84 Tigers Honor the Late Travis Dopp with Poignant „Two Rivers“ Video Featuring Rocky Votolato
In the wake of profound loss, the Michigan alt-rock trio transforms grief into a communal anthem of healing. With the release of their new music video for “Two Rivers,” featuring Rocky Votolato, 84 Tigers prove that while everything we love may hurt us someday, music remains the ultimate catharsis.
When brothers Mike and Ben Reed (formerly of the legendary Small Brown Bike) teamed up with longtime friend Jono Diener (The Swellers) to form 84 Tigers, they brought with them a pedigree of post-hardcore urgency and 90s alternative grit. Their 2022 debut, Time in the Lighthouse, was a widescreen blast of melodic hooks and raw energy. However, the journey toward their latest LP, Nothing Ends (out now via Spartan Records), was paved with a much heavier emotional toll: the sudden passing of their dear friend and bandmate, Travis Dopp.
A Cosmic Collaboration: „Two Rivers“
The emotional centerpiece of the new album is undoubtedly “Two Rivers.” The band has just unveiled a hauntingly beautiful music video for the track, featuring a prominent appearance by acclaimed singer-songwriter Rocky Votolato.
The song serves as a deeply personal tribute to Dopp, even weaving his own lyrics into the narrative. Mike Reed describes the collaboration with Votolato as „cosmic fate.“ After discovering they had both independently written songs featuring „River“ in the title, Votolato joined the project, elevating the track to what Reed calls „new heights.“
The accompanying video, filmed and edited by Ben Reed, captures the raw essence of the band’s Michigan roots—gathering by a fire in the woods near a river. It is a visual representation of remembrance: quiet, flickering, and enduring.
Turning Devastation into Defiance
The road to Nothing Ends was not an easy one. Mike Reed admits to struggling with the creative process following Dopp’s death, questioning if the energy had left his songwriting altogether. The breakthrough came with a mantra that eventually defined the album’s spirit: “Tears in your eyes. Fist in the air.”
Produced by Marc Jacob Hudson, the album is a masterclass in three-piece dynamics. It balances the aching sorrow of „Two Rivers“ with the hopeful resonance of tracks like „Only Light“ and the high-energy „Regeneration Days,“ which features Aaron Stauffer of Seaweed/Ghost Work. The record doesn’t shy away from the pain of loss—culminating in the sobering closing refrain, „Everything you love will hurt you someday“—but it refuses to be defeated by it.
84 Tigers Live: Honoring the Legacy
Fans will have the opportunity to experience this catharsis live in the coming months. The band is set to play a landmark 40th-anniversary show for Flint Local 432 in Michigan on April 11th, followed by a high-profile appearance at Pouzza Fest in Montreal on May 15th, sharing the stage with Baroness.
The Verdict: Nothing Ends is more than just a collection of songs; it is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the necessity of moving forward without forgetting what came before. With „Two Rivers,“ 84 Tigers have created something communal and healing—a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is a path through the woods.
Order & Stream:
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Watch „Two Rivers“: YouTube Link
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Order the LP: Spartan Records
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Stream the Album: Listen Here
Upcoming Tour Dates:
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April 11, 2026: Factory Two, Flint, MI (w/ Big Donut, Suburban Delinquents)
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May 15, 2026: Pouzza Fest, Montreal, QC (w/ Baroness)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfEwuIU4rWQ
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