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March 29: Take a ride with Great American Taxi |
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Written by Morgan Kriz/Tahoe World
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Tuesday, 25 March 2008 |
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Your head would spin adding up all the miles the members of Great American Taxi have traveled individually and in just more than two years together they’ve added a whole lot more to their travelogues. From their home in the high country of Colorado to the shores of the Pacific and back again through the grain belt of the Midwest heading further east to the Atlantic Ocean, Taxi has ridden the highways and biways spinning yarns and delivering high octane music to all who show up at their live shows and consume their 21st century American sound.
From the bars, clubs and theaters to the main stage of Wakarusa to late night sets at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, up north to the 10,000 Lakes Festival via Summer Camp and out west to the High Sierra Music Fest, the band has carved out their own territory in a very short time. Audiences are instantly immersed in their folk and country sensibilities while they are fed large doses of improvisation and rock and roll.
 Touring relentlessly in 2007 supporting their debut CD release “Streets of Gold,” and with more than 200 plus shows behind them in their short time together, Great American Taxi has built a hefty following the old fashioned way.
With front-man Vince Herman at the wheel people will recognize threads of the Leftover Salmon fabric all the while being driven by original songwriting and musicianship from guitarist/vocalist Jefferson Hamer and keyboardist/vocalist Chad Staehly.
The rhythm section and axles of the ride are supplied by well-seasoned veterans Jake Coffin on drums/vocals and Edwin Hurwitz on bass guitar. Coffin spent years on the road with Dan Bern and Edwin clocked many miles with '90s jambands Shockra and Skin. Barry Sless, guitar extraordinaire of Phil & Friends will also be playing with Great American Taxi. Great American Taxi traffics their collective past helping create their new Americana without borders brand of music.
Great American Taxi featuring Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon will perform at the Tahoe Biltmore in Crystal Bay on Saturday, March 29, show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of the show and are available at the Tahoe Biltmore Cashiers cage, Jobys, New Moon and online at www.renegadeshows.com, www.tickets.com or www.jambaseticket.com. For more information, visit www.greatamericantaxi.net
Great American Taxi featuring Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon
Saturday, March 29 at 9 p.m.
Tahoe Biltmore in Crystal Bay, Nev.
Tahoe World Associate Editor Morgan Kriz had the chance to catch up with Vince Herman (formerly of Leftover Salmon) on the phone while he was on the road earlier this week.
Tahoe World: How did the band approach “Streets of Gold”? What was the writing process?
Vince Herman: We had been touring to develop the songs on the record, so we had the arrangements pretty much figured out going into the studio. Some of the songs were written and brought to the band, others were written in a session where we holed up with a recording machine for a few days and wrote what came to us.
TW: What is your favorite thing about performing live?
VH: It is the circle of energy between the band and the crowd, escalating one another. It is fun to have a band this tight and we try to come out and hit the audience over the head each time.
TW: Who are some of your favorite contemporary musicians? What do you find yourself listening to on the road?
VH: I have been listening to Del McCoury, some old Kentucky Colonels Records, Poco. some of my favorite contemporary cats are Todd Snider, Johnny Hickman, Jim Page.
TW: What is your ideal performance? (venue, number of audience members, etc.) Do you prefer larger festivals or more intimate venues?
VH: It is different in every aspect. With festivals you have the large crowds and you try and make everything a little larger. With the smaller venues you have the chance for more improvisation and more interaction with the audience. There are advantages and disadvantages to every situation.
TW: What do you most look forward to performing in Tahoe next weekend?
VH: You bet man. We always look forward to coming to that place. Last time I was there was with Yonder Mountain String Band. We always have a great time there.
TW: What does the future hold for Great American Taxi?
VH: The future for taxi is one festival after another followed by slacking for awhile, followed by more festivals. I hope to play the Democratic Convention as Barak gets the nomination.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 March 2008 )
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