Tipping the Velvet

Band members:
Justin Collins (Lead Guitar)
Tom Laing (Bass)
Chris Brown (Keys/Guitar)
Tony Metcalf (Lead Vocals/Guitar)
Tom Busch (Drums)


From our City Pages interview:

"Where did the title Remember When come from?"

Remember When comes from the title song off the album. It's about nostalgia and adulthood and just trying to stay neutral. It's just that nostalgic mood that we feel our sound gives off. The song starts out about childhood and the second half is more about longing for that feeling, which definitely started a thread that weaved its way through the entire album. We're always talking and joking about the music we love, which most of the times ends up being from what people consider the "Golden Era" of music. In that way, we like to think of ourselves as a 70's/90's band- familiar music that's brand new at the same time.

What is a song from Remember When that you're extremely proud of?

"The Mode" was a song that we weren't entirely sure of how it was going to sound once it was recorded. And now that it's become what it has, we're really proud of it. But overall, "Better Off" is the song we're most proud of off the album. It's the perfect example of the entire band bringing their own separate parts together into one cohesive explosion of bluesy grooviness. The lyrics are nostalgic and everyone can relate to them in some way. That, combined with the driving bass section and screaming guitars makes for a kick-ass song that you can't help but nod your head to.

Why do you think your fans relate so much to your music?

Our music is honest and comes from the heart. We're really just making music that we love to make, and we feel like our fans see that in us and have a good time at our shows. A lot of people we talk to after we play say that they didn't expect to hear such a well-rehearsed and explosive sound to come from us. We care, and people can see that. Our energy is contagious and we love rocking out with anyone and everyone that digs our vibe.

" ...a band I saw randomly at a show at 7th Street Entry. It didn’t take long to see their live energy contain the room; making me a fan from then on, and making Chiefs of the North a great new band to kick off this series with. Every time I see these guys the stage is way too small to contain them. The sound they produce takes you on a real journey, not just your average grab-another-beer modern rock band; but rather an uncommonly unique sound, like if a twisted reincarnate of the birth of rock and roll met the 90′s grunge era — when your feelings make good songs, but you aren’t whining about it, and you have the instrumentation to back it up. Dirty guitars, spot on drumming, and powerful leading vocals that emote every word with such veracity, you can’t help but nod your head off. It only takes a few songs to capture you into their sound, until you’re hooked like a dead fish..."
— mplsmusic.com

“Reflection -- in terms of musical creativity at least -- is the backbone and the enemy of songwriting. Almost nothing can prompt such accelerated surges of creativity in the process of a song as hindsight, and yet, it will force an artist to face something they may have been hiding from. On their new album, Remember When, Minneapolis band, Chiefs of the North mature in their sound and break open the floodgates of reflection and the transitions in life. Gimme Noise talk to the band before their CD release show on Thanksgiving weekend at the Fine Line. ”
— Youa Vang, City Pages