"The Gentle Waves"
"The Gentle Waves"
Though sadly short-lived, Tiger Trap emerged as one of the most beloved indie-pop bands of the 1990s. The group was formed in Sacramento, CA in 1992 by singers/guitarists Rose Melberg and Angela Loy, schoolmates who soon recruited bassist Jen Braun and drummer Heather Dunn to complete the lineup; within weeks of their formation, Tiger Trap – so named in reference to a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip – issued their debut single "Words and Smiles," a split release with Bratmobile which appeared on the Four Letter Words label. Jumping to K, the band issued the "Supercrush" single, followed in 1993 by their self-titled debut LP; the record was a major underground favorite, with its spiky melodies, lovely harmonies and sweet-and-sour lyrics striking a chord throughout the indie community. Sadly, after just one more EP, Sour Grass, Tiger Trap disbanded in the wake of a December 1993 concert in San Francisco, although a handful of compilation tracks appeared posthumously; in the years to follow, Melberg remained the most prolific member of the outfit, recording as one half of the Softies as well as with Go Sailor! and Gaze. Dunn, meanwhile, frequently drummed in support of Lois.