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Moon Taxi

Moon Taxi
Moon Taxi performing at Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2018
Moon Taxi performing at Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2018
Background information
OriginVestavia Hills, Alabama, United States
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
MembersTrevor Terndrup
Spencer Thomson
Tommy Putnam
Wes Bailey
Tyler Ritter
Websitewww.ridethemoontaxi.com

Moon Taxi is an American indie-alternative rock band based in Nashville, Tennessee. The band was founded in 2006 by Trevor Terndrup (vocals, guitar), Tommy Putnam (bass), Spencer Thomson (guitar, programming), Tyler Ritter (drums), and Wes Bailey (keys) while attending Belmont University.[1]

The band has released six studio albums: Melodica, Cabaret, Mountains Beaches Cities, Daybreaker, and Let the Record Play,[2] and Silver Dream.[3] Moon Taxi signed to RCA Records in 2017.[4][5]

Moon Taxi has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and most recently Jimmy Kimmel Live.[6][7][8]

The band has been included on the Coachella, Hangout, Forecastle, Beale Street, Summerfest and Firefly music festival bills,[9] using festivals to grow the band's fan base.

History

Early days and formation of current line-up

Trevor Terndrup and Tommy Putnam attended high school together in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, and played in a bluesy rock group known as Apex during their junior and senior years. Upon graduation in 2002, the two moved to Nashville, Tennessee where they met fellow student and guitarist Spencer Thomson, and drummer David Swan, shortly after their arrival at Belmont University.[10] Together with Thomson, a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Swan of Atlanta, Georgia, the quartet jammed in freshman dorm rooms, quickly landing a gig as the backing band for a local rap duo. In the school years following, the group performed sparsely around Nashville and in college towns around the Southeast under the name Moon Taxi.[11]

After Swan graduated from Belmont in 2006, he left the band to pursue a career as a US Army Aviator. Moon Taxi commissioned drummer Tyler Ritter, also of Vestavia Hills, in fall 2006, and the quartet began writing and recording songs for a debut studio release. Keyboardist Wes Bailey, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, sat in with the band during local shows around the same time, and when Melodica was released in April 2007, Bailey was added as a permanent member, thus completing the current line-up.[12]

Melodica and 12th South Records

Moon Taxi's debut studio effort, Melodica, was recorded in Nashville at Triple House Productions.[13] The album's material is primarily categorized as jam rock[14] and contains the tracks "Gimme a Light" and "Here to Stay". Terndrup, Putnam, Thomson, and Ritter formed 12th South Records, an independent label housed in their 12th Avenue South home.[13]

Live Ride

In August 2008, the band recorded a live album, Live Ride, from a performance at 12th and Porter in Nashville.[15] The night featured two sets with nearly 30 songs, both new material and Melodica's.

The release of Live Ride was a precursor to more festival appearances, such as The Hangout Music and Arts Festival (Gulf Shores, Alabama) in 2010 and 2011,[16] Wakarusa in Ozark, Arkansas in 2011,[17] as well as a nationwide tour in 2010 that took the band from Maine to California.[18] The group won the inaugural Music City Mayhem Contest for "Common Ground",[15] which awarded them several songs in brief rotation on Nashville's WRLT Lightning 100.1 FM. Their Hangout Fest performance in 2010 gained them a Best New Jam nod through JamBase.[19]

During their touring schedule in support of Live Ride, Moon Taxi opened for Gov't Mule,[20] Umphrey's McGee,[21] Matisyahu,[20] and The New Mastersounds.[22]

Cabaret

In 2010, Moon Taxi began writing new material for their second studio LP, Cabaret. The album was recorded at Alex The Great Studios in South Nashville and at See Six Studios, Thomson's home studio.[23] The album was produced primarily by Thomson with the help of Hank Sullivant, a musician/producer from Athens, Georgia, who also sang guest harmony vocals on "Let's Go Back". Cabaret was mixed by Grammy Award-winner Vance Powell (The Raconteurs) at Sputnik Sound in Berry Hill, Tennessee and mastered by Richard Dodd. The track "Square Circles" features a guest appearance by hip-hop artist Matisyahu and rock n roll legend Mclain Reese.[24]

