Brighton, UK’s Tigercub performed on The Fillmore Detroit stage on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in support of veteran California rockers, Porno For Pyros.
The three-piece rock band caught the audience’s attention from the get-go, as their seven-foot-tall frontman and guitarist, Jamie Hall, brought his larger-than-life presence to The Fillmore stage, alongside bandmates James Allix on drums and Jimi Wheelwright on bass guitar.
However, it was the contrast and combination of the hard-hitting and melancholic sound from the English trio that captivated the crowd throughout the performance.
Here are the photos we captured during their set:
Not too many fans were socializing around the bar during their 45-minute set, as they were locked into the stage, taking in the loud-and-soft dynamics of Tigercub’s catalog.
“Are there any Tigercub fans out there?” Hall asked the crowd.
“Alright, more than usual,” he added.
The band’s 10-song set was filled with songs, seven in total, from their latest album, The Perfume Of Decay, which was released on June 2, 2023, via Loosegroove Records, the label co-founded by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard.
While much of Tigercub’s music is dark, heavy, and nocturnal as Hall has described, the band showcased a lighter side halfway through their set, opening up the floor for a brief and humorous Q&A with the crowd.
“Okay, we’re getting many questions now,” Hall said.
“I am seven-foot-fucking-tall, alright, and it’s all bought and paid for.”
Hall still managed to bring back the band’s gothic and cryptic vibe at the end of the impromptu question period.
“Is there a God, says the gentleman there,” Hall asked the crowd.
“No, life is pointless, God doesn’t exist. I don’t know, I might be mistaken. Is there a God? What do you think? We should stop fucking around and just play a fucking song.”
Tigercub continued to engage the crowd, even after their set was complete.
“We’re going to be hanging out in the merch desk out the back, you don’t have to buy anything, please feel no pressure, but come say hello to us, hang out with us and talk to us about music,” Hall told the crowd.
“We’re doing the best thing in the world right now and we’re all a part of it together.
As is the expected duty of any solid opening act, Hall made sure to pump the crowd up for the upcoming headliners, Porno For Pyros.
“I don’t want it to end,” Hall said, in reference to the California rockers farewell tour.
“I think they should just make another record and just keep going.”
Here is Tigercub’s full setlist from their Detroit show:
1. Swoon
2. The Dark Below
3. You’re My Dopamine
4. Control
5. Show Me My Maker
6. Beauty
7. Play My Favourite Song
8. The Perfume of Decay
9. Shadowgraph
10. Stop Beating on My Heart (Like a Bass Drum)
The tour, which is just past its halfway point, continues north of the border for the lone Canadian date on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at HISTORY in Toronto.
Here are the remaining tour dates in support of Porno For Pyros:
Sat Mar 02 – Philadelphia, PA – Parx Casino
Sun Mar 03 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Tue Mar 05 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Thu Mar 07 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Fri Mar 08 – New York, NY – Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom
Sun Mar 10 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
Tigercub has been no stranger to SWOMP since its relaunch in 2023.
Dana Haggith caught up with Hall for an interview, shortly before the release of The Perfume Of Decay last year. Listen to it, below:
SWOMP also met the band, after taking in their performance at the Louder Than Life Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky last September. Check out our coverage, here, and listen to the live interview Dana did with the band, below:
Tigercub will also be back in the U.S. for 10 more shows at the start of May in 2024.
Stay up to date with the band on their official website https://www.tigercubtigercub.com/.