[Words & Photos by Ashley Downing]
Moon Taxi puts me into a “Southern Trance” every time I see them, and their recent show in Chicago was no different. These guys are utterly outstanding live. The young, Nashville-based quintet has a uniquely polished way of crossing musical genres and fully incorporating a wide range of styles. Over the years, Moon Taxi’s music has evolved drastically through brilliant songwriting, giving them a sound that is uniquely their own. Moon Taxi’s recently released third album, Mountains Beaches Cities, highlights the group’s musical talents and has thrust the band even further into the spotlight. Once known mainly for their killer jams, Moon Taxi has now proven that their music is as well rounded as they are, and the tunes are easy to relate to for every type of listener.
Something that stands out in my mind each time I see this band perform is their ability to make the show feel so intimate. No matter how big or small the crowd is, these guys create a special, almost surreal feeling of closeness to every person in the crowd. They command your full attention, which really is an invigorating thing to witness and experience.
At this sold out Subterranean show, Moon Taxi fully engaged the crowd with new and old original tunes. They sounded amazing, and it seems almost everything they do together is balanced and flawless. Front man Trevor Terndrup’s soulful vocals combined with his wild stage presence added an undeniable energy to the show. Throughout the set, Spencer Thompson was captivating with his intricate, melodic guitar work. The backbone of the tunes came from bass player Tommy Putnam and drummer Tyler Ritter, who fuel each song in their own way. The musicianship of the five band members was fully showcased throughout the entire set and it was especially apparent when they all took turns playing individual solos. I was then reminded how much I appreciate Moon Taxi’s ability to incorporate so many different things into one singular, rock-driven sound.
The crowd was fully engaged during the entire performance. I found it pleasantly surprising that the majority of the audience was singing along with all of Moon Taxi’s songs, hanging on their every note and word. After playing a show full of original songs from their repertoire, I found it intriguing that they added a rare cover of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in The Wall” before closing out the night. They band and the audience must have been on fire at some point at the end of the show, since a loud fire alarm began blaring through the building as they were finishing up. This was the only thing that distracted me from the music whatsoever the entire evening… Regardless, no one left, the band continued to play, we saw no flames, and in the end we realized that it was a false alarm. Or perhaps all of the energy in the room set it off?
Moon Taxi is a dynamic, unstoppable force in the current music scene. With their rigorous tour schedule, the band will be continuing to play across the country for the rest of the year. They are also opening for The Motet and Umphrey’s McGee at Red Rocks on July 5. I highly recommend riding the Moon Taxi somewhere along the way. For this young, progressive band the sky is the limit, and I anxiously look forward to seeing what they do next.