On Tuesday night, the music scene was treated to one of the biggest surprises of the year. The Republic Tigers, a Kansas City band that made it big then took a break, returned to the scene with a surprise show at the Jackpot. This was their first show in two and a half years.

For the incredibly low price of $3, fans who were keen to the news (by noticing the marquee in the window) got to experience the band’s return. Sometime after 10:30 p.m., they took the stage and played a well-rounded set full of thrilling and exciting songs. Every tune was a winner, and the eager crowd was more than ready to dance along to the music.

I Heart Local Music talked to The Republic Tigers about why they felt the need to reappear with a super hush hush set at the Jackpot on a Tuesday night. “We wanted to come back in the same skin,” they told us. “We needed a restart.”

This bodes well for the band. They shot to fame in 2008, embarked on a world tour and appeared on television (this includes a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman). Last year they announced their second full length album, but recently the group has been laying low… until now.

Watch a video of their exciting performance below:

Words and photos by Fally Afani