TIGER SEX

One of my favorite spots to go get my weekend freak on Downtown is the Griffin. The bar’s front room is classy and inviting, while the floor area in the back is perfect for dancing all night long to a DJ. However, until seeing Tiger Sex there on October 9th, I had never seen a live band perform in the space. Having been told in the past by Rusty Maples’ Dewane brothers that the acoustics in the Griffin’s back room aren’t exactly conducive to live band setups, I was a bit apprehensive going into the show. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound, and my only advice to future Griffin show-goers is to bring earplugs!

Tiger Sex is a local garage rock/proto-punk band led by charismatic vocalist Kelly TigerSex. Prior to the show, I watched the band’s music video for “Prostitution,” so I knew I was in for some hard-hitting, erotically charged punk music. What I didn’t know was just how much the provocative lead singer’s live performance would enthrall me. Wearing only tight black pants and a black bra for most of the show, TigerSex prowled around the room like an apex predator in heat. She seductively gyrated on her microphone stand like a beckoning stripper, but some primal fear inside of me told me that if I got too close, she’d tear out my throat and feed me to her tiger kittens. Channeling more animals than just tigers, the band could easily be called “Doberman Sex,” as TigerSex barks her vocals with the ferocity of a junkyard dog. Further contributing to the canine comparison was the studded collar adorning her neck, and the band even performed a cover of the Stooge’s 1969 classic, “I Wanna Be Your Dog.”

Though TigerSex is clearly the focal point, her appeal would diminish without the competent backing of her band mates. Guitarist Kei is more than just a power-chord pounder; he’s a fiery soloist who can turn a standard 12-bar blues into blistering garage punk gold. At one point, he was soloing so hard that he broke a string, but that didn’t stop him from plowing ahead at full force and finishing the song.

In all, I was more than impressed by this group of musicians, and I would see them again in a heartbeat. Hopefully they play more shows Downtown! - DTLV Music

Before the band cranked up, someone in the crowd said to a pal: “I love tigers and I love sex, so I think I’m going to love this band.” Tiger Sex is an apt name for the feral, erotic punk quartet from Las Vegas. Singer Kelly Tiger Sex wasn’t a sequined magician’s white Bengal, cage-pampered and waiting for instructions. She was a famished panther, mostly ignoring the stage and prowling the room, ready to eat what she didn’t kill, kill what she didn’t fuck. I was scared of her, and I don’t say that about rock vocalists (except when riding shotgun with Vince Neil).

Tiger Sex grafted the Plasmatics’ raw poetry onto the Stooges’ hell-for-leather guitar-riffing. The songs weren’t a retro trip for vintage vampires, though. The band Montecore’d my ears with gutter-glittering tunes—from guitarist Kei’s wah-wah-pedal frenzy on “My Way” to the street walkin’-cheetah strut of “Prostitution,” bassist Paul French and drummer Chris Moon locking into relentless rhythms. Easily the most exciting rock group—sonically and visually—in Las Vegas right now.
- See more at: http://vegasseven.com/2013/09/30/concert-review-tiger-sex/#sthash.3noOmKOt.dpuf - VEGAS SEVEN

In a time of bad commercialize pop music choking out the life of nearly man, woman and child in the great land, you need a band like Tiger Sex to come along and set things right. The music media is constantly putting out articles about all these top pop artists not selling as many CDs (or units) as their record companies want sold. Is the music "industry" disappearing? Are people shying away from music created in a board room, designed by 5 producers and six writers?
I would say that people want something real, something that moves them, made by people that love what they do. The soul is missing from modern American music, even in a lot of modern soul music. This is why I love seeing a band like Tiger Sex rolling out there and keeping the faith. Rock N Roll should be dangerous, it should roll around on the ground and howl at the moon. You won't see J Lo or any of those mansion loving pop stars walking through the trenches of Rock N Roll, but you will see Tiger Sex out there, bleeding soul. The mansions are burning and the stars will have to drink out of the tap with the rest of us.Without further ado....


1. Who is Tigersex and how did the band get together?

TIGER SEX is a high energetic, animalistic, Rock N Roll band that was formed in Las Vegas over a year ago.
The band started when I (Kelly) was going out a lot and checking out bands and came across Tinglerz. Kei (guitar) was singer/guitarist and I thought he totally kicked ass and had a true real Rock N Roll sound, I need to know this guy!
We started to hang out and jam and when he heard my scream he said I should be a singer, then we started naturally writing music together! ROAR!!! TIGER SEX was born! Found a drummer and bass player and booked gigs right away.

Now we are a 3 piece! Kei (guitar) Kelly (vocal) Tom (drums)

2. Do you have any new projects of things you want us to know about?

We have been writing songs since we started and have lots of music to come, we will also be putting up new videos but our main plan is to record and put out a full length album soon . We have a EP out which you can go to www.tigersex.info and check out, but we have grown so much since that recording and our music and sound has grown and improved and become so much more intense.

3. What has been the best part about this band and what do you plan to do more of?

The best part about this band is the release and intensity. Getting on stage or the floor (haha) and not caring what anyone thinks, not worried about anything at all. Just letting the crazy brain GO and having no boundaries, out of control.
People can sing along, dance like weirdos and spill their drinks all over us and its amazing!

4. What is the best Tiger Sex show story that you are allowed to tell?

The best TIGER SEX show is hard to answer because some shows have been so great with new friends/fans but The BEST TIGER SEX show for craziness so far is when we played a all ages gig in Vegas and we were completely swarmed with kids around us and some dumbass kept hitting into Kei's guitar and gear so I (Kelly) ran up to him and started punching him in the face after saying back off 3 times.
After that when we were packing up a 8 foot cop was standing out front, when we walked out he came up to me (Kelly) and asked to take a photo with him..meanwhile kids were walking by with beers in their hand! WHoaaa, those crazy awesome moments!!

