Nashville, Tennessee has a reputation for churning out country music’s best new artists. However, the music scene down South is no longer exclusively home to country. More and more bands, from alternative to indie to pop, are adding diversity to the Nashville music industry. Hailing from Music City itself, the five-piece alternative band Moon Taxi has conquered the stages of the South, making them a must-see when they return to St. Louis on Friday, Feb. 19.
After meeting at Belmont University, Moon Taxi formed back in 2006. They grew a steady fanbase due to their fun sound, but their first album in 2012, “Cabaret,” is what helped them establish their presence in the music scene. The different elements of electronic, folk and rock made “Cabaret” more than just an alternative album.
Only a year later, Moon Taxi released their sophomore album, “Mountains Beaches Cities,” which brought even more success for the band. The jam rock album is full of good tunes with hits like “Running Wild,” “Suspicious” and “Morocco.”
Now, over one thousand shows later, Moon Taxi is touring with their third album “Daybreaker.” The band spent months on the road for “Mountains Beaches Cities,” which gave them the perfect opportunity to collaborate with one another on new music. Their website bio describes their experience on the road as a time where they were “sharing personal experiences with one another, opening up about relationships, and becoming very aware of how powerful the human bond can truly be.” The band’s connection served as the main inspiration for the album. Bassist Tommy Putnam said his influences for “Daybreaker,” mainly “came from each other” and their “diverse musical backgrounds.”
Clearly this collaboration on the road worked out well. “Daybreaker” is Moon Taxi’s best album to date. Putnam said the album name, “Daybreaker,” comes from “seizing the day/moment.” The first track, “Year Zero” quickly captures your attention. The song is a wonderful fusion of electronic and alternative, and the steady beat of the song will have you swaying along and snapping your fingers. “All Day All Night” then brings a chiller vibe to the album; it is the type of song you would drive to with the windows down. Putnam said the song “has a great message about striving and desire.” Also, Putnam noted: “Spencer’s guitar parts during the verse were all one take. Very creative parts on the fly.”
Another track, “Savannah” highlights Moon Taxi’s ability to find the perfect balance between upbeat and mellow tracks. The instrumental introduction paired with lyrics like “In the summer I was left behind / You’re across the ocean and never off my mind” give the song a relaxing beachy feel. “Red Hot Lights” takes the band back to their alternative roots, and the album ends with “Rooftops,” an acoustic, dreamy tune that is perfectly reminiscent of a summer evening.
With “Daybreaker” added to their impressive repertoire, Moon Taxi is back on the road. They will be returning to The Grove’s The Ready Room on Friday, Feb. 19. Be sure to catch Moon Taxi and see for yourself as songs from “Daybreaker” come to life and why this band is taking the South by storm.
