By Keith Walsh
Road tested and ready to bring their blistering punk rock sound to live venues, Smalltown Tigers are a female power punk trio from Italy. The new single “Crush On You” features an authentic hard driving sound without the weak pop fluff that nearly ruined punk rock. There are some romantic lyrics however, but these rockers make it clear that they are in charge and intend to keep it that way.
“Crush On You” is the title track and first single from Smalltown Tigers debut album, due February 9 on Area Pirata Records. There’s some Joan Jett vibes here, some Suzi Quatro, but also the Ramones, Iggy and The Stooges, and even Nirvana.
And despite the lead single’s leaning into romance, the album overall has a darker sound, embracing all the harshness of completely distorted guitar. With a sound shaped from hard months on the road playing around Europe including open for The Damned on their reunion tour of 2022, Crush On You is loaded with hooks from Monty’s electric guitar and vocals, Valli’s intense vocals and bass guitar, and the powerful drums of Castel, who joined the trio just after the release of their debut EP Five Things in 2020. Crush On You was recorded on the heels of joined The Damned again for their Eurotrek tour of Spring 2023, which brought them to Germany, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
UK fans can catch these tigers in action in England from February 10 to the 18th. No doubt they’ll bring lots of raucous fun to the shows. Additional dates are being added, including the three Stone Valley Festivals in Britain, in May, June and August.
And that small town the tigers are from? Rimini, Italy.
(Photo by Luca Ortolani Photography. Album cover by Richard Bucchioni.)
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Area Pirata Records
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