5. I am a huge Iggy Pop fan and I am picky about who covers of his songs, but I really dig your cover of the Stooges "TV Eye". What is your favorite era Iggy or Iggy tune?

Thank you! We love Stooges.
We really like Raw Power and Fun House..those 2 albums are kick ass in their own different ways. Kei really likes guitarist James Williamson's playing, he says James can fill whats missing and he's more skillful but Ashton is a great guitarist as well.
We prefer early Stooges but respect the band growing throughout the years and Iggy was and is a great inspiration as a Front man. He is one of few and the best!

I want to thank Tiger Sex for the interview and for being great, check this band out asap at www.tigersex.info

Gimme Danger Little Stranger
A. Killebrew - Super Smash Media

Tiger Sex is a three-piece rock and roll machine fronted by Kelly Tigersex. The band hails from Cincinnati, Ohio by way of Las Vegas, Nevada. There is so much hype surrounding this band, and it’s completely warranted.

When you go to a Tiger Sex show, you are asking for a full on auditory and visual assault. Kei Tigersex MOWS DOWN the guitar with some eclectic style and awesome skill. Kelly writhes onstage, screaming her heart out with pitch perfect gutturals and leaping into the audience like something straight out of an Iggy Pop highlight reel.

The music is deceptively simple and to the point, it gets under your skin and gets you moving. That, in my opinion, is what good music is supposed to do. These guys rock with style and you can catch them at Live at the Garden 3, this February 7th (2015) at The Garden Theater in Columbus Ohio’s Short North Arts District.

Follow their feed/plight/listen to their tunes here:
https://www.facebook.com/tigersexband

Written by Sandeep Sehbi.

Sandeep is a Central Ohio frontman/musician/performer, writer/blogger, booker/promoter, freelance media specialist/social media guru and student at The Ohio State University. - Pizza Box Review

“..the most terrifying frontwoman of the evening (and that’s a feat for Bitchfest) made an impression despite the fact that her vocals weren’t loud enough, by running around the bar clad in lingerie, screaming in everyone’s faces. She looked like a teenage runaway prostitute and appropriately had tiger stripes tattooed on her ass cheeks. While the drummer and guitarist played early punk, garage rock noise she hit herself in the head with the microphone, danced on the bar, and ran into the other rooms to assail the diner-goers, all while drinking from a flask tucked into her panties. Their set ended with a cover of The Stooges’ “TV Eye,” their single “Prostitution,” and a kiss-off apology for not being able to hear her. We certainly saw her, though, and it’s doubtful anyone is going to forget about her.” - Jacqui Sahagian - No Country for New Nashville

“Kelly takes over the vocal chores like a raw Joan Jett or like the “little girl with a big voice” popularized in the 80’s by bands like Tex & the Horseheads. The rhythm section is dynamite and once again, Kei has a band who knows how to write real songs. They have no problem playing different tempos and are right at home with a slow, smoldering, heavy blues (that sounded like a mix of the Stooges “I Need Somebody” and the Jeff Beck Group or something!) as they are with a high energy punk rocker. Their choice of covers gives a good indication of their influences and style - “Cherry Bomb” by the Runaways and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by the Stooges. Kei rips it up in the best Ron Ashton/Wayne Kramer style - cool riffs with plenty of noise and wah-wah and just teetering on the edge of chaos - as r’n’r always should! He really is one of my fave guitarists in town and with this excellent rhythm section and dynamic lead singer, he has an amazing new project.”

“She opened the show in a rather conservative (but cool) suit and literally tore most of it off by the end of the set! They have several new songs since the last time I saw them and some cool covers, such as the Stooges "TV Eye" and Johnny O'Keefe's "Wild One", by way of Iggy & Joan Jett. As with the best in punk'n'roll, they're not one-dimensional and mix us speeds, rhythms and guitar tones throughout the set, giving us variety while never sacrificing power. Lovers of Detroit r'n'r, Johnny Thunders and groups like the Hellacopters need to check out these cats and kitten! You won't regret it!” - Rich Coffee

“She opened the show in a rather conservative (but cool) suit and literally tore most of it off by the end of the set! They have several new songs since the last time I saw them and some cool covers, such as the Stooges "TV Eye" and Johnny O'Keefe's "Wild One", by way of Iggy & Joan Jett. As with the best in punk'n'roll, they're not one-dimensional and mix us speeds, rhythms and guitar tones throughout the set, giving us variety while never sacrificing power. Lovers of Detroit r'n'r, Johnny Thunders and groups like the Hellacopters need to check out these cats and kitten! You won't regret it!” - Rich Coffee

“When I laid on the floor and a bunch of girls were putting their butts over my face I was like, ‘This is rock ’n’ roll right here,’ ” she grins over the roar of the jukebox and the loud conversations of post-happy hour revellers nearby. Kei is a flamboyant, flashy guitarist who possesses the aplomb of a Johnny Thunders but is a much more precise player, while the rhythm section possesses the hard swing of a badass ’60s R&B combo. The group initially began with Kei and TigerSex bonding over the Beatles, but it’s the Stooges who are the band’s most palpable influence, mainly in the way they wed a combative rock ’n’ roll bluster with a cocksure, seductive swagger. "I like a raw, garage-y, in-your-face type of sound,” she says.” - Las Vegas Review Journal