Tiger High puts Memphis garage rock back on the map with ‘Myth Is This’ debut

Memphis-based garage rock quartet Tiger High distributed their debut studio record, “Myth Is This,” in 2012. Read all about the album’s Phil Spector, Wall of Sound-inspired aesthetic — reverb and tons of delayed echo — albeit with a psychedelic, punk rock edge. Left to right are drummer Greg Roberson, lead singer-guitarist Jake Vest, keyboardist Toby Vest [Jake’s elder brother], and then-bassist Greg Faison. Photography by Dan Ball / Courtesy of Trashy Creatures Records

Tiger High’s Myth Is This is an unbelievably strong debut album for an up and coming indie garage rock band. Featuring passionate vocals and tight instrumentation, the record proves that there is an alternative to the auto-tuned, unimaginatively programmed beats permeating much of modern radio.

Tiger High is a tight knit group of musicians all born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. A melting pot for rock and roll, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, and country, the city is also home to Elvis Presley, Stax Records, and Chips Moman’s American Sound Studio.

The rock quartet is composed of drummer and leader Greg Roberson [Reigning Sound, Arthur Lee’s Love, the Trashed Romeos, Jack Oblivian, Compulsive Gamblers], lead singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jake Vest [Jack Oblivian, the Trashed Romeos], and two of Vest’s longtime musical partners, brother Toby Vest on organ and Greg Faison on a vintage Epiphone Viola bass.

Tiger High is a shining example of a flourishing, self-contained outfit. All 12 songs on Myth Is This were written by the band. The record was produced by the band. Official videos for the title cut and “Carry My Love” were directed by Jake. Toby even mixed and engineered the project at his very own recording studio, High-Low Recording.