On April 10, 2013, a live performance by Moon Taxi aired on NPR's World Cafe.[25]

Mountains Beaches Cities

On September 10, 2013, Moon Taxi released its third studio recording, Mountains Beaches Cities, on the band's label, 12th South Records via BMG. The album features 10 unreleased tracks produced by guitarist Spencer Thomson.[26] Mountains Beaches Cities was recorded in Nashville, TN at SonyTree Studios and See Six Studios.[27] The title is an adaption of the band's view of North Carolina's attributes, namely mountains, beaches and cities.[28]

"For their third album, Mountains Beaches Cities, indie rock quintet Moon Taxi explored new landscapes by amping up the speed and turning up the volume," wrote USA Today.[29]

Daybreaker

On October 2, 2015, Moon Taxi released its fourth studio album, Daybreaker, on the band's label, 12th South Records via BMG. It was produced by Jacquire King, whose credits include albums by James Bay and Kings of Leon.[30]

Rolling Stone noted: "Over the last few years, Nashville's Moon Taxi have worked their way up from Bonnaroo buzz-band to something approaching Kings of Leon country, playing a pleasingly cross-bred rock."[31] All Day All Night was featured in a McDonald's commercial promoting their new 24-hour breakfast menu.[32]

Let The Record Play

On May 5, 2017, Moon Taxi released the single Two High, which lyrically is "a song about hope," Terndrup told Relix Magazine. "Hope for understanding, hope for acceptance, and hope for our future. We were inspired by the simple and universal peace sign."[33] In September 2017, the band signed with RCA to release their upcoming album.[5] Terndrup also credited the 2017 Women's March as an inspiration for Two High.[34] The song was featured in the 2018 Jeep Compass commercial "Snow."[35] Two High hit number three on the Adult Alternative Songs chart and number one in Triple A airplay.[36][37]

On November 17, 2017, the band and RCA Records announced a fifth LP to be released on January 19, 2018, Let the Record Play, and also released a single of the same name.[36] The album would be mixed and produced by guitarist Thompson and feature ten tracks.[38] Although the band had been signed to RCA, the album was finished before the signing.[39] On December 20, Moon Taxi announced a "Let The Record Play" tour, playing around the U. S. in February 2018.[40] A separate "Good as Gold" tour happened in fall 2018.[41]

Silver Dream

Taxi performing at Summerfest in 2019.

On April 18, 2019, Taxi was announced as the opening act for Day One of the 2019 NFL draft, located in Nashville.[42] A day later, the band released two singles, "Now's the Time" and "This World".[43]

On March 25, 2020, the band released a single, "Hometown Heroes", an electropop influenced song that reflected on the band's journey as a musical group and as a group of friends. Taxi also announced their sixth studio album, Silver Dream, for which Hometown Heroes will be the lead single.[3] On August 21, the band released the second single from Silver Dream, entitled "Light Up".[44] Silver Dream was released on January 22, 2021.[45]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[46] 		US
Indie
[47] 		US
Rock
[48]
Melodica
  • Released: April 19, 2007[49]
  • Label: 12th South
 — — —
Live Ride
  • Released: February 10, 2009[50]
  • Label: 12th South
 — — —
Cabaret
  • Released: February 7, 2012[51]
  • Label: 12th South
 — — —
Mountains Beaches Cities
  • Released: September 10, 2013[52]
  • Label: 12th South, BMG
 14 — —
Daybreaker
  • Released: October 2, 2015[53]
  • Label: 12th South, BMG
 2 28 46
Let the Record Play
  • Released: January 19, 2018[54]
  • Label: RCA
 5 — —
Silver Dream
  • Released: January 22, 2021[45]
  • Label: 12th South, BMG
 — — —
Set Yourself Free
  • Released: June 9, 2023
  • Label: 12th South
 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title Details
New Year's Eve 2015 (Live)
  • Released: January 1, 2016[55]
  • Label: 12th South, BMG

EPs

Title Details
Acoustic on West 56th
  • Released: December 17, 2013[56]
  • Label: 12th South, BMG
Live From Austin
  • Released: September 5, 2014[57]
  • Label: Self-released

