Lions After Dark

Lions After Dark is a trio of 20-somethings who have been prowling around the bay area since 2009. Their music is anthemic in nature, and awakens one's instinct to move, dance and downright shake it.

The lineup is Maddie Pfeiffer, vocals, percussion, and piano; her brother, Curt Pfeiffer, drums and vocals; and Andrew Roden, guitar. The pride met with us to give a glimpse into their wild kingdom.

What is the origin of your band name?
Maddie Pfeiffer: We were on a safari, it must have been about four or five years ago, we were traveling around with a tribe at the time.

Roden: A Tribe Called Quest?

Maddie: Yeah, A Tribe Called Quest. So, me and A Tribe Called Quest were hanging out in Africa. At the time I had really red hair, it was big and long, and they were like, "You're a lion. Your spirit animal is a lion." We were mainly active at night, just a lot of parties, stuff like that, so it just came to me in a dream.

Curt Pfeiffer: It's probably a delusion, not really a dream.

On your Facebook page, you state you "strive to put on performances of epic proportions." What do you do to accomplish this, and is it successful?

Curt: It's been successful.

Maddie: Until recently, we had the whole war-paint thing going on, so that kind of helped with it, in an image way. After this album we released in September, I felt like we kind outgrew it, and kinda used it and it was done.

The facepaint or the epic proportions?

Maddie: The epic proportions (laughs). Those are more alive than they were before.

What is the symbolism behind the tribal makeup you wear in your videos and promotional photographs?

Maddie: It was an idea I had when we wrote Let's Start A War. The theme behind the song was more tribal and when we went to write the album, it was the first song we wrote, so everything just followed suit and it seemed like a cool idea. Other than that, there were no, like, "This one means wolf, and this one means bear." It was just a show.

Roden: We attached a little symbolism to 'em later on. Nothing heavy or deep or anything.

Are your song's themes topical?

Roden: She (Maddie) writes the lyrics, obviously, but there's always a unifying theme to each song. It's not like a standard pop song, where it has a ambiguous meaning you can apply to everything. There are pointed little things about most of 'em.

Maddie: Every one of them that I wrote, lyrically had something real attached to it somewhere. All of it's real. Some of it's just me, or maybe it's something I observed and lifted from someone else's viewpoint. All of the lyrics are very close to me.

There are many bands whose frontperson plays an additional floor tom. What do you feel this adds to the music?

Pfeiffer: We added it a while ago, before this album, and it was because we did a variation of the Seminoles' thing, where they go. 'Ah-ha-ah-ha-ah' (sings FSU's Seminole war chant). I didn't know, actually, that it was a Seminoles thing; I had heard it from my aunt. She would do it all the time. I was just like, "It's kind of a Native American thing." And we made this whole vocal arrangement around it, and I used the drum, and we had this whole thing. I remember I was doing it one time, and I saw someone in the back going like this (illustrates the chopping motion that accompanies the chant).

At a show?

Maddie: Yes, at the back of the bar. I was like, "What is that guy doin'?" And then I put it together, and went, "Oh, my God." I actually got a little, like, "I don't wanna do this again. That's kinda weird. Not that I have anything against the Seminoles, but at the same time I never went (to school) there."

Curt: We're gonna go play it up in Gainesville.

Lions After Dark

The group will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at Mandarin Hide as part of Whigfest. For information on tickets and a full festival lineup, see whigfest.com. For more info on Lions After Dark, see facebook.com/lionsafterdark. - By Aaron Lepley, Times correspondent (Tampa Bay Times)

we became completely caught up in the smooth style of Curt Pfeiffer on drums, Abby Winteregg playing bass, and Andrew Roden’s guitar. Front woman, Maddie is an adorable bundle of energy with a really sweet sound, but you get the feeling that she could probably rip your face off with the power of her incredible voice if you crossed her. (We really think she could!) This is the combination that allows the band to take control. Come on now, you have no choice but to be drawn in and sing along with their excellent rendition of “Mercedes Benz”. We think that no matter what kind of lousy mood you may have been in when you came to the show…. You’re gonna have fun when Lions After Dark hits the stage. - Rose's Opinion

But by far the most recognizable quality about this band is their live performance.... Maddie Pfeiffer is the epitome of a new age Janis Joplin. You can feel the energy radiating from Winteregg and Roden. And Curt Pfeiffer is the drummer anyone will enjoy to see play live. - Mayhem Magazine

They’re playing a unique mix of soulful 70s influenced songs, but in the indie vein. The singer of this band is a superstar. Her voice is amazing, she’s beautiful, and she is absolutely fearless on stage — but in a totally humble, genuine and approachable way, making it impossible not to fall in love with her.... The entire band is a bunch of genuine, loveable people.... - Sarah Saturday

They’re playing a unique mix of soulful 70s influenced songs, but in the indie vein. The singer of this band is a superstar. Her voice is amazing, she’s beautiful, and she is absolutely fearless on stage — but in a totally humble, genuine and approachable way, making it impossible not to fall in love with her.... The entire band is a bunch of genuine, loveable people.... - Sarah Saturday

Reformed from the band formerly known as Autumn City, Lions After Dark is a piano pop ensemble... Pfieffer’s full-throated soprano is strong and clear as it rises over the band’s buoyant melodies, synthesizer pulses and punchy rhythms keeping things fresh and fun.... - Tim Sukits

Reformed from the band formerly known as Autumn City, Lions After Dark is a piano pop ensemble... Pfieffer’s full-throated soprano is strong and clear as it rises over the band’s buoyant melodies, synthesizer pulses and punchy rhythms keeping things fresh and fun.... - Tim Sukits

Lions After Dark are an incredible live band with a powerful stage presence and solid look about them. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them as they were professional and all around cool people. They are easily one of the best bands in the Tampa Bay area. - Sarah Gecan

Lions After Dark are an incredible live band with a powerful stage presence and solid look about them. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them as they were professional and all around cool people. They are easily one of the best bands in the Tampa Bay area. - Sarah Gecan

Season IV Battle of the Bands Champions:
LIONS AFTER DARK
Lions After Dark is a torrent of claws and sounds shredding their audience's ears like a herd of antelope and making them dance and sing like a tribe of Indians.
They sincerely desire to rock huge audiences all life long and each member is specifically designed to assist each of the other members in doing so.
And they showed all of this and more in New Age Music Group’s Season IV Battle of the Bands this recently past October. A truly inspirational group to watch perform, they brought the audience to awe, to tears and to dance. With many, many devoted fans singing their lungs out, they tore the venue up with catchy melodies, great harmonies and a good, rocking beat that kept you moving. And what’s more is as Maddie’s soul spilt to the ground with her heart filled vocals and lyrics to the point where you couldn’t help but notice that your own soul was on edge, she was careful to pick it back up again with songs that make you want every childhood friend around you to dance and celebrate.
Lions After Dark is more than a pleasure to have at any venue, big or small. They fill the space with such a true sense of musicianship and aesthetics that is accompanied by professionalism on and off the stage.
Though the competition was tough, Lions After Dark got what was coming to them…the title of Season IV Champs and a sound recognition…not to mention the five hundred big ones.
Three uproarious cheers to Lions After Dark!

- Jean Sunset - Jean Sunset