On Wednesday night, October 25th, Tauk cut the chitchat and jammed out at the Republic in New Orleans.
Tauk is a four-piece instrumental rock fusion group from NYC playing extensive tours and residing in the jam band realm. According to their website, they play around 140 shows a year. After a three night break, the band took on the Crescent City and made their first appearance at the Republic.
Winter Circle Production, organizers of the event, sent an email to their subscribers with a free pair of tickets just hours before the show. Out of the three Tauk shows I’ve seen, this was their smallest turn out. However, that’s no complaint. Smaller crowds are more ideal for the Republic with its lodge feel and wooden columns that often act as repellants and neck breakers. The crowd plays an undeniable factor in the essence of a performance, and unfortunately this one tilted towards stale and disengaged. But, when the band got heavy, funky, or even a little reggae-y, the crowd got down. 
Tauk’s lineup consists of Matt Jalbert on guitar, Charlie Dolan on bass, A.C. Carter on keyboards, and Isaac Tell on drums. Before the show, a friend dubbed their sound as “sci-fi”. No denial here, that probably influenced some terms I found popping in my own head describing their sound as “galactic”, “a space shoot out”, or simply “yup, sci-fi”. The band peaked on some invigorating heights and plunged to dark depths all while finishing songs consistently strong. For a jam band, nothing all too crazy lengthwise occurred; songs typically wrapped around 10 minutes.
A highlight for me came in the beginning of the show with John Clubreth from Naughty Professor as a surprise guest on trumpet. This was truly serenading with a nice bass and drum accompaniment as Culbreth did his thing. Soon enough, guitar and keyboard started working their way in and drums kept the pace allowing for Jalbert to launch it on guitar.
Common to all bands, inter-band communication is vital for a successful performance. This becomes even more central for bands that improvise as Tauk does. Overall, the chemistry between band members is inviting and often electrifying; several glances I caught between Tell and Carter spunked up my step. Yet, there was also at least one evident moment of miscommunication with a wild beat on Tell’s part that grappled for groove longer than my ears desired. But the band-fam stayed together and eventually looped the chaos into order.
Another highlight is when Tauk talked! And via megaphone at that. Near the end of the set, we were treated to The Beatles’, “Come together”.  And my oh my, where has Tell been hiding those vocals?! This was a great rendition that managed to stir the crowd.
The show might have been smaller scale, but with a setting of the Republic on a Wednesday night, the turn out was solid. Tauk has the ability to combine heavy, jazzy, spacey, and electric sounds while trademarking a certain feel. Personally, heaviest points were the best points. The jams were quality even despite the seldom improv-gone-wrong moments. After the show, band members were kind and social towards fans. With special thanks to A.C., I was able to snag a KLSU ID!
For next time around, maybe bring the show back to Baton Rouge?
Two final comments:
     1. Isaac Tell managed to chew gum and blow bubbles throughout the show in the midst of jamming on drum kit.
    2. Tauk’s DJ, Devin, is A+. Played some fabulous intermission tunes by Orgone that won my heart. Additionally, I appreciate the band’s post show entertainment of a looping video of A.C. Carter’s killer dance moves.

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Peep the band’s setlist below: 

– Elemental