Marrying soaring guitar pop and dazzling harmonies with electronic atmospherics, The Republic Tigers manages to straddle the contemporary and vintage. And while you might hear glimmers of the Shins or Caribou, this Tigers’ roar is distinctly original.

May’s turning out to be pretty sweet for the Missouri-based Tigers. The band released its first record, Keep Color on Chop Shop Records, a new label from Alex Patsavas, who, as the savvy music supervisor for prime time guilty pleasures Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl and dead-and-buried teen soap the O.C., made indie rock commercially viable.

And, as if that's not enough, Queerty recently showcased the Tigers’ first single, “Buildings and Mountains." That is a pretty high honor, yes, but the boys are especially jazzed for their television debut on tonight’s Late Show with David Letterman.

Queerty correspondent and fellow Missouri native Megan Metzger spoke with Kenn Jankowski, the Republic Tigers ringleader, about rock ‘n’ roll in the Heart of America, road life and stealing from Sarah Jessica Parker.

Read all about it - after the jump.

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The Republic Tigers are rapidly becoming one of our favorite American bands. Witness their aural powers via this video for "Buildings & Mountains," which comes from their first full-length, Keep Color.