Biography
Nick 13 first rose to notice heading the aggressive psychobilly outfit Tiger Army, where he handled guitar, vocals, and songwriting, before later channeling his interest in classic country through a separate solo path that extended his standing in punk and rockabilly circles. Kearny Nick Jones entered the world in San Jose, California, then chose the stage name Nick 13 both to salute his earliest group, Influence 13, and to set himself apart from other musicians named Nick after he moved into Northern California’s East Bay scene in 1994.
He launched the initial Tiger Army lineup in 1996 and played their first concert at Berkeley’s storied punk space, 924 Gilman Street. Although the band thrived near home, it quickly attracted fervent support across Southern California, above all in Orange County, which eventually led the members to relocate farther south.
In 1999 the trio recorded an EP for the small independent punk outlet Chapter 11 Records; after Rancid guitarist Tim Armstrong heard the disc he placed the group on his Epitaph-distributed imprint Hellcat Records. The self-titled Tiger Army debut arrived later that year, with the follow-up, Tiger Army II: Power of Moonlite, appearing in summer 2001. Nick remained the project’s sole unchanging member, supplying lead vocals, guitar, and all the material while drummers and upright bassists rotated through the ranks. Though the band’s raw energy invited comparisons to Social Distortion and the Misfits, Nick occasionally tempered the pace with a country-flavored number. Persistent touring and a potent stage presence built a devoted audience, allowing Tiger Army to headline internationally, support artists ranging from AFI to Morrissey, sell out multiple nights at major California venues, and stage its own yearly Octoberflame event.
At the 2009 Octoberflame festival Nick performed a brief solo set in addition to Tiger Army’s show and disclosed that he was developing material for a solo album, though he emphasized that Tiger Army would stay his central concern. The record had been slated for 2010, yet writer’s block intervened, prompting a period in Nashville to regroup and gain new surroundings. After returning to California later that year, he tracked his self-titled solo debut with roots specialists Greg Leisz and James Intveld serving as producers and core session players; the ten songs evoke the classic California country style of the 1950s and ’60s and reached stores via Sugar Hill Records in June 2011.
He launched the initial Tiger Army lineup in 1996 and played their first concert at Berkeley’s storied punk space, 924 Gilman Street. Although the band thrived near home, it quickly attracted fervent support across Southern California, above all in Orange County, which eventually led the members to relocate farther south.
In 1999 the trio recorded an EP for the small independent punk outlet Chapter 11 Records; after Rancid guitarist Tim Armstrong heard the disc he placed the group on his Epitaph-distributed imprint Hellcat Records. The self-titled Tiger Army debut arrived later that year, with the follow-up, Tiger Army II: Power of Moonlite, appearing in summer 2001. Nick remained the project’s sole unchanging member, supplying lead vocals, guitar, and all the material while drummers and upright bassists rotated through the ranks. Though the band’s raw energy invited comparisons to Social Distortion and the Misfits, Nick occasionally tempered the pace with a country-flavored number. Persistent touring and a potent stage presence built a devoted audience, allowing Tiger Army to headline internationally, support artists ranging from AFI to Morrissey, sell out multiple nights at major California venues, and stage its own yearly Octoberflame event.
At the 2009 Octoberflame festival Nick performed a brief solo set in addition to Tiger Army’s show and disclosed that he was developing material for a solo album, though he emphasized that Tiger Army would stay his central concern. The record had been slated for 2010, yet writer’s block intervened, prompting a period in Nashville to regroup and gain new surroundings. After returning to California later that year, he tracked his self-titled solo debut with roots specialists Greg Leisz and James Intveld serving as producers and core session players; the ten songs evoke the classic California country style of the 1950s and ’60s and reached stores via Sugar Hill Records in June 2011.
Albums
