Nashville-based indie rock band Moon Taxi has played at some of the country’s biggest festivals, like Coachella and Hangout Fest. This year, the band continues to tour the country and their most recent stop was at the Varsity Theatre Friday night.
Baton Rouge-based folk band Ship of Fools’ heavy cello focus and alternative rock band Wilder’s Charlie Greene’s raspy vocals set the stage for Moon Taxi’s blending of genres.
With heavy rock music playing and The Varsity’s disco ball flashing rapidly, Moon Taxi came on stage to a roaring crowd.
The performance was instrument focused with many elaborate instrumental breaks. Guitar and jazzy solos from keyboardist Wes Bailey even encouraged some audience members to break out their dance moves.
While the band is not afraid to experiment with new age alternative electronic sounds, its members have said they draw influence from older musicians. Trevor Terndrup named Bob Dylan and Bob Marley as his musical inspirations and said if he could have anyone join the band, it would be Jimmy Buffet’s percussionist.
These influences could be heard in songs like “River Water,” with its blue-grass feel, and also in the dance-worthy guitar solos in “Who’s to Say.”
More specifically, the older influences were heard when the band broke out mid-set into a cover of Pink Floyd’s “We Don’t Need No Education.” As the audience sang along, some couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of singing the song at a venue just off campus.
Some of the best moments of the night were those between the band and the audience.
When they played one of their more popular tracks, “Run Right Back,” Terndrup let the audience sing the last verse alone. There was no masking the genuine happiness on his face when hearing the crowd sing his band’s lyrics.
Another special moment came when Terndrup announced he would be playing an older tune as a special request by a couple who named their daughter after the song.
Though one may not have realized it from the way the band commanded the Varsity’s stage and connected with the audience, Moon Taxi has humble origins.
Terndrup, the band’s guitarist and lead singer, formed a band with bassist Tom Putnam in high school. When the two moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, they met lead guitarist Spencer Thomson their first night in town.
The three of them played as a backing band for rap group Blaze & Knowledge, a feat which Terndrup describes as “the height of [their] coolness.” They founded what is now Moon Taxi — with the addition of drummer Tyler Ritter and keyboardist Wes Bailey — in 2006.
Starting out in Nashville was initially a challenge for the band.
“It was a tough town to start out in because of the caliber of musicians [there],” Terndrup said.
Over a decade since the band’s original formation, Moon Taxi is coming out with a new album this summer — the first time the band will have released new music since their 2015 album “Daybreaker.” This record will be the band’s fourth studio album.
“A few of the tracks from the next album are heavy,” Terndrup said, when asked how the next album will differ from “Daybreaker.”
Fans were able to hear exactly what Terndrup meant as the band’s setlist incorporated some of these new tracks.
Moon Taxi closed out the night with an encore performance of “Year Zero” that had the crowd dancing one last time.
Nashville-based indie rock band Moon Taxi played at the Varsity Theatre on March 17.
