The Republic Tigers are seeing success with their aural experience
Republic Tiger - Buildings and Mountains
After a show in Boston one night in May, the members of the Republic Tigers got in their van to travel to New York City for their next performance. They arrived at their destination at 5 a.m. the next morning. The musicians were exhausted, so they decided to park in front of the venue and rest. That venue was the Ed Sullivan Theater. They were the musical guests on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
“There we were,” Kenn Jankowski, the band’s lead vocalist, recalls, “camping out in front of the place like guests normally DON’T do.”
That’s the appeal of the Republic Tigers. The members, who hail from Kansas City, aren’t letting success get to their heads. They stayed grounded after their performance of “Buildings and Mountains” on “The Late Show,” and they remain humble about their upcoming tour of Europe with Travis, the Scottish indie legends who paved the way for bands like Coldplay and Keane.
Republic Tiger
“We got pretty lucky to make friends with Travis,” Jankowski says. “It’s our first time going to Europe, and all the shows are sold out. We’re very excited.”
The band’s newfound success can be accredited to its harmonious sound. It can be described as a mix of indie folk with symphonic pop. It is organic and very human, yet synthetic and technological. For Jankowski and the other members, the sound represents the times we live in.
“We’re obsessed with the fact that you can be outside, but you’ll be playing with your phone rather than looking at thunderstorms or experiencing nature. It’s a picture of our modern struggle,” Jankowski explains.
The group’s debut album, “Keep Color,” is the embodiment of its sound. The album features the profound “Buildings and Mountains” and the intimate “Make Concrete.”
“Some songs are story-based. Some songs are ideas and critiques on society and humanity. And some of it’s personal poetry,” Jankowski says of the album.
The Republic Tigers will be playing a free show at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at the KC Live Stage at the Power and Light District of Kansas City. For more information, visit www.powerandlightdistrict.com.
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