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
AAA
[58] 		US
Alt.
[59] 		US
Rock
[60] 		CAN
Rock
[61] 		IRE
[62] 		NOR
[63] 		SWE
[64] 		SWI
[65] 		UK
Indie
[66]
"The New Black"[67] 2013 — — — — — — — — — Mountains Beaches Cities
"River Water"[68] — — — — — — — — —
"Morocco"[69] 2014 — — — — — — — — —
"Make Your Mind Up"[70] 2015 — — — — — — — — — Daybreaker
"All Day All Night"[71] 19 — — — — — — — —
"Year Zero"[72] 27 — — — — — — — —
"Two High"[73] 2017 3 9 26 33 77 32 46 82 9 Let the Record Play
"Good As Gold"[75] 2018 — — — — — — — — —
"Not Too Late"[76] 22 — — — — — — — —
"Now's the Time" / "This World"[77] 2019 — — — — — — — — — non-album singles
"Restless"[78] — — — — — — — — —
"Hometown Heroes"[79]
(solo or featuring Jimmie Allen) 		2020 23 — — — — — — — — Silver Dream
"Light Up"[80] — — — — — — — — —
"One Step Away"[81] — — — — — — — — —
"The Beginning" — — — — — — — — —
"Say"[82] 36 — — — — — — — —
"Mission"[83] 2021 — — — — — — — — — non-album singles
"Live for It" (Acoustic) 2022 — — — — — — — — —
"Evergreen"
(featuring Molly Tuttle) 		— — — — — — — — —
"Classics" 2023 — — — — — — — — — Set Yourself Free
"Set Yourself Free" — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^ "Cargo Live at Peak Hotel Moon Taxi". No. PBS.org. May 23, 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  2. ^ Smith, Presley (January 22, 2016). "Nashville-based Moon Taxi returns to Knoxville". UT Daily Beacon. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Rowley, Glenn (March 25, 2020). "Moon Taxi Unveils Nostalgic 'Hometown Heroes,' Signs With BMG: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  4. ^ "Moon Taxi Signs to RCA Records - Music Connection Magazine". www.musicconnection.com. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  5. ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (September 11, 2017). "Moon Taxi Inks Deal With RCA Records". Music Row Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Moon Taxi Performance: "Year Zero"". NBC. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  7. ^ "Moon Taxi "The New Black" 01/15/14". CONAN. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  8. ^ "Moon Taxi on Jimmy Kimmel Live – "Two High"". full in bloom. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  9. ^ Weatherby, Taylor (May 31, 2017). "Moon Taxi's Trevor Terndrup Talks Dylan Fest, New Music & His 'Out of Body Experience' at Bonnaroo". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  10. ^ Laurence, Haley (December 7, 2015). "Moon Taxi has come a long way since Vestavia talent show". Birmingham Magazine 1. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  11. ^ Wake, Matt (August 21, 2015). "Moon Taxi talks Birmingham origins, new album, upcoming Huntsville show at Three Caves". Birmingham Magazine 2. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  12. ^ Bledsoe, Wayne (January 21, 2016). "Music: Moon Taxi: Nashville band paid its dues at Knoxville venues". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  13. ^ a b Pierce, Erin (May 31, 2017). "Moon Taxi a Part of Stellar Sunday Lineup at Bunbury". Cincy Music. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Next: Moon Taxi". KUOW.org. October 8, 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Moon Taxi Performs Young Journey On Ferris Wheel At Hangout Music Fest". Lightning 100. 4 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Moon Taxi: Hangout Festival - Saturday". Creative Loafing Tampa. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  17. ^ "Wakarusa 2011 Initial Lineup". Breakfast On Tour. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  18. ^ "Moon Taxi: Summer Tour". JamBase. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  19. ^ "Hangout Festival 05.14-05.16". Alabama: JamBase. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  20. ^ a b "Moon Taxi's 'Morocco': Watch the Nashville buzz band's new video here". Entertainment Weekly. April 23, 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  21. ^ "Umphrey's McGee and Moon Taxi Kick Off Masters Week In Augusta (A Gallery)". Relix. April 8, 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  22. ^ "New Mastersounds: Tour w/ Logic". JamBase. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  23. ^ "Moon Taxi Cabaret". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  24. ^ Borders, Lindsey (June 12, 2014). "Moon Taxi builds fan base with extensive touring and festival appearances". Axs. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  25. ^ Dye, David. "Moon Taxi On World Cafe". NPR.
  26. ^ Lopez, Karina (July 29, 2014). "Indie rockers Moon Taxi land at StudioA". USA Today 2. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  27. ^ "KNPB Presents Cargo Live at Whitney Peak Hotel -- Moon Taxi". Cargo. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  28. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (September 19, 2013). "Exclusive Song Premiere and Interview: 'Morocco (Drigs Remix),' Moon Taxi". Interview Magazine. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  29. ^ Lopez, Korina (September 3, 2013). "Moon Taxi sends 'Mountains Beaches Cities' into orbit". USA Today. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  30. ^ Varias, Christ (November 24, 2015). "Moon Taxi's 'live' sound showing results". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  31. ^ Dolan, Jon (October 23, 2015). "Moon Taxi: Daybreaker". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  32. ^ Bernstein, Scott. "Moon Taxi Shares 'All Day All Night' Video". JamBase. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Song Premiere: Moon Taxi "Two High"". Relix 2. May 5, 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  34. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (22 January 2018). "Exclusive: Nashville Band Moon Taxi Talks First RCA Album, 'Let The Record Play'". www.musicrow.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  35. ^ YouTube
