by Stephen Krock
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute. Just sit down tight. I’ll tell you all about the Tigers from a town called Bayside.
As a child of the 90s, nostalgia is a huge part of my life. We are arguably the first generation to have our childhoods literally handed to us on a platter via the interwebs. Be it in the form of our favorite Saturday morning cartoons, after school game shows on Nick, or those totally rad bands. And from the ashes of those bands, The Bayside Tigers have risen. Covering a wide range of what that most righteous decade had to offer.
“The 90s are BACK,” says vocalist/guitarist Danny. “The 80s made a comeback and now it’s time for the 90s.”
You can’t argue with the man’s logic.
“In the 90s, you could care for your digital pet while in class, steal your friends’ Pogs with a single slam, or take the edge off with a cool Zima. What more could you want?” asks bass player Alex.
He, Danny and drummer Nat met at Berklee College of Music. Upon graduation, they began playing their favorite music together. Then with the addition of vocalist Raeya and an awesome band name, the Tigers started tubthumping the Canal Room in New York with their semi-weekly Saved by the 90s parties. This week, however, Philly is fortunate enough to have them piss the night away at the Trocadero on Saturday, April 13th.
What are the chances that they’ll take a minute to tell their Philly audience how native Will Smith became the prince of a town called Bel-Air?
According to Alex, “Crowd participation is a requirement at all our parites. We’re expecting some serious brotherly love from y’all!”
So what else can you hope to hear when partying with the Bayside Tigers? “We started with rock songs from bands like Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and Weezer, so we have more of their influence in our DNA from early on,” says Nat. “Now, however, we’re working to round out the show, adding more pop, hip-hop and dance music to the sets.” This includes other 90s mainstays such as Britney, the Backstreet Boys and even the Spice Girls.
Speaking of the girls of Spice, when asked which band mate would win the rumored-to-be-vacant slot left by Posh Spice, the Tigers were unanimous. “My money is on Nat,” Alex says. “I feel like he and David Beckham would really hit it off.”
I had to inquire more into their 90s know-how. Be advised, if you intend on showing up to the party supporting your Legends of the Hidden Temple team, Nat is a Silver Snake and Danny is a Blue Barracuda. Just don’t get Alex started on the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. But who of us can’t make that claim about ourselves, am I right?
Delving into the source of their namesake, I had to get real with the Bayside Tigers for a second. I asked if any of them had ever experimented with caffeine pills a la Jessie Spano. Nat ensured me, “We’re more Zima kinda of guys.”
Also, while they would never deign to recreate the classic Jessie’s Song, there is a good chance you’ll hear a classic TV theme or two. Nat also offered one hint as to what song in their repetoire gets their favorite audience reaction: “We may be yearning for something else to help us endure this somewhat enchanted existence.” Sit on that for a while, kids
In the meantime… Yo, homes, smell ya later!
