I met Miniature Tigers at Silverlake’s Spaceland about a year ago. Their vibe was friendly, charismatic, and slightly psychedelic, and drug-free. They had an indie rock/pop sound, but the added electronics gave them a New Wave feel. Before I even heard the music, I immediately bought a T-shirt of an elephant and a Native American, drawn by artist Sam Means. Drummer and vocalist Rick Schaier, also in the electronic Alvin Band, had drawn their album cover and I also bought it just based on the artwork. Weird impulse, but I knew I’d like them already.
When front man Charlie Brand started singing, the girls in the audience bounced, hands to their hearts. They were in love with his boyish charm. The energy the fans gave off reminded me of a Beatles concert in the 50s. It was positive. Happy. It rubbed me the right way.
Now with their second album out, Miniature Tigers brings us two artful music videos directed by actor/filmmaker Morgan Krantz. “Gold Skull” takes you on a nightmarish yet sexy journey with low-budget Hi-8 footage featuring seductress and writer of $1 stories, Jessica Lee Garrison.
Morgan Krantz takes it ten steps higher when he collaborates with Drew King (also editor of TV on the Radio‘s “Golden Age” video), choreographer Maia Harari, and producer Michael Schifflet to create Miniature Tigers’ “Bullfighter Jacket” music video.
Compared to a “giant detailed collage” and “Kanye West’s Power video” by Stereogum’s Jessica Suarez, “Bullfigher Jacket” takes you on a terpendicular Where’s Waldo journey full of colorful characters doing perverse, yet innocently silly things. It’s fun, it will make you laugh, and…you’ll probably fall in love with Waldo, played by actor/filmmaker Matthew Cardarople. I did. 
