Givers

Biography

Givers is an indie pop band formed in Lafayette, Louisiana, with origins tracing back to 2005 when Hurricane Katrina displaced vocalists Tiffany Lamson and Taylor Guarisco from their New Orleans apartment and school, prompting their return to Lafayette. There, the duo began making music together amid limited opportunities, recruiting bassist/guitarist Josh LeBlanc, drummer/vocalist Kirby Campbell, flautist/saxophonist/keyboardist Nick Stephan, and initially William Henderson for a spontaneous jam session that led to their first performance at a local pub in 2008. Drawing from their backgrounds in zydeco, jazz, and Cajun music, the band debuted with the Givers EP in 2009 featuring Henderson, followed by signing to Glassnote Records on February 1, 2011, and releasing their breakthrough album In Light on June 7, 2011, highlighted by the single 'Up Up Up'.[1][2][3][5]

Givers quickly gained prominence through high-energy live shows, touring with Dirty Projectors on their east coast leg after impressing them, and performing at major festivals like South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin City Limits (ACL), Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza, as well as TV appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Their sound fuses indie pop with Afro-pop polyrhythms, art rock, soul, funk, and Caribbean elements, evolving from youthful optimism in their early work to more mature explorations of life's complexities as members entered their early 30s. The core trio of Guarisco, Lamson, and LeBlanc relocated from Lafayette to New Orleans, channeling raw, transcendent joy in their music.[1][2][3][5]

Active since 2009, Givers achieved early success but has maintained a lower profile since their 2011 breakout, with Spotify popularity at 18 as of recent data. Their jubilant performances and unique experimental edge continue to captivate audiences, blending Louisiana roots with global influences.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• The band formed spontaneously from a last-minute jam before their 2008 pub debut, born out of boredom after Hurricane Katrina displaced founders Tiffany Lamson and Taylor Guarisco.
• During a 2011 live show opening for Ra Ra Riot, Tiffany Lamson's aggressive drumming caused her sticks to fly into the crowd, which a fan retrieved and got signed.
• Givers impressed Dirty Projectors so much during a tour that it solidified their commitment to music as a career, leading to further festival bookings.
• Neil Young caught their electrifying Late Night with Jimmy Fallon performance and reflected on it in his autobiography.

Members

• Kirby Campbell
• Taylor Guarisco
• Tiffany Lamson

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Dirty Projectors - touring partners who invited Givers to open their entire east coast leg after being impressed (Fall 2010 tour) [2010]
• Ra Ra Riot - Givers opened for them at a concert (Gundlach Bundschu Winery show) [January 2011]
• Pepper Rabbit - shared bill and casual onstage/offstage interactions (Gundlach Bundschu Winery show) [January 2011]

Artists Influenced

• Neil Young - praised their Late Night with Jimmy Fallon performance in his autobiography (autobiography (stream of consciousness mention)) [post-2011]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz