Local Spotlight

Daniel Tiger: Mystery & Mayhem

originally published September 19, 2001

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Nine months ago, Don Gooch (AKA "Daniel Tiger") advertised for a guitar player, bassist and drummer. Almost immediately, he received calls from bassist T.J. (AKA "Johnny Cho-Cha"), and guitarist Steve Chambliss (AKA "Steve Bliss"). Chambliss called drummer Len Dean (AKA "Dallas") with whom he grew up in south Georgia. The four have been playing together ever since.

The band name is derived from the title of a children's book Gooch is writing, but there's an apparent dichotomy between the band's name and its music. The lyrics are, well, pretty grim. As T.J. tactfully puts it, "They're honest rock songs."

Gooch tries to explain the hostility: "I tell my therapist I don't know where these songs come from. I don't feel this angry or hateful. I think it's just my single outlet, because otherwise I'd be a serial killer" "They sound so happy," adds T.J.

The "sound" varies from pop-rock to hardcore punk. Think of The Pixies' dissonance, Weezer's harmonic vocals and poppy chord changes, and the Dead Milkmen's humor.

"Great music is all about dynamics," says Gooch. "You've got soft, hard, soft, hard - not just in terms of loudness but in terms of catchy little pop hooks and dissonance. That juxtaposition is what makes great music to me."

While there's also dichotomy between personalities, audiences can hear and even see the bond between each member. Gooch's humor and seriousness mix well with Chambliss' constant witty responses. T.J.'s vitality and Dean's ease counterbalance nicely. Especially during live shows.

"We usually get pretty brutal," says T.J.

"I've never left a show not bleeding," adds Gooch. "We had to revive T.J. at [recent] Ultramod Compound and Tasty World shows. He knocked himself out cold."

Daniel Tiger & The Mysterious Toybox plays at Tasty World on Friday, September 21.

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