photos by Andrea Schollnick
It’s a humid night in Nashville as TTNG steps on stage, patiently preparing to start the show. The crowd stares toward the group, anticipating the frantic fingering and snazzy riffs they have come to know and love from their favorite British math-rockers. As TTNG melds into their zone, the club becomes vibrant. Then almost as soon as the first song ends, silence falls across the crowd, but the energy still buzzes over the crowd, intently focused and waiting for the next tune.
“You guys are quiet,” singer Henry Tremain jokes while tuning his six-string bass.
Almost instantly his words are met with deafening screams and scattered woos.
“No that’s a good thing!” Tremain chuckles. “It means you’re paying attention.”
A “Fuck Yeah!” is launched from the back of the crowd, validating Tremain’s comments.
The upbeat demeanor and pleasantries of TTNG reflect that this isn’t their first rodeo, and that the boys cherish their career and workspaces. Having just released their third record, Disappointment Island, the band feels more comfortable than ever, and feels that not much has changed when the traditional narrative of a new album assumes otherwise.
“We don’t feel as though much has changed, we’re still the same people doing what we love and if we have we haven’t noticed” said guitarist Tim Collis.
Nonetheless, the growth has been inevitable. TTNG’s abroad popularity has increased tremendously, and Nashville’s response to the group has been overwhelmingly positive. The band also acknowledges that the response to the new record has been delightful.
“The response to the record has been great. We’ve been hearing mixed perspectives on tracks and the album which has created some positive discussions among fans,” said Collis.
As the evening winds down, and TTNG gears up for their final tracks, The High Watt begins to rumble as a nearby train chugs past the venue.
“We love the trains, it makes us feel like we’re back home, only this time we get to see them and they’re not above our heads,” Tremain says, smiling.
The idea of home seems to resonate with TTNG, because for them, home is not only the UK, but the stage underneath them, and with the people in front of them.
