On the heels of infectious and uplifting new single “Two High,” which has been lighting up the blogosphere for months, breakout local alt rockers Moon Taxi announced back in the summer that their lengthy fall tour would include not one, but two nights at The Ryman Auditorium, on Oct. 27 & 28 with Too Many Zooz. Hard at work on their followup to 2015’s Daybreaker, the band are sounding as anthemic and arena primed as ever, and after years of constant touring, festival stops, late night television appearances, and more, they’re a refined, unstoppable live force who’ve earned a growing, rabid following. A site favorite since their (and our) earliest days, we couldn’t be more excited to see the group return to the Mother Church, where they made their headlining debut last year, for two shows. While tickets are still available here (10/27) and here (10/28) while they last, we’re also giving away a pair of tickets to the first night (Oct. 27) to one lucky fan! Find out all about the show and enter below!
MOON TAXI
One of Nashville’s definitive rock and roll success stories of the past few years, Moon Taxi began just over a decade ago, while several members were students at Belmont. Quickly finding a regional audience following the 2007 release of their debut, Melodica, the group’s early days were characterized by a compelling and polished live show, and an affinity for jam-inspired rock with progressive tendencies. A 2008 live album would follow, and gave way to further touring, early festival appearances, headlining spots at local clubs, and increased Nashville prominence through slots at events like Live on the Green.
The group’s sophomore release, Cabaret, arrived in 2012, and really set the wheels in motion for the whirlwind of success they’ve since experienced. Finding a poppier balance, doubling down on their songwriting (after often being praised more for their live show), and incorporating electronics, Moon Taxi quickly found a larger critical and commercial audience, going, in a matter of months, from local events like East Nashville Underground, to prominent spots at national fests (including a 2012 debut at Bonnaroo), appearances on late night television (Letterman, Conan, Seth Meyers), commercial placements, and nonstop touring. 2013’s Mountains Beaches Cities followed a sonically similar approach to proggy, poppy, alternative rock, paving the way for their latest, 2015’s Daybreaker, perhaps the most broadly accessible Moon Taxi release to date, and the best recorded representation of the power and energy of their live show, doubling down a honed-in focus on tight, dynamic songwriting.
As they prepare to release their as-yet-untitled and undated fifth album, which will come out on their new major label home of RCA, the band are enjoying tremendous success with their latest single, “Two High,” an anthemic and hook-laden song about hope. Returning to The Ryman, where they first made their headlining debut last year, for a pair of shows, the group’s first hometown appearances of 2017, it once again feels like an incredibly exciting time to see the band in action, and a wonderful chance to welcome them home before they launch what’s likely to be their biggest chapter yet.
TOO MANY ZOOZ
Formed in 2013 in New York, brass house trio Too Many Zooz began their career busking in the New York subway, fortuitously finding viral fame after being recorded by a passerby. Made up of baritone saxophonist and de facto frontman Leo Pellegrino and trumpet player Matt Doe, who met at the Manhattan School of Music, along with drummer David “King of Sludge” Parks, the band’s unique and self-forged style and electrifying live presence, boosted by Pellegrino’s funky dance moves, has helped them parlay viral fame into actual musical success, leading them all the way to the CMA Awards where they backed Beyonce last fall, just months after releasing their debut full-length, Subway Gawdz. Much more than a novelty act (though there is certainly a novelty to scaling busking music to a mass audience), Too Many Zooz are a legitimately fun and eclectic live force, and they’ll be a great opening act for Moon Taxi’s similarly expansive sound.
_
ENTER TO WIN TICKETS
Enter to win tickets by filling out the form below. If you experience any trouble with the contest widget, or have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected].
Winner will be announced Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. CDT, and will receive one pair of tickets to the Friday, Oct. 27 FIRST NIGHT performance. Good luck!
[contesthopper contest=”89463″]
_
Moon Taxi and Too Many Zooz will perform Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28 at The Ryman Auditorium. The shows are all ages, begin at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available here (10/27) and here (10/28).