains and a chorus filled with all the longing and defiance of folk music proper. This black-and-white live recording, taken at SB’s Warbler Records, shows all five members locked in to their performance. Keyboardist Emma Houston holds together the mid-section with a tapping piano rhythm, and guitarist Chris Norlinger rips up-and-down the fretboard in support of Macmillan-Fiedel’s lamenting vocals. It’s a step forward from a bright young band that’s been at it for several years now, and Speak Volumes is pleased to offer you a first look at this official Ghost Tiger video. - We The Beat/Dylan Chase
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Ghost Tiger was formed in 2011 out of songstress Alixandra Macmillan-Fiedel’s quest to expand her sound. As a solo artist, Alix grew up with the music of her father, film composer Brad Fiedel (The Terminator, True Lies), but after years of playing on her own she felt the need to incorporate new textures and ideas. Ghost Tiger was named one of Santa Barbara's Best New Bands by the Santa Barbara Independent in both 2011 and 2012. The group released a 7”, Birdfeeder, in June of 2013 and kept busy honing their live set on the West Coast sharing the stage with acts such as White Buffalo, Gardens & Villa, SISU, Pickwick, and Radiation City, to name a few.
Ghost Tiger's Some Friends Feel Like Family marks the band's first EP to be released in January 2015 with a West Coast tour. The EP is a collection of seven songs recorded with core member guitarist Christopher Norlinger, and friends Emma Huston (keys), Kevin Evans (bass), and Chris Stansell (drums). Some Friends Feel Like Family is a testament to this line up’s collaboration which centers around Macmillan-Fiedel’s honest and heartfelt songwriting and Norlinger’s lush guitar soundscapes.
Band Members
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