Bees and Enormous Tigers build a rock universe on "The Shade" from their "The Red Flower" album

Photo cred: Rhea Begazo

Bees and Enormous Tigers are an alternative rock band out of Tallahassee, Florida and the track The Shade, from their 2019 album "The Red Flower", cares to build a heavy atmosphere, a universe really, with planets that orbit around it. As it starts slowly on guitar and bass, more guitars and drums start constructing the dense sounds, Peter Koenig's voice, husky and with a hushed growl further builds the story, the atmosphere enhanced by Michelle Medrano's backing harmonies. At this point you know an eruption is going to happen, you just don't know when. That eruption, maybe the creation of the sun in this universe is big and potent. It is alternative rock free of any sort of other genre or sonic perk. There is no half step post punk dissonance, shoe gaze wash or indie rock synth piercing through (at least not that I can hear), it is just big emotional alternative rock and there is something ultimately refreshing about that. All players rock and Koenig's husky growl turns into passionate wails during the big eruption and god, I love the heaviness. 

Bees and Enormous Tiger are Peter Koenig (guitar / vocals), Alex Koenig (drums), Jake Dane (bass), Sam Lloyd (guitar) and Michelle Medrano (vocals).

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Robb Donker



THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

I met a homeless man while painting a mural in Tallahassee. He was an artist as well, selling photocopied pictures of his pencil drawings. I bought a few and sat to talk with him a while. He was missing a few fingers from his left hand and had lost his forearm on his right side, apparently from his own doing. He assured me that they would grow back soon. He wondered why no one would believe this miracle, as it would provide considerable advances in medical science. The song is about self sacrifice for the perceived benefit of another, when in reality your sacrifice may only hurt yourself.