On Saturday night, four-piece experimental rock band Tauk celebrated a record release show for their new album, Collisions, with a late show at intimate Brooklyn music venue Knitting Factory. By the time they hit the stage, the room was packed with fans anxiously waiting to get their dance on.
The group -- consisting of Matt Jalbert (guitar), Charlie Dolan (bass), Alric "A.C." Carter (keyboard), and Isaac Teel (drums) -- performed songs from Collisions, as well as tunes from their 2013 instrumental full-length album, Homunculus. Matt Jalbert hypnotized the crowd all night with his seemingly never ending guitar jamming as Charlie Dolan's bass served as the songs' steady foundation. The sexy grooves of the songs were charged with Isaac's snare drum hits and A.C. Carter's perfectly timed keyboard fills.
The chemistry the band shared onstage throughout the night was nothing short of magical. At times, they were locked into each other's playing and joined in with their respective instrument when it felt needed. They remained sharp and focused as the crowd got into their groove and lost in their music.
While the most of the songs they played were originals, they did perform one cover. Their version of The Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" stayed true to the original and featured an interesting jam at the end. The fans loved it, and judging from the smiles onstage, the band had fun playing it. Below, you can watch a video of Tauk's cover of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" taken at the 8 x 10 in Baltimore, MD last year.
"I WANT YOU (SHE'S SO HEAVY)" - TAUK - 8 x 10 BALTIMORE, MD 11.22.2013
The way that they blended melodic prog rock into a song that first started as a funky number taught the crowd to expect the unexpected. Their songs were emotional, heavy, and exploratory, but rarely ended how you'd expect them to. Their stage presence was minimal, thus shifting the crowd's attention to the energy of the music.
Most people who showed up for the night's show first discovered Tauk through attending a music festival. Bonnaroo, The Hangout Music Festival, and The Peach Festival are a few of the summer festivals the band has performed at. What makes this band standout from all the other "jam" bands they get categorized with is that they are an instrumental band. Instead of vocals, they let their instruments do the talking. This unique approach lets the listener get lost in the fabric of the music being created. The majority of the band have been playing together for over a decade, and accumulating fans along the way. This show was not only a celebration of a new album, but also of the fans.
Grammy-winning producer Robert Carranza worked on Tauk's new album. When asked about the album, he had this to say:
What’s compelling is the raw power of the band, from their light moments to full-out jamming. Music is a language that some feel and others speak – Tauk does both very well.
Collisions will be available July 22nd, but you can stream the album now via Village Voice. Pre-order the album, as well as keep up with Tauk's latest news and tour information, by visiting their official website.