Denise CaJacob, Author at The Source

Ghost Tigers From Beyond: Tiger Army is coming, lock up your caskets

You should see his underwear. The word “psycho” conjures many images: psycho killer, psycho ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, psychosomatic, psychologist, psychosexual, any number of suffixes will bring about

Denise CaJacobAugust 5, 2008June 3, 2024

You should see his underwear. The word "psycho" conjures many images: psycho killer, psycho ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, psychosomatic, psychologist, psychosexual, any number of suffixes will bring about an exponentially larger number of thoughts. When you attach -billy to the prefix, the visuals shift to a highly stylized music genre, which is succinctly defined by the band Tiger Army.

The trio made its stage debut in 1996, sharing a stage with nouveau goth/emo/hairspray legends AFI at the infamous Gilman Street Project in Berkeley, Calif. Tiger Army linchpin Nicky 13 formed the band out of Influence 13, bringing band mate Geoff Kresge with him, assembling a crew that has changed throughout the years, but maintains the highly stylized visual and musical aesthetic that is psychobilly. The hair is pompadoured, the arms are heavily tattooed (these guys love the ink), jeans are pegged and the bass is upright. Tiger Army is like the sober, more cynical California cousin of The Reverend Horton Heat's Texas rockabilly legacy.

Psychobilly revels in the rock-and-roll lifestyle through ballads about Betty-Page-styled beauties that drive hearses from the graveyard to the chapel and back to the crypt, peeling out in the face of the undeserving dudes-the dudes that ditched them on prom night. The world of the Psychobilly is full of supped-up classic cars, high heels below pencil skirts listening to classics like Social Distortion and the Cramps. While we might miss out on a whole host of musical styles, Bend has actually been host to numerous psychobilly acts throughout the years including the Danish Nekromantix, Sweden's Horrorpops, So-Cal's Chop Tops and, of course, Tiger Army.

Music

Down and Dirty: The triumphant return of the Dirtball

Whose ready to get dirty?The word dirtball conjures images of scuzzy gutter dwellers, grease under the fingernails from their day job. Our Dirtball however, is

Denise CaJacobApril 23, 2008July 11, 2025

Whose ready to get dirty?The word dirtball conjures images of scuzzy gutter dwellers, grease under the fingernails from their day job. Our Dirtball however, is neither scuzzy, nor greasy. This Dirtball is a rhyme-spitting drummer who is more likely to be dusty from a camping trip than anything else. David Alexander, a.k.a. The Dirtball, started playing drums when he was seven and doesn't seem to have stopped since then. A true Central Oregon native, Alexander named his third major label release Crook County.

"I wanted to bring it home with this album. Crook County is where I raised hell my whole life. We used to party out there all the time," he said.

Culture

HERstory: More than a phrase: Bend’s ladies celebrate their legacy by showing off talent

The HDCs Jenni Peskin: She’s not only one of the minds behind HERstory, she’s also a performer.Women’s history month is upon us, and what better

Denise CaJacobFebruary 27, 2008August 26, 2023

The HDCs Jenni Peskin: She’s not only one of the minds behind HERstory, she’s also a performer.Women's history month is upon us, and what better time to celebrate
women than spring? Fertile, re-birthing, glorious spring! Though we
certainly do not forget women for the rest of the year, the National
Women's History Project successfully petitioned to have March adopted
as Women's History Month in 1987, 10 years after March 8 was designated
as International Women's Day.

Before the NWHP, even the concept of
women's history was unheard of. Throughout the 1970s the group worked
hard to promote the study and recognition of women's unique place in
the historical record. With this study comes the inevitable scrutiny of
the word "history" itself and in this era that has witnessed
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, most people can break it down to
read "his story." During the cultural revolution referred to as Women's
Liberation, the term "HERstory" was coined to refer to the study of the
past in which women play more than a wifely role. This year the NWHP
has chosen the theme of "Women's Art: Women's Vision." Women chosen to
be honorees by the organization include painters, sculptors and
printmakers.

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