THE RIDER: Tiny Gun's Top 10
Ahead of their FREE show TONIGHT with Pan Arcadia at Baby's All Right, the band on bits, Budweiser and properly sized pants
“No worries if not”—with two to 12 exclamation points tagged onto the end, obviously—is the signature verbal (+ texting) tick of the millennial. An overly courteous one-line rally cry and an anxious addition that ~our people~ might drop when asking for a massive favor like, idk, passing the salt. Or we might use it as a polite addendum after a highly irrational request such as, say, not getting our organs harvested. (“Could I maybe keep just *one* kidney? NO WORRIES IF NOT!!!!!!”)
Beyond that, it’s also the name of the debut studio EP from Kareem Rahma’s Tiny Gun—and that v rad record just so happens to be out everywhere now!
Every creative in this city has to be a multi-hyphenate (swear to god, some of you people’s resumes demand like seventeen dashes!), so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we originally fell in love with Kareem Rahma via Subway Takes, an internet micro-interview series that takes place on the subway—not in a Subway—and features commuters making their case into a MetroCard-affixed mic. (He’s also got Keep The Meter Running, where taxi drivers turn tour guides and take him around the city to their favorite spots.)
When you really appreciate someone’s art, naturally you want a whole lot more of it, so we were beyond psyched to discover that Kareem wasn’t just filming entertaining conversations inside various vehicles, but that he’s an artist in the musical sense as well. Specifically, the singer in an NYC band. Which, as you well know, is something we can totally get behind.
Tiny Gun was initially built upon the idea of “turn[ing] bits into bangers,” as Kareem and producer Tyler McCauley came together to make music “for the hell of it” just-post-pandemic. As the project progressed, then came the recruitment of drummer Dale Eisinger, guitarist Joe Tirabassi and bassist Matt Morello, transforming what was once a pair of talented pals into a full-blown five-piece band.
But while the project has grown, they’re still having fun (+ have maintained a dedication to both bangers n bits). A sense of enjoyment that is very much evident in the music video for “Baby I Could Never Win”….
Which takes place in a limo this time, demonstrating that our dude has definitely upgraded. (For like three minutes and 16 seconds, at least.)
"’Baby I Could Never Win’ is the first track of our EP,” says Tyler, who also plays guitar. “Kareem wrote the vocals in basically one pass after showing him an instrumental track I had mostly forgotten about, and it quickly became our favorite song to play live. Sometimes songs just come together magically, and this was one of those.”
As for when you can experience that magic by catching Tiny Gun live, that would be… about 12 hours from now. Specifically, at a FREE show at Baby’s All Right—also featuring BdBK bffs Pan Arcadia—TONIGHT!
Then read on for Tiny Gun’s edition of THE RIDER—a list featuring sofas, fruit snacks and not one single small firearm <3
In the words of the band: “Fuck it: Tiny Gun is here to party.”
Bang-bang, baby!
TINY GUN’S TOP 10
1. Correctly sized pants
We talk about the current state of men’s pants constantly in our group chat. We’re like three years into the great pants re-widening, and all of us are still figuring out what it means for the pants we should wear onstage. Honestly, any man in your life living in a major metro area is probably dealing with a lot of pants anxiety. Is he ready to be the big pants guy? If you see a dude pulling off an auspiciously wide leg, tell him he looks good. He’ll appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.
2. Bits
The best part of being in a band is the bits. The jokes at rehearsal, at the show, in the group chat — can’t be beat. Is the cure to male loneliness doing bits with the boys? Perhaps.
3. Backlines
We are in the golden age of backlines. As a drummer, there’s nothing quite as swaggy as throwing a snare drum in the Citibike basket, putting a backpack of cymbals on, and pedaling to the gig. So much of rock ‘n’ roll used to be schlepping. It’s genuinely uncool to try and get a fit off while struggling with a giant amp, and in a city like New York it’s so sick for a band to not have to move our gear from the venue to the practice space (if the band is lucky enough to afford one) and back. Is it representative of bands having less economic power than ever before? Maybe. But it’s also the pure cool of just showing up and ripping the gig.
4. Good sound people
New York is filled with them, and nothing feels better than having a great sound person. It’s akin to the security of being the little spoon, safe and warm in a great monitor mix. Shout out Robert at Union Pool specifically, he’s the dude, but NYC luckily has so many great sound people working at even the smallest venues in the city.
5. Earplugs
When I (Joe, guitar) was in school I took a recording tech class with an old timer named Gary Filadelfo. The biggest point he made to a bunch of sleepy college students was that we should be wearing earplugs. At the time, I was like “shut up old man” but now I regret it because tinnitus sucks shit. I can’t hear shit. If I’m in crowded bars or restaurants I get maybe like 20% of a conversation. So, wear earplugs. At concerts, at rehearsal, on the subway. You’re not going to look uncool. No one cares. Wake up the next day without ringing in your ears.
6. Childcare
This is a band of 4/5 dads, so shout out to affordable childcare and our partners for doing bedtime on show nights. Fuck Eric Adams for playing games with universal pre-K.
7. A big, comfy couch
Whenever I (Kareem, singer) get an Airbnb, the number one requisite is a big, comfy couch. It’s the most important thing. The green room is no different. A couch needs to be able to comfortably seat 5 grown ups and also give options for different positions. Maybe one person is lying down, maybe another one is sitting up with their legs crossed, maybe someone else is doing a traditional sit. The band needs to feel at ease before the show and the best way to make that happen is by offering a big comfy couch. Bonus points if there is also a coffee table to throw your feet up on.
8. Fruit snacks
It’s nice to have something to suck on before the show so that you don’t drink too many beers. The preference is something reliable and soft like Swedish Fish or Welch’s fruit snacks. These are often found at the crafty table on film sets because there is something magical in them (sugar).
9. JHS pedals
If we’re doing a gear-specific shout, I (Tyler, guitar) have to say I can’t live without JHS pedals. They’re all over our records – I think they’re on every track we’ve ever released? – and I swear by their Expandora clone the Kilt specifically for the best lead fuzz tone I’ve ever summoned onstage. I was indoctrinated by their Pedal Show on YouTube, but their shit slaps, from the Colour Box to the aforementioned Kilt to the Morning Glory. It’s a love that’s hurt my wallet, but has been invaluable to the almighty altar of tone.
10. Light domestic beers
Fuck all the way off with an IPA. We know this isn’t a hot take any more, but there is no beer greater than a Budweiser. We will not be convinced otherwise.
[Editor’s note: “100% AGREE!” — iykyk]
Top 10 above written + submitted by Tiny Gun. Follow the band at @tiny.gun buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the band.