The Tiger Lillies
Vaudeville nightmares and gutter-poetry sung in a haunting falsetto. It is the sound of a Victorian circus performing in a modern dive bar.
Vaudeville nightmares and gutter-poetry sung in a haunting falsetto. It is the sound of a Victorian circus performing in a modern dive bar.
The Tiger Lillies sound like a fever dream from a pre-war Berlin cabaret that has been dragged through the grime of 1980s Soho. Martyn Jacques’ signature falsetto is both beautiful and deeply unsettling, floating over the wheeze of an accordion and the rhythmic thrum of an upright bass. It is music that feels ancient and dangerously modern all at once.
What truly sets them apart is their commitment to the 'dark' in dark cabaret. They don't just lean into the aesthetic; they inhabit the lives of the marginalized, the criminal, and the damned with a mixture of savage wit and genuine pathos. Their songs function like macabre short stories, blending the grotesque with the heartbreaking in a way that few other artists dare to attempt.
Start with 'Shockheaded Peter' for their most theatrical work, or 'Cold Night in Soho' to hear their more grounded, yet still haunting, reflections on urban decay. It is the perfect soundtrack for those who find beauty in the shadows and prefer their humor with a sharp, jagged edge.
The Tiger Lillies are a British musical trio formed in 1989 by singer-songwriter Martyn Jacques. Described as the forefathers of Brechtian Punk Cabaret, the Tiger Lillies are known for their unique sound and style which merges "the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin with the savage edge of punk".
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