The songbirds from Tilly and the Wall are planning a trip to the theatre. Just before musical Blood Brothers is due to start, Kiana speaks for all; “we wanted to see a show” whilst they were in London. The wine bar, classy from the outside, frightful from the inside has its walls plastered in theatrical props. It is in the basement of the Phoenix Theatre and has a menacing ‘Members only’ sign hanging at the entrance. However, like a lot of other things in the bar, it may be for stage-style comedy value only.
The members of Tilly and the Wall [bar Jamie, who is resting after a particular rampant trip sightseeing in London] are gathered round a small table in the middle of the room. Chief writer and instigator Derek sits along with the bells and voices Kiana and Neely by his side. Keyboard player Nick sits in the middle. A head of a grinning reptile looms above Kiana’s head, and a gilt-framed oil painting of a tasteful nude hangs at the back.
The scene is pretty fitting for this is a band in which all members share similar effervescent personalities, from Kiana’s assertiveness and blatant confidence, to Derek’s giggly modesty. They share banter, literally like school friends, laughing, teasing and butting in with comments. “I went sightseeing the other day, I saw Westminster Abbey, Big Ben all that stuff!” says Neely, talking about her tourist escapades in London. “Yeah, the palace,” Derek joins in with admirable excitement. “You went to Buckingham?” asks Nick, “Yeah,” Derek nods happily. “I just went outside,” he adds, “We walked through St James’ park and that was my favourite part. All the squirrels. I love squirrels, but they are so skinny here!” All eyes and ears are focused, “so skinny! People feed ‘em, they just walk up, [doing a smug squirrel impression accepting food…] on its hind legs and go, [snaps his jaw loudly]”. “CUTE!” exclaims Neely, “We need to go do that” Derek continues sheepishly, clearly on a roll with animal tales, “And they have amazing birds! Like all different kinds of birds! Like ducks and stuff. I have tonnes of video, it’s like tonnes of weird bird footage.”
Apart from bird-watching and sightseeing, Tilly and the Wall – named after a book about an ambitious mouse – are embarking on a European tour, including a few dates in various London venues. “There’s been so many kids coming up to the shows, we weren’t expecting that at all!” says Neely. “We weren’t expecting anyone,” humbly adds Derek, as one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s gentle productions resounds in the background. Back in the States, they have already finished recording their new album. Their male-female vocals have given them the ‘US-Magic Numbers’ tag that they are keen to shake off – theirs is music with much more wit, instrumental layering and emotion. Undoubtedly they bring a harmonious 60s vibe, they join the dots between artists such as Mamas and Papas, The Monkees and East Coast psychedelia.
The songs on debut album ‘Wild Like Children’ were recorded and produced by chief Bright Eyes member Conor Oberst and Neely’s roommate Steve. Neely recalls Conor’s reaction to the band; “He liked what he heard and he’d seen us play a couple of shows, and he said, ‘if you guys ever want any help, I’d love to record you” she continues, “So we were like ‘Hell yeah!’” The album’s stand-out track, 'Night of the Living Dead' is a bitter-sweet song, written to mourn Derek’s dead college buddy. In the song they tell God; ‘Put down your gun//can’t you see we’re dead?’ which Derek wrote as an anthem to celebrate life. “People are just worried about [death] a lot and we’re living right now, that’s what’s important,” says Kiana, and Derek adds, “It’s sort of like saying ‘Fuck it I give up’ to be alive? That’s gonna make you free. If that makes any sense,” Blonde senses Derek’s frustration, “It’s hard to verbalise it,” she says, “Right!” a relived Derek sinks back in his chair.
All members have been in other bands previous to Tilly, but as they point out, this is the only outfit that has taken them as far as Europe. “The other times, it was fun, but it didn’t go very far, we’ve all put so much effort into making this a career in a way,” says Neely. “This time it was the perfect five people and this time was the right time for people to want to hear what we were doing,” Kiana adds.
Tilly and the Wall decided the other day that they have been together for four years, officially. “Forty?” asks Neely, “Forty five years!” she jokes. “No, four years,” Nick corrects her and everyone laughs loudly. They have an ex-teacher tap-dancing in the band instead of a drummer. “Jamie said, ‘I’m gonna put on my tap shoes and keep a beat to the band’,” explains Kiana, “but Jamie also played guitar and wrote songs and sang at the beginning. It just happened that she also owned a pair of [tap dancing] shoes and she had danced before. It’s like someone tapping their foot for the rhythm, but she just does it with a lot more talent!” After that, they didn’t think or talk about getting a drummer to join them. The shoe, excuse the pun, fit perfectly.
Jenny Pashkova