Miniature Tigers' sound was forged in the bedroom of frontman Charlie Brand, only to quickly outgrow the space, with the band soon finding itself on stage, in the studio and signed to Phoenix’s Modern Art Records in short order. Brand’s lyrics – a mix of deeply personal insights and playful references to the disparate cultural artifacts that have informed his existence – and effortlessly constructed indie-pop arrangements have made fans in his native Phoenix and beyond. The fans stretch to Los Angeles, where Brand reconnected with drummer, collaborator and fellow charter member of the band Rick Schaier while living in Hollywood, and far beyond thanks to the Internet, which it seems people are into these days.
Miniature Tigers’ debut album "Tell it to the Volcano" runs the lyrical gamut, taking inspiration from and referencing TV’s Lost (which rates a Dharma Initiative sticker on Brand’s acoustic) as easily as it probes the joy and heartbreak of Charlie’s own life, while managing not to take itself too seriously. Brand wrote the album while on the lam – not from the law, but rather from a relationship he described as "brutal." He left Phoenix to clear his head, landing in Los Angeles and collaborating with his friend Rick to complete the long-gestating album. It was his catharsis – with cannibals and volcanoes stepping in for the real-world problems that had both beset and inspired him. In the end the album represents Charlie’s effort to codify, examine, and ultimately move past a 2-year stretch of his life.
Charlie and Rick are joined in their live incarnation by friends and collaborators Lou Kummerer on bass and Lawrence Hearn on lead guitar and keyboards, for performances that seem to give equal time to playing songs and intra-band joking. They aim for a controlled chaos aesthetic that eschews "auto-pilot" at all costs.
In an effort to further confound the expectations of those around the band, they chose to have their video directed by someone who had never helmed one before…or at least never an authorized music video. The band tapped "Yacht Rock" creator JD Ryznar to direct their video for Cannibal Queen in the hopes he would recreate the magic of his wildly popular Internet video series. Ryznar quickly assimilated the band’s aesthetic and turned in a video equal parts "Weird Science" and "Frankenstein," to the band’s delight.
Hot Venom
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stronger than I am on my own
Before too long I'll wake up to it gone
Wondering how I ever was happy
Hot venom is mixin' with my blood
I can feel it on my fingers and taste it on her tongue
It feels so good to fall in love with you
Her power turns me on
Turns me up on high and lets me burn
You can't go back now, that's not how this works
And as long as she's gone I can never be happy
Hot venom is mixin' with my blood
I can feel it on my fingers and taste it on her tongue
It feels so good to fall in love with you
Hot venom is mixin' with my blood
I can feel it on my fingers and taste it on her tongue
It feels so good to fall in love with you
The lyrics of Miniature Tigers’ “Hot Venom” depict the feeling of falling in love and the power that comes with it. The singer compares his lover’s venom to a drug, something that makes him feel stronger than he is on his own. The lyrics convey a sense of addiction and dependency, as he cannot imagine being happy without her. However, the lyrics also suggest that this love is temporary, and that he will eventually wake up and wonder how he was ever content without it.
The song’s recurring metaphor of venom suggests that the relationship is a potentially dangerous one. Like venom coursing through the bloodstream, love can be intoxicating and overwhelming. The lyrics describe the lover’s power to “turn [him] up on high and let [him] burn,” implying both passion and pain. The repetition of the line “hot venom is mixin’ with my blood” further emphasizes the intensity and all-consuming nature of their connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Her venom makes me strong
The singer feels empowered by their lover's influence and presence in their life.
Stronger than I am on my own
The singer realizes they are less capable without their lover's assistance and support.
Before too long I'll wake up to it gone
The singer acknowledges that the relationship may end at some point and worries about how they will cope without it.
Wondering how I ever was happy
The artist realizes that their happiness is directly tied to their lover's presence and can't imagine being content without them.
Hot venom is mixin' with my blood
The artist describes the intense and intoxicating feeling they get from being with their lover and how it seems to be affecting them physically.
I can feel it on my fingers and taste it on her tongue
The singer describes the tactile sensation of being with their lover and how their affection is experienced through all their senses.
It feels so good to fall in love with you
The singer expresses their joy and satisfaction in being with their lover and falling in love with them.
Her power turns me on
The artist finds their lover's influence and control over them to be sexually attractive and stimulating.
Turns me up on high and lets me burn
The artist is moved to a heightened emotional state and feels consumed and overpowered by their love for their partner.
You can't go back now, that's not how this works
The artist acknowledges that their relationship is a commitment and that breaking up or going back is not an option.
And as long as she's gone I can never be happy
The singer recognizes that their happiness is directly tied to their lover's presence and cannot conceive of a life without them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE BRAND, RICK SCHAIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind