Although declared "one of the 25 best bands on MySpace" by Rolling Stone in late 2006, Miniature Tigers waited two additional years to release their debut, the pop-minded Tell It to the Volcano. The band was founded by songwriter Charlie Brand, an Arizona native who avoided his state's sky-high temperatures by writing songs in his bedroom. The resulting material paired Brand's acoustic guitar with a wide range of pop influences -- the Cars' strut, Weezer's snark, Phil Spector's polish -- and Miniature Tigers soon inked a deal with Modern Art Records, a label co-founded by fellow Phoenix-based group Chronic Future. With drummer Rick Schaier, guitarist Algernon Quashie, and bassist Alex Gerber also on board, Miniature Tigers released Tell It to the Volcano in September 2008, followed one month later by the band's first national tour. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
