Event Description
Live at Wicked Shamrock!
King Cole is a Santa Barbara/Lompoc based band led by songwriter Jacob Cole. Previously fronting Saint Anne’s Place, Jake grew up on 60’s radio but was born out of the 80’s. Fond of The Beatles sense of melody, the aggression of Iggy Pop and the song ‘Lift Me Up’ by Bruce Springsteen. His music incorporates it all but updates the sound for today. Backed by longtime friend Mic Singh the band creates a haunted nostalgic feel, something like scuzzy dark country with new wave minimalism. Its twin peaks meets gentle rock + roll. Thoughtful blistering dream pop
Ghost Tiger came to life out of songstress Alixandra Macmillan-Fiedel’s quest to expand her sound. Chris Norlinger, a friend of a friend, was fronting his own band at the time and eager to be in a new project where his primary focus could be guitar. On a February afternoon Alixandra sat on Chris’s couch and played him a string of songs, they laughed, they talked about recent heartbreak, toilet paper was brought out to wipe away tears as they jumped right in and started working on tunes. ”I was immediately struck by the honesty in her writing” says Chris, “I went from having low expectations to getting bashful and wondering if she was interested in me playing guitar for her.” Alixandra was equally excited to find a musical partner in Chris, “He is a magician when it comes to sound. I swear, his pedal board doesn’t stop growing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. His soundscapes bring our songs to life.” And so the story of Ghost Tiger began in 2011, with three other friends on bass, keys and drums.
Flash forward to four years later, one jaw surgery, a 7”, a big line up change, an EP, shows up and down the West Coast, these two have been on a wild musical ride and they couldn’t be more excited about the future. “I’m grateful for all that I learned with the original five members of Ghost Tiger. Now working as a duo, writing and arranging has been challenging and exhilarating. We’ve found ourselves getting more experimental and at the same time simplifying and arranging the songs around their true core” says Alixandra. Pushing their comfort zones as they juggle new instruments, racking up long hours in the studio working on new material for a full length album, Ghost Tiger is poised and inspired for their next chapter.