Live4MusiC

By Victoria Barker

 

GROWING up, Neon Trees frontman Tyler Glenn had what you might call a "Billy Elliot complex".

Glenn, 28, loved performing as a child, and began taking dance lessons at the age of four.

But, like the fictional Elliot, his hobby made him the subject of bullying in school. It got so bad that he abandoned his passion at age 12.

On the line with my paper from California, where the alternative- rock band were playing shows, Glenn revealed: "I ended up feeling like I wasn't allowed (to love dance)...so I left it behind."

That's why the guy - who was also part of the choir in high school - was stoked that Neon Trees' biggest hit to date, Animal, was featured on musical- comedy series Glee.

"I get a lot of the inside jokes and the vibe and the geekiness of it," he said. "I appreciate that (the arts) have been embraced in that very comedic, fantastical way...to show (those kinds of) kids that they belong."

Neon Trees - comprising Glenn, guitarist Chris Allen, drummer Elaine Bradley and bassist Branden Campbell - will play their first Singapore date on Tuesday at Fort Canning Park.

Since being handpicked by The Killers' drummer Ronnie Vannucci to open for the Las Vegas rockers on a slew of tour dates in 2008, the Utah-based outfit have gone from strength to strength.

Their debut album, Habits, was well-received, and Animal hit No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Neon Trees - which formed in 2005 - have since toured with bands like My Chemical Romance and 30 Seconds To Mars.

Despite attaining fame and success, Glenn has his head screwed on straight.

"As much as I enjoy feeling that I can create this (rock-star) persona, I don't want to be looked at as someone to be idolised," he said.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't go all out to engage his audience, especially during live shows (he's known to incorporate his "unorthodox, flailing dancing" into the band's shows, as this reporter witnessed at a recent London gig).

Asked what people can expect at their show here, Glenn said: "I encourage people to really let their hair down... It'll be very energetic and entertaining, I promise you that." 

By Hester Tan, channelnewsasia.com



SINGAPORE: American Alternative rock band, Neon Trees, known for hits like "Animal" and "1983" is finally coming to town, to kick-start their first ever Asian tour. 

Set to perform at Fort Canning Park on 26 July, the four-member band says fans should pack loads of energy for their show.

"You can expect a lot of energy. We think it's really important to put on a good live show. We don't wanna be a band that just gets up and plays the album like it is, you know you could've just listened to the CD than come to see us" said drummer Elaine Bradley in a phone interview.

"We wanna make the live shows something really exciting, so I think you can expect energy, we like to kinda have a shared energy with the crowds. We demand a lot on the crowd, you know, to dance and sing with us and basically just have a good time with us." 

The four-member band from Utah which includes lead singer Tyler Green, base guitarist Branden Campbell, and guitarist Chris Allen are excited to be headed to Asia. 

"We're just excited to be in the country, because none of us have ever been [to Singapore before].

"It's a really big deal. We don't know what to expect but [we're] really excited to come. Hopefully we'll have a day off and have fun exploring. 

"We are the type of people that really enjoy finding good food, so we hope that someone from Singapore will tell us where the best local food is."

Food seems important for this young band, since as Bradley revealed, "we're the band that is named after a fast food restaurant!"

"Tyler and his friends used to hang out at 'In and Out' restaurant in California" said Bradley of the early high school days of her band-mates, adding that "in that particular restaurant's interior, they have these glass neon palm tree lights and he and his friends used to joke about being in the band called 'Neon Palm Trees'.

"Later when he and Chris got together and played music, the name Neon Trees kinda sticks, so they kept the name." 

There's definitely no lack of imagination for this group who are working on their upcoming album.

"[We are in] the process of doing some demos, and we're gonna get together after this Asian run and start writing some more new stuff.

"I think we really want the second album to be high energy and fun. We definitely don't wanna come out with a second album that's nothing like the first one."

After their first performance in Singapore, the band will be heading to Indonesia, Australia, South Korean, Japan and even China before going back to work on their second album.

-CNA/ht 

By I-S staff

What inspires you on a day to day basis? 
Financial need [laughs]. Basically writing songs that will be fun to play live. We’re pretty sensitive to not appearing like assholes on stage so much so that if a song feels wrong or it’s not clicking well when we’re performing we’ll actually drop it altogether.

If you had to choose your favorite record of all time what would it be? 
The new Wild Beasts record Smother is what I’m listening to most right now but Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and David Bowie’s Low would also definitely make it onto my list

How was it recording your fourth studio album Barbara with a new drummer? 
Our new drummer Andy Burrows (of Razorlight fame) was in London, me and Keith were in New York and our producer was in LA so it was a pain in the ass to arrange everyone’s schedule. But it ran much more smoothly and amicably than previous records. Andy came in as a very like-minded songwriter and respected what the band had done previously whilst being excited to add to it.

What can fans expect from your gig here? 
I think we’re in the height of the process of becoming a really great live band. It definitely helps to have Andy along full-time for the tour because it feels like we have a huge artillery van behind us, driving us on.

Is there anything you’re most looking forward to whilst in Singapore? 
My parents travel a lot and Singapore is the one city in Asia that they would consider moving to. The island is definitely a mystery that I’m really excited to explore.

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