It was a night the Yale University community wouldn't forget anytime soon. Taproot roared into Toads Place with a vengeance while shattering the level of volume record previously held by Spinal Tap's of 11 to 12. Taproot is currently supporting Sevendust on this current national tour and before the show I had a chance to sit with this Michigan based group over a discussion about their current album and their thoughts of how the current state of the music industry effects them as a music group.
Our Long Road Home is the band's fourth release and ranks as a favorite among the Taproot fans who continue to embrace the band's tough thrash sound, heavy hooks, and ferocious lyrics. Working with producer Tim Patalan (Sponge, Lovedrug), the band penned more than fifty songs for the album, twelve of which were recorded in a converted barn just a few minutes down the road from Richards' home. The band sees things slightly different though being a music group living in turbulent times not just adapting to today's economic crisis, but also a music group in a shrinking and very redefining industry.
Since the fall of major labels and major lay offs for such labels as EMI Records, Atlantic Records, and Sony, Taproot was left with the tough decision to fend for themselves, to break away from Atlantic Records, and choosing to continue forward exclusively with Velvet Hammer Management which has maintained a quality driven model and an incredible roster rather than a label type quantity approach.
When asked what Taproot have to ensure to achieve success with the new album keeping in mind the current trends of the music business and releasing their new music into a digital world. Bassist Phil Lipscomb said, "The success of this album is going to be different because we are not under a major label anymore. We're on our own now making a living lot quicker without the major (label) and have proven we can do so without spending a million dollars making this record." Guitarist Mike DeWolf added, "I think that is a success within itself and for anybody at this point to some degree, but I think everybody is rethinking every aspect on how to proceed forward. We even started to ask ourselves during our last record cycle what we can cut out in order to continue forward while maintaining our success and without sacrificing the same quality of music our fans demand of us. It's our way of reevaluating our approach to recording while adjusting to the new direction of music sales."
Lead Vocalist/Guitarist Stephen Richards spoke of a new direction that band would need to take to extend the longevity of Taproot We have always taken a hard working ethic approach into everything we have done as a group right from the beginning when we didn't have anyone helping us what so ever we built our own foundation and made people come look at us leaving those people asking, "What are they doing over there and how are they doing this?"
Taproot continues to draw new fans by taking a very hands on approach even as far as creating their own on-line presence, designing and building their on-line sites on such outlets as Myspace and Facebook while the management team campaigns to the music media and press companies.
One thing Taproot was sure to publicize was the new addition to the group with long time friend and Taproot drum-tech Nick Fredell (Jettared/Proximo). "The shock of the call to join Taproot is still seeking in and I wake up in cities I have never been to before. The reality of what was happening for me hit me hardest when I quit my landscaping job, but this is getting cooler and cooler each day."
Taproot took stage at 9:50PM as promised pumping the audience to new levels of Taproot-fandom with the new album. From the time the boys took stage to the final encore the room was electrified and pulsating to the energy and connection between band and fan. Crowd surfer after crowd surfer said this show was one of the best Taproot performances they have ever seen.
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