  36. ^ a b "Moon Taxi To Release New LP Out January 19th Via RCA Records; Title Track Out Today!". RCA Records. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  37. ^ "Moon Taxi Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  38. ^ Kahn, Andy. "Moon Taxi Announces New Album 'Let The Record Play' & Shares Title Track". www.jambase.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  39. ^ Bilderback, Chyenne (18 January 2018). "Let the Record Play: A Q&A with Trevor Terndrup of Moon Taxi". www.americansongwriter.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  40. ^ Shackleford, Tom. "Moon Taxi announce 2018 Let the Record Play tour". www.axs.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  41. ^ Holthouse, Jerry (10 September 2018). "Moon Taxi Planning 10th New Year's Eve Performance in Nashville". nashville.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  42. ^ Wyatt, Jim. "Moon Taxi, Lindsay Ell, Ryan Hurd, Mez - and the TSU Band - Added to NFL Draft Lineup in Nashville". titansonline.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  43. ^ "Listen to two new Moon Taxi songs, "Now's the Time" and "This World"". abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  44. ^ "AP&R Playlist: Groovy Psych-Punk, Haunting Anti-Pop and Emotional R&B". AltPress. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  45. ^ a b "Silver Dream by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  46. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  47. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  48. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  49. ^ "Melodica by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  50. ^ "Live Ride by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  51. ^ "Cabaret by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  52. ^ "Mountains Beaches Cities by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  53. ^ "Daybreaker by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  54. ^ "Let the Record Play by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  55. ^ "New Year's Eve 2015 (Live) by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  56. ^ "Acoustic on West 56th (Live & Unplugged) - EP by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  57. ^ "Moon Taxi - Fall Tour & Live In Austin EP". JamBase. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  58. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Triple A Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  59. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  60. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  61. ^ "Moon Taxi – Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  62. ^ "Discography Moon Taxi". irish-charts.com. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  63. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Discography Moon Taxi". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  64. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Discography Moon Taxi". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  65. ^ "Discographie Moon Taxi - hitparade.ch". Hit Parade. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  66. ^ Peak positions for singles on the UK Independent Singles Chart:
  67. ^ "The New Black by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  68. ^ "River Water by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  69. ^ "Morocco by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  70. ^ "Make Your Mind Up - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  71. ^ "All Day All Night - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  72. ^ "Year Zero - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  73. ^ "Two High - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  74. ^ "Canadian certifications – Moon Taxi". Music Canada. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  75. ^ "Good As Gold (Yung Olde Mayne Remix) - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  76. ^ "Not Too Late (Acoustic) - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  77. ^ "Now's the Time / This World - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  78. ^ "Restless - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  79. ^ "Hometown Heroes - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  80. ^ "Light Up - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  81. ^ "One Step Away by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  82. ^ "Say by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  83. ^ "Mission - Single by Moon Taxi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
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