Lineup

In the past five years, Great American Taxi has become one of the best-known headliners on the jam band circuit, their uninhibited sound a swinging concoction of swampy blues, progressive bluegrass, funky New Orleans strut, Southern boogie, honky tonk, gospel and good old fashioned rock 'n' roll. That loose, anything-can-happen feel is the hallmark of Reckless Habits, the band's second album, which was recorded in Loveland, Colo., with producer Tim Carbone (from Railroad Earth) working together to bring the feel of an onstage performance to the recording process.

Street date for the new album, which will be released through Thirty Tigers, is March 2, 2010.

When banjo player Mark Vann of Leftover Salmon died of cancer in 2002, the band lost momentum. Salmon singer/guitarist/mandolinist Vince Herman had a few rough years and survived a broken neck before joining keyboardist Chad Staehly for a superstar jam to benefit the Rainforest Action Group in Boulder in March 2005. "We put together a dream band of the best local musicians for a one-off gig," Herman recalls. "It worked so well we had to do it again, and again, and again." The band's current lineup includes Herman, Staehly, guitarists Jeff Hamer and Jim Lewin, bassist Brian Adams and drummer Chris Sheldon.

Great American Taxi has been compared with roots rockers like New Riders of the Purple Sage, Grateful Dead, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, the Byrds and Little Feat. Herman finds the comparisons flattering. "We're definitely connected to all the acts in the country/rock spectrum, as well as the spirit of Gram Parsons and Woody Guthrie," he says. "We want to address the issues appropriate to our times, while making music that gets people up and moving."

"The band is a true democracy," Staehly adds. "We tinkered with the tunes on the road, with everybody having input. In the studio, Tim would suggest ideas to make them sound bigger and brighter." Carbone brought in the Black Swan Singers — Sheryl Renee, CoCo Brown and Shelly Lindsey — to add gospel flavored backing vocals. He also brought the Peak to Freak Horns — Justin Jones, sax; Nathan Peoples, sax; Dan Sears, trumpet; and Dave Stamps, trombone — for some New Orleans-style brass accents, as well as pedal steel player Barry Sless (Dane Nelson Band, Moonalice) and banjo man Matt Flinner.

The 13 tracks on Reckless Habits gleefully stretch the boundaries of American roots music with a nod to both tradition and the future. The title track, for instance — Staehly's salute to Gram Parsons — is as country as it is rock, a rousing honky-tonk tune with Carbone's fiddle and Sless' pedal steel kicking up the sawdust on a Saturday night dance floor. The titles of several other Parsons songs appear in the lyrics, and there's a definite Cosmic Cowboy vibe to the band's expansive playing. Staehly's "American Beauty" tips its hat to the Grateful Dead, and features an extended jam. Herman's "Cold Lonely Town" is a slow R&B tune that describes life during long Colorado winters. The Black Swan Singers add smoky doo-wop asides to Herman's poignant vocal. Carbone has described its swampy laid-back vibe as "'A Day in the Life' meets Gram Parsons in the high desert." And that's to name only a few of the album's 13 songs (plus a 14th song, a hidden track, "Parade").

The CD will be housed in a die-cut package designed by artist Greg Carr, who designed Steve Martin's The Crow. "Greg has a picture of nuns smoking on the cover, wearing Reckless Habits," Herman explains. "We want to give people something unique, so they won't just burn it and pass it on."

And finally, the band's cryptic name refers to Herman's unique skiing style. "A friend of mine once said I came downhill looking like a great American taxi — a large, lumbering object that's totally out of control and coming downhill towards you faster and faster. It seemed to fit the band's m.o., so we adopted it."

The five members of Zoogma