Pull Tiger Tail#Discography

Pull Tiger Tail was formed in 2006 by three friends who met while attending school together. Later, they went on to study at Goldsmiths, University of London, where they further developed their artistic and musical talents. Marcus Ratcliff, Jack Hamson, and Davo McConville decided to start a band, drawing on their shared interests in music and visual art. The band quickly developed a unique sound, which drew comparisons to other contemporary British indie acts such as Bloc Party and The Maccabees.{{cite web|url=https://www.music-news.com/review/UK/2942/Read|title=Pull Tiger Tail Interview|publisher=Music-News|access-date=2024-08-30}}

All three members had grown up together in Stratford-upon-Avon where they played in indie-rock band Antihero, releasing two singles and winning the support of John Peel on Radio 1.{{cite web|url=http://integrityrecords.co.uk/archives/irband/antihero |title=Antihero |website=Integrityrecords.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2020-06-03}} The three friends shared a flat together when moving to London to attend Goldsmiths.

Before forming Pull Tiger Tail, all three members were part of the band Antihero. Antihero achieved modest success in the early 2000s, known for their raw, energetic performances. They even caught the attention of legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who featured them on his show, giving the band valuable exposure to a wider audience.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/antihero-mn0000685421/biography|title=Antihero Biography|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2024-08-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/2000s/2002/Jun11antihero/|title=Antihero John Peel Session|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-08-30}}

Prior to both Pull Tiger Tail, Jack Hamson and Davo McConville, along with Simon Taylor-Davis and James Righton (who would later form Klaxons), were in a band called Hollywood Is A Verb. This band was an experimental project that laid the groundwork for their later musical endeavors. The creative energy from Hollywood Is A Verb carried forward into their subsequent projects, influencing the formation of Pull Tiger Tail and Klaxons.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jan/14/popandrock5|title=New Rave's Big Bang|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=2024-08-30}}

The members of Pull Tiger Tail shared a house in New Cross, a vibrant area in South London known for its thriving artistic community. They invited Simon Taylor-Davis and James Righton, whom they had known from growing up, to join them in their house. It was during this time that Klaxons was formed, with Simon and James becoming founding members. This shared living situation fostered a creative environment where both bands could exchange ideas and influences, contributing to the energy and experimentation that characterized their music.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/klaxons-87-1349295|title=Klaxons and Pull Tiger Tail on living together in New Cross|publisher=NME|access-date=2024-08-30}}

Pull Tiger Tail played their debut gig at London's Tatty Bogle club on 2 February 2006.

The band released their debut single, "Animator", on Young and Lost Club Records on 25 September 2006. Copies were limited to 1000, with 500 7"s, each hand customised by the band, and 500 CDs available.

During their active years, Pull Tiger Tail toured extensively across the UK and Europe. They participated in the NME Indie Rave Tour alongside Blood Red Shoes, The Little Ones, and The Rumble Strips.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-indie-rave-tour-4-1325576|title=NME Indie Rave Tour Lineup|publisher=NME|access-date=2024-08-30}}

Additionally, they joined the MySpace Music Tour with Hadouken!.{{cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/37860/pull-tiger-tail-join-myspace-music-tour|title=Pull Tiger Tail Join MySpace Music Tour|publisher=Gigwise|access-date=2024-08-30}}

Pull Tiger Tail also toured with a variety of other notable acts, including:

• Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
• Razorlight
• Of Montreal
• We Are Scientists

These tours helped the band build a dedicated following and solidified their reputation as an exciting live act.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jan/12/popandrock.jamiet|title=Jamie T talks about touring with Pull Tiger Tail|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=2024-08-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/pull-tiger-tail-8-1323067|title=Pull Tiger Tail Tour Announcement|publisher=NME|access-date=2024-08-30}}

Following the breakup of Pull Tiger Tail in 2009, the members embarked on various musical and creative pursuits:

• **Marcus Ratcliff** and **Jack Hamson** continued their musical career by founding the band Thumpers in 2012. Thumpers released their debut album Galore in 2014, which was well-received for its vibrant and anthemic indie pop sound. The band continued to tour and gained a following in the UK and the US, releasing a second album, Whipped & Glazed, in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/13/thumpers-galore-review|title=Thumpers - Galore Album Review|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=2024-08-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thumpers-2-2169057|title=Thumpers Announce New Album|publisher=NME|access-date=2024-08-30}}

• **Davo McConville** pursued multiple musical ventures after Pull Tiger Tail. He played bass for **Your Twenties**, a band formed by ex-Metronomy member Gabriel Stebbing. McConville later joined Night Works, Stebbing's solo project. Night Works released their debut album Urban Heat Island in 2011 and received critical acclaim for their sophisticated synth-pop sound. McConville has also been active in visual arts and sound design, contributing to various creative projects.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/night-works|title=Night Works - Project Overview|publisher=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=2024-08-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/night-works-4-1091788|title=Night Works Announces New Album|publisher=NME|access-date=2024-08-30}}

Despite their relatively brief time together, Pull Tiger Tail made an impact on the UK indie rock scene. Their energetic performances and distinctive sound continue to be remembered by fans and critics alike.

Their final single with B-Unique was "Hurricanes", released on 11 June 2007. An iTunes error prevented the single hitting the Top 40. Because of this, the band was dropped. However, B-Unique retained the band's album, resulting in a lengthy legal battle to return the album to Pull Tiger Tail.

As of 2009, following the release of PAWS., the band have gone their separate ways, although a b-sides and rarities album, The Lost World, was released on 14 December 2009. In mid-2009, Hamson joined the indie folk group Noah and the Whale for a short time after drummer Doug Fink left the band. In 2011 he joined Friendly Fires on percussion and bass guitar for their Pala world tour.

In 2012, Ratcliff and Hamson re-emerged as a duo called Thumpers.

• Marcus Ratcliff - guitar, keys, vocals
• Davo McKenzie-McConville - bass, keys, vocals
• Jack Hamson - drums, vocals

Albums

• Paws. (New Art, Please, 17 August 2009)
• The Lost World (New Art, Please, 14 December 2009)

Singles

• "Animator" (Young and Lost Club Records, 25 September 2006)
• "Mr 100%" (B-Unique Records, 11 December 2006)
• "Let's Lightning" (B-Unique Records, 26 March 2007)
• "Hurricanes" (B-Unique Records, 18 June 2007)
• "Mary Jane" (Young and Lost Club Records, 2 June 2008)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081207010240/http://www.pulltigertail.net/ Official Site]
• [https://www.myspace.com/pulltigertail Myspace.com]
• [http://music.guardian.co.uk/newbands/story/0,,1970526,00.html Guardian: Pull Tiger Tail]
• [http://www.neumagazine.co.uk/articles/20.html Interview]
• [http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/8512/ CD Review]
• [http://www.concertbuzz.net/genres/indie/pull-tiger-tail.html Live Show Review]
• [https://pulltigertail.bandcamp.com/ Pull Tiger Tail on Bandcamp]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/13/thumpers-galore-review Thumpers - Galore Album Review]
• [https://www.nme.com/news/music/thumpers-2-2169057 Thumpers Announce New Album]
• [https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/night-works Night Works Overview]
• [https://www.nme.com/news/music/night-works-4-1091788 Night Works Announces New Album]

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Category:Indie rock groups from London

Category:Rock music groups from London

Category:Musical groups established in 2006

Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London

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