Interview with P.M.Tiger
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
To try and answer for everyone, for the most part we all got into music at a young age. It has been a passion for many years. To put it simply: without music our lives would be much more boring. We’d probably all still have found some other creative outlet, but it wouldn't be a combined force of tiger power.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
When we aren't playing music, we of course love to listen to music! As a group we have a variety of different interests. Anything from classic cars, to yoga, to DIY projects. You could pick any two members of our band and ask them this question. You’d get wildly different responses.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
P.M.Tiger as a band is based out of Tampa Florida. We came together about 5 years ago, but we weren’t all from Florida originally. We have members hailing from the far reaches of the west coast, and some that have lived in more than 10 states. John and Max both grew up in the Tampa area and were in a metalcore band in high school. The ethos of the diy metal scene carries into how we operate in a big way, if not sonically.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
We were chilling in the FROG (front room over garage) in Jordan & Josh’s parents house. Several of us had been living together in that room for months writing music together. After a long list of terrible names (including “House Clams”, “Dry Knife” & “Attracts Birds”). John looked across the room and saw the answer. It was in the form of a Paper Mache Tiger that had been hiding right under our noses the whole time. Max then had the idea to abbreviate the name to “P.M.Tiger”. It draws influence from the Chinese meaning of “Paper Tiger”, something that looks threatening, but up close is harmless. It was destiny.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Memorable shows can mean more than one thing… We’ve had our highs, we’ve had our lows. A memorable low was a Halloween festival we played in Miami. We were doing a small tour and were added last minute. We ended up driving over 4 hours to open the show for zero people. We played to the fog machines, but those fog machines will never be the same. As far as highs, we had the opportunity to open as direct support for the Plain White Ts. Tom listened to us side-stage and loved the music. He thought our name should stand for “Porno Mustache Tiger”. It was an awesome experience and we hope to play with them again soon.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Our favorite local venue has to be Crowbar in Ybor City (Tampa). We have played with some national acts, and some electric crowds there. More recently we played “Indie Night Tampa” there which was sold out and AWESOME! Outside of our hometown, we played Cobra in Nashville and had a blast! We would love to make our way out to the west coast of the US on a tour sometime soon. We would also love to Make our way to NYC on an east coast run. Buffalo NY also holds a special place in our hearts <3
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
PM would open for The Strokes, The Voidz, MGMT & Boston. Truly a night to remember!
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
For someone just starting out… Our advice would be to practice your instrument like your life depends on it. The more you hone your craft, the easier everything else will be. Also, start singing. No matter how bad it is at first, just start singing. It feels great and will pay dividends. To our younger selves, our advice would be to stay authentic. Make the music that makes you feel something. Never stop listening to the bands you love. No one is going to ever care as much as you do, and that's okay.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
Our newest single “Catfish Motel” means a lot to us. It represents an evolution in our band. It is our most collaborative song, as well as the most true to our sound. It reveals to our audience the potential that we see in our music clearer than anything we have done before. The message behind the song is also special to us. It feels like we really got this one right.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Our favorite songs to play tend to be our new ones. We are sitting on some really awesome songs, “Catfish Motel” being the first of a few. As far as requests go, some fan favorites off of our last LP include “Today As A Human” and “Shapez”. Our songs have a high variance of energy and mood. We pride ourselves on being able to craft a set that can match any vibe.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Jordan, our singer/guitar player, has written the demos for the majority of the songs we have released. We come together to add the special PM flavors. Most recently we've added producer Austin Coupe to the creative process, his input has been invaluable on our newest tracks.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Be yourself. Authenticity is king. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. We want to build a community of people who love good music, and have a great time.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
We have come a LONG way over the years. Some of us are childhood friends, and we have a set of brothers in the band, so we had some growing pains. At the end of the day we all love each other and want the best for the band. We try to make decisions and resolve disputes democratically, but once in a while an intervention style conversation is necessary. Our conflict resolution has gotten much better since the early days!
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
We don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. 2023 is going to be a great year for the tigers. We plan on releasing several new songs and touring more extensively than we ever have. The future is exciting!