Selby Tigers


Selby Tigers was an American punk band that was signed to Hopeless Records. The band was formed in 1998 and chose its name as a combination of Selby Avenue, a main thoroughfare in Saint Paul, and a radio broadcast about a Sri Lankan army called the Tamil Tigers.

History

The punk quartet adopted the name Selby Tigers as a nod to their hometown turf on Selby Avenue, a high-school team mascot, and the Tamil Tigers. These eclectic influences are reflected in their music, which combines bratty teenage vocals, snarling guitars, and a thick-necked rhythm section. After a number of years playing in bands that, for one reason or another failed to graduate from bars and basements, guitarist Arzu "D2" Gokcen, her husband and second guitarist Nathan Grumdahl, bass player Nicole Gerber, and drummer Dave Gatchell formed the Selby Tigers.
After the band recorded and released their eponymous debut EP in 1998, Gerber left the band and was replaced by Dave Gardner, a local recording engineer and former member of Impetus Inter. Gardner created the alter ego of the loveably clueless, stereotypical Frenchman Sammy G. After a number of lengthy tours, the band released their EP South Then West. The Selby Tigers EPs and touring ethic caught the attention of Southern Californian punk label Hopeless Records, who signed the band in early 2000. In the spring of that year, Hopeless Records released a 7" teaser single for their LP Charm City, which followed later that summer. The band toured with the Alkaline Trio, the Anniversary, and Rocket From the Crypt.
Selby Tigers broke up in 2003 and Arzu Gokcen went on to form pop-punk band So Fox. Grumdahl also went on tour for The Monarques, releasing an EP with them. He is currently in with The Dynamiters with Dave Gardner. After the end of So Fox, Gokcen went on to form Spider Fighter, Half Fiction, Strut and Shock and Pink Mink. Dave Gatchell is currently in the Tokyo band 1000s of cats.

Discography

Albums