Tribes Grow From Wallet-Stealing to Opening for the Pixies, Releasing Debut LP

Rachel Been

When it came time to mobilize a fanbase, London band Tribes chose to start simply, in a place many would consider outdated in this day and age. Rather than take to Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp or any other social networking sites, the four-piece decided to forgo a Web presence in favor of more homegrown initiatives.

"We actually postered our gigs, which is totally unheard of in London," singer Johnny Lloyd tells Spinner in a thin voice that belies his plaintive onstage wail. "We put posters everywhere, flyered them and gave our mates a crate of beer if they went out and did all that."

Tribes have always done things in a slightly unorthodox way, including how guitarist Dan White met drummer Miguel Demelo. "Dan stole Miguel's wallet at a party when they were about 15," Lloyd says. "You can't leave anything lying around with Dan. He steals on a daily basis, I imagine. I just haven't caught him yet."