Long before TAUK‘s 2012 performance at Bonnaroo or the 2013 release of their first full studio album, Homunculus, they were just a group of friends growing up on Long Island. Bassist Charlie Dolan and guitarist Matt Jalbert jammed out in the basement in middle school until, one day early in the new millennium, they decided it was time to make a band. Schoolmate Alric “A.C.” Carter joined soon after on the keyboards/organ—“we were Space Coyote back then,” he recalls—and the group has gone through a few drummers before finding Isaac Teel. Now, TAUK is furiously touring the country in preparation of the July 22nd release of their second album, Collisions.
The first track, “Friction”, is a wavy five-minute jam featuring layers of tones and intricate timing that Jalbert says “gives a little taste of everything else that we’re doing.” The number packs a harder punch with fuller layers than the tunes on their freshman album, allowing the band to show off a more complete sound. While the intricate timing and elegant composition are both still there, the band’s personality shines through more. Strong Asian and Middle Eastern influences mix with TAUK’s signature dark, progressive style in “Friction”. The song runs smoothly into the other tracks, with the whole album having a fluid feel.
“The songs on Homunculus were a little more packed in terms of composition,” says Jalbert, “whereas the songs on Collisions allow room for the band to shine.” The album features the perfect blend of measured precision and evocative experimentation for the listener’s imagination to comfortably wander without getting stranded.
The fourth track, “On Guard”, starts off with a calm melody that conjures images of a pleasant afternoon on an Asian river boat. Then the layers start piling up and, with delightfully querulous keys and a heavy bass line, TAUK has us poking around a desolate alien soundscape, slightly uneasy yet fully engrossed. The track is somehow wavily linear, impossible not to get excited about, and will have listeners nodding along in impressed contemplation.
“Tumbler”, number seven on Collisions, is another big hitter. The piece, which is based on a bass line Dolan wrote, begins with an ominous bell tolling and ends with intense shredding. Carter and Jalbert feed off each other, exuding powerfully emotional parts. Like a few songs on Collisions, Jalbert strays away from his more deliberate, plucky style and lets loose; finely articulated notes turn into emotional wails as the jam evolves. The song has a heavy feel that can be found throughout the album.
“The Drop” has some fantastic time changes and, when you hear the drop, you will be drawn toward the repeat button. “Collateral”, the last ride on Collisions, is agreeably all over the place, particularly hard rocking, and allows all four band members to go out with a bang. The tune features the energy and cohesion the band brings to both the studio and stage.
With momentum behind the Long Island quartet, they will be throwing a hometown Collisions launch party at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on July 19th. The album, due out on July 22nd, will give fans a lot to talk about.
Key Tracks: Friction, On Guard, Collateral
If you’re interested in preordering the album, click here.
Described by Peter Prince himself as “Rock-ET Soul” music, Moon Boot Lover can be thought of as rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, truly embodying the spirit and showmanship of the genre, influenced by such diverse musical acts as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, and Led Zeppelin. From their beginnings sometime in 1993 in New York City, Moon Boot Lover’s lineup is constantly rotating, but their sound is always awe-inspiring and invigorating, giving the audience a taste of music alternating between blues and rock with a good amount of jam mixed in for good measure. Seeing Moon Boot Lover live is a whole lot like going to the moon and back! The band will be bringing with them their lighting designer, Aaron Hunt, who is working on getting additional lights for this ride, making for an even more spacey and psychedelic experience. The band will be touring later this summer in support of 
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Seeing a band or artist for the first time can be a unique high that is only escalated by how long you’ve waited to finally catch them. It’s quite rare though for that personal experience to be shared by an entire room. As the futuristic rap group 
The first ‘movement’ of the concert contained McCartney on famed Hofner bass as well as multiple classic guitars and his band electrically charging through a series of rockers spanning his career. The fuzzy “Save Us” from 2014’s New, famed Beatles tracks, “All My Loving” and “Paperback Writer” and Wings favorites, “Let Me Roll It” and “Listen to What the Man Said”. “Let Me Roll It’” featured a slightly extended and rocking “Foxy Lady” jam in which McCartney showed off his ample soloing abilities on his multicolored Les Paul. McCartney spoke early and often, telling tales familiar to tour veterans, but awe-inspiring to first timers. McCartney has the innate ability to make a large venue feel like it’s a living room through his interactions and personable explanations of his songs.