Tiger Trap was an American twee-pop foursome composed of high school friends Angela Loy and

Rose Melberg Rose Melberg is a musician and songwriter from Sacramento, California, currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has performed both as a solo artist and as a member of Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, Gaze, Gigi, Imagina ...

, with

Heather Dunn Heather may refer to: Plants *The heather family, or Ericaceae, particularly: **Common heather or ling, ''Calluna'' **Various species of the genus ''Cassiope'' **Various species of the genus ''Erica'' Name * Heather (given name) * Heather (sur ...

and Jen Braun. The group recorded for

K Records K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, founded in 1982. Artists on the label included early releases by Beck, Modest Mouse and Built to Spill. The record label has been called "key to the development of independent mu ...

. The name "Tiger Trap" comes from the very first ''

Calvin and Hobbes ''Calvin and Hobbes'' is a daily American comic strip created by cartoonist Bill Watterson that was Print syndication, syndicated from November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995. Commonly described as "the last great newspaper comic", ''Calvin a ...

'' cartoon, and was used prior to the formation of the band by Rose Melberg for a solo set in 1991 at the first night of the

International Pop Underground Convention The International Pop Underground Convention (or IPU) was a 1991 punk and alternative rock music festival in Olympia, Washington. The six-day convention centered on a series of performances at the Capitol Theater. Throughout August 20–25, 1 ...

, Love Rock Revolution Girl Style Now, inspiring the

Beat Happening Beat Happening was an American indie pop band formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis, and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members. Beat Happening were early leaders in the American indie pop and lo-f ...

song of the same name. Formed in

Sacramento, California Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...

in 1992, they managed to garner something of a cult following before disbanding only a year later. Their last concert took place at

Bottom of the Hill Bottom of the Hill is a concert venue located at the corner of 17th and Missouri streets in the Potrero Hill district of San Francisco, California. According to ''Rolling Stone'', the Bottom of the Hill is the best place to hear live music in San ...

, San Francisco, in December 1993. Bands they played with include Heavenly,

Unwound Unwound () is an American post-hardcore band formed in 1988 in Tumwater and Olympia, Washington. It presently consists of vocalist-guitarist Justin Trosper, bassist Jared Warren, drummer Sara Lund, and guitarist Scott Seckington. Originally ...

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet are a Juno Award-winning Canadians, Canadian instrumental rock band, formed in 1984. They remain best known for the track "Having an Average Weekend", of which an alternate version was used as the theme music, the ...

, Girl Trouble,

Mecca Normal Mecca Normal is a two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, formed by Jean Smith and David Lester (artist, author, publisher), David Lester in 1984. Career In 1985 they formed their own record label Smarten ...

, and

Tsunami A tsunami ( ; from , ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and underwater explosions (including detonations, ...

. Along with

Lois Lois is a common English name from the New Testament. Paul the Apostle mentions Lois, the pious grandmother of Saint Timothy in the Second Epistle to Timothy (commending her for her faith in 2 Timothy 1:5). The name was first used by English C ...

Tullycraft Tullycraft is an American indie pop band from Seattle, Washington, that formed in 1995. They were an early part of the American twee pop movement. They are known for their DIY ethic, only releasing albums on independently owned and operated rec ...

, and Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap is considered to be one of the most influential bands of the American

twee pop Twee pop is a subgenre of indie pop that originates from the 1986 ''NME'' compilation '' C86''. Twee pop gets its name from the aesthetic of twee, which is known for its simplicity and childlike innocence. Some of its defining features are boy-gi ...

movement. Melberg went on to become a solo artist as well as playing with the bands

The Softies The Softies is a musical duo consisting of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia, who are known for their minimal approach to pop music. History Formation and original album run (1994–2000) Beginning in 1994, the band was intended to be a side pr ...

Go Sailor Go Sailor was a short-lived San Francisco and Sacramento based pop punk band. Its members included Rose Melberg of Tiger Trap and The Softies (guitar, vocals), Paul Curran of Crimpshrine (bass) and Amy Linton of Henry's Dress (later of The Aisle ...

, and

Gaze In critical theory, philosophy, sociology, and psychoanalysis, the gaze (French: ''le regard''), in the figurative sense, is an individual's (or a group's) awareness and perception of other individuals, other groups, or oneself. Since the 20th ...

. Dunn went on to play drums with Lois, the reformed Raincoats, and

Dub Narcotic Sound System Dub Narcotic Sound System (D.N.S.S.) is an Olympia, Washington based indie-funk musical group founded by Calvin Johnson, signed to K Records. Origins The band was named after Calvin Johnson's basement recording studio, Dub Narcotic. The band a ...

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Tiger Trap'' (

, 1993)

Singles and EPs

* "Words and Smiles" from a split 7-inch with

Bratmobile Bratmobile is an American punk band from Olympia, Washington, formed in 1991. They are known for being one of the first-generation "riot grrrl" bands. The band was influenced by several eclectic musical styles, including elements of pop, surf ...

(Four Letter Words Records, 1992) * "Supercrush" b/w "You and Me" and "Hiding" (released as volume 36 of the International Pop Underground series, 1993) * ''Sour Grass'' EP (K Records, 1993) * "Alien Space Song" from split single with

Henry's Dress Henry's Dress was an American noise pop band from Albuquerque, New Mexico (and later from San Francisco, California), consisting of Amy Linton (later of The Aislers Set) and Matt Hartman, who both acted as singer, guitarist and drummer at variou ...

(

Slumberland Records Slumberland Records is an American independent record label, formed in 1989 in Washington, D.C., and based in Oakland, California. The label has released recordings by Velocity Girl, Honeybunch, Lilys, Stereolab, Evans The Death, St. Christo ...

, 1994)

Compilations and other appearances

* "Baby Blue", from ''Julep (Another Yoyo Studio Compilation)'' (

Yoyo Recordings Yoyo A Go Go, usually abbreviated to Yoyo and often typeset in various ways, was an independent music Music festival, festival in Olympia, Washington, first held in 1994 and followed by successor festivals in 1997, 1999, and 2001. Five- and six- ...

, 1993) * "Hiding" re-released on the ''

International Hip Swing ''International Hip Swing'' is a compilation CD released by the label K Records in 1993. It is centered on the alternative rock, indie pop and twee pop genres. ''International Hip Swing'' gathered together a selection of recordings previously rel ...

'' compilation ssembled of songs from the International Pop Underground singles series(K Records, 1993) * "Supreme Nothing", from the ''

Stars Kill Rock ''Stars Kill Rock'' is a 1993 compilation album released on the Kill Rock Stars label. Track listing # Tiger Trap - "Supreme Nothing" # godheadSilo - "Nutritious Treat" # Frumpies - "Fuck Kitty" # Jack Acid - "Cheap Tragedies" # Tribe 8 - "Spe ...

'' compilation (

Kill Rock Stars Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in February 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but it was orig ...

, 1992) * "Girl with a Guitar" from ''The Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls'' soundtrack (Planet Pimp Records, PPR-009, 1994)

References

External links

* Tiger Trap at allmusic American all-female bands Indie pop groups from California Indie rock musical groups from California K Records artists Musical groups from Sacramento, California Musical groups established in 1992 {{US-pop-band-stub