Feb 11 : "Lonely Bully". - Tygerstrype (Philly)

UNEXPECTED TURNS

Philly Music!

One show I did get to in the last couple months was Philly band Tygerstrype's headlining a benefit show for Prevention Point at Everybody Hits. The band's sound was a perfect match for the venue and the stage setup was just right. Tygerstype's music on stage has become a little grittier and a little looser as I've listened to them over the past six plus years, although that grittiness doesn't necessarily carry over into their recorded sound, which remains a little crisper and more tightly controlled.

A couple years ago Tygerstype came out with a new full-length album, "We Learn to Love Our Chains". The album has some intriguing songs including the unique "Lonely Bully".

The song starts out with the bully singing to the victim about how he or she taunts now and will keep taunting later. Symbolic of the bully's lack of empathy, the instrumentals convey a surprisingly casual and nonchalant feeling when compared to the severity of what's expressed in the lyrics and what the bully is actually doing.

The first unexpected turn occurs as the song progresses into the second section ("1.58" on the clock) when the bully's words begin telling of the subconscious reasons for being a bully, such as the insecurity, the need for attention. But then the song takes another and bigger unexpected turn, because the bully then starts talking about maybe channeling his or her need for attention and for showing off strength to "protecting" the victim from others who might be trying to do the same harm.

After the second section there's an instrumental interlude which might symbolize the progression of the interactions (change does take time). The music is still active but quiets down, sort of a "simmering" then opens up beautifully into the third section (about "4.30") where the bully winds up very much wanting a friendship with the victim. The bully has been redeemed and the relationship has been redefined. A very unexpected conclusion! If society could only make this the norm!

After that third verse the instrumentals continue with increasingly varied stylings along with some more vibrant percussion work. It shows that everything is fine.

Here is "Lonely Bully", from Tygerstype's album, "We Learn to Love Our Chains":

Tygerstrype is Gabriel Guerrero and Alden Towler. Their song shows a refreshing consciousness that's not always evident in instances where society discusses bullying, where the talk seems to move toward punishing the bully and protecting the victim, but less often addresses the underlying psychology of the bully's actions in the first place. Their story of repairs being made to a once thorny relationship can only fill the listener with hope that there can be a good answer to the problem of bullying. Schools should make this song required listening! :)

Tygerstrype doesn't have any shows coming up in the immediate future, but here is a link to their Facebook page where you can keep track of what they're doing ::: Tygerstrype on Facebook (CLICK HERE).