Highway to Hell with Holly and The Hero
The Second Circle: Pride Tiger
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Jeff: Wow, it’s been awhile since we hit the Tyla show together. The summer has come and gone, I traveled the States, you went to France, and now here we are. Is it good to be back?

Holly: It does seem like ages since we sleazed out together, doesn’t it? Tyla was a good time. And while it’s always nice to be home, France fucking rocked, man. Not in an entirely rock n’ roll way, you understand; one does not travel to France hoping for the ultimate rock n’ roll experience. I did manage to find some sleaze, though (or, as they say in France, sleez).

J: Watch any French porn?

H: Yes, actually. It was free. Reverse cowgirl was en vogue that evening. And I had Jack Daniel’s vomit on my jeans. That was a good night.

 J: Baby, you don't have to travel to France for nights like that. Just hang out with me. Actually, that’s what you did tonight at the Pride Tiger show (hang out…not all that other stuff), which is why we’re having this chat. Your thoughts?

H: Pride Tiger are pretty fun. I gotta admit, I was a little hesitant about the whole drummer-as-lead-singer thing, given Phil Collins, but that guy was fucking crazy. Also crazy were the moustaches that night.

J: Yeah, the place was crawling with moustaches. Trendy ones too, not the kind you see on dudes in sweatpants at an after-hours smut store. Do you think I should ditch the beard for a trendy moustache?

H: Kissing a boy with a beard is like kissing a cunt, as Margaret Atwood would say. (Holy shit, I’ve just quoted Atwood in a Sleazegrinder interview. Weird.) Not that kissing cunts is a bad thing. By the way, your beard is, um, I’m having trouble coming up with the right word to describe it.

 
Mustache Dudes.

J: I believe the word you are looking for is ‘angry’. My beard is angry. And yeah, I’ll stick with the beard for awhile, but there could be a handlebar in my future – no trendy moustache for this dude. But enough about my mouth vagina. I've been touting Pride Tiger for quite awhile now. In fact, their new album The Lucky Ones is my favorite so far this year. Am I right or am I right?

H: It is a very rocking album, I wholeheartedly agree. And they put on a very rocking show, even when it takes place on a Monday night. This is the best highway driving record I’ve purchased this year. As for best album, I have to admit that there is something about their lyrics that doesn’t entirely engage me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s there. Hey, remember that moment at the end of The Dudes’ set when they called all the Tigers to the stage? I feel like we witnessed something really special there.

J: The Dudes, to bring everyone up to speed, was the opening band. Yeah, they all came up and did a Dylan song together, though I can't remember right now which one. It was fun, and felt special, but I somehow doubt it will go down as one of rock n’ roll’s greatest moments. And how can you not like the lyrics? If ever there was a Holly lyric, it would most certainly be: “Everybody's coming over/Come on and put that record on/Yeah put it up a little more/If you’re not dancing then there’s something wrong/Put that record on” (from the title track).

Flannel Tigers

H: Funny you should quote that song because it's my favorite. It is also the most danceable song on the record, which is cool, because the song is about, you know, dancing. Coincidence? Anyway, some of the other songs seem a little, well, positive to me. I want a little more dirt in my rock, a little more vomit. Some reverse cowgirl, maybe. I don't get that from this band, which is not to say that I don’t dig them, because I do; I just wouldn’t rank this record at the top of my list.

J: Fair enough. So what do you listen to in order to get your fix of dirt, vomit, and sex?

(I haven’t stopped listening to that record since you gave it to me a couple of years ago. I owe you.) Also, I think that The Raveonettes are the sweetest, raunchiest, sexiest band in the whole wide world. And the last time I puked was the night I saw them in France.

J: Well, Kill Cheerleader has one full-length, but they also have two EPs. And maybe I’ll need to check out The Raveonettes, if they are, as you suggest, vomit-inducing. I'm trying to recall if any band has ever driven me to sickness (the good kind). The Supersuckers, maybe. I can't remember if White Cowbell Oklahoma did the same thing. Probably…

H: Wow, we really have strayed from the original topic, haven’t we? So, yeah, Pride Tiger….did I mention that the lead singer/drummer drummed so hard that he ripped a huge hole down the back of his shirt? That was pretty sexy, actually. I can’t remember if he had a moustache. Did he have a moustache? Way to buy the band a round of shots, by the way. Way to buy yourself so many as well. How was work the next day? Let’s quit our day jobs and wander around the country checking out bands and riding down that highway…oh hey, I forgot to tell you that the bass guitarist winked at me. Do you think he wanted me to give him a blowjob?

J: Wait…who’s asking the questions here? Ok, let’s see…no, the drummer did not have a moustache, but the bass player did. Have you ever given a blowjob to a dude with a moustache? And thanks, the shots were good and the band seemed to enjoy them. They got me into the show so it was the least I could do, ya know? A round of Jagers helps the night along. Work was tolerable. It’s easy to have a rock hangover at work when you sit at a desk all day. Speaking of that job, I’m down with quitting it and hitting the highway. Where should we go first?

H: Of course I’ve given a blowjob to a dude with a moustache. I dig facial hair. But don’t come to me expecting a blowjob if you’ve carved that pansy little line around your face. Seriously, do those guys not have anything better to do with their time? And yes, we should go any place where the booze flows freely, the women are easy, the moustaches are manly, and the rock n’ roll is sleazy.

J: Cool…Sweden it is. And nice rhyming, yo. So what have you got coming up on the horizon? Any good shows? Any wicked parties?

H: We’ll make that Scandinavian rock n’ roll road trip one of these days. Maybe before The Hellacopters break up. As for shows, Juliette and the Licks are playing in Toronto; Juliette is pretty killer. Wicked parties? Um, no. Why, are you having one? And why haven't I been invited?

J: No, I’m not having one. If I was, you’d be invited, so don’t worry. I’ll be going to the Bionic/Starving Hungry/Trigger Effect show next weekend though. More good Canadian rock. You should go too.

H: Maybe I will. Hey, you know what I learned in France? When the youth of France think of Canadian music they think of Celine Dion and The Crash Test Dummies. With bands like Pride Tiger, Kill Cheerleader, and Bionic kicking the hell out of rock n’ roll, you’d think Canada would get a little more respect. We need to do something about that.

J: Well, I think we are with this here conversation, don’t you?

Pretty killer, for a Scientologist. Pic =  Óskar Hallgrímsson

H: Holy fuck! You’re right! You’d think we planned it or something. We didn’t, in case everyone is wondering. Unless you had it in mind all along, tricky bastard.

J: Maybe. Anyway, enough of this nonsense. Anything last words on Pride Tiger, Canadian rock n’ roll, moustaches, reverse cowgirl, or vomiting?

H: I am a big fan of all of the above, except for maybe the vomiting. Although vomiting certainly has its place. (An aside: not that you can tell, but Hero has been vomiting for most of this conversation. Now that’s dedication, friends.) It’s been a pleasure, Hero. I’ll see you and your beard in the next circle…

 J: Fuck yeah. Can't wait! Oh, should I tell them I’m vomiting because of the flu, or will that make me look less cool? Anyway, everyone should grow a moustache and rock until you puke. Or, as Holly would say…riot on! I recommend watching this Pride Tiger video while you do it. Dig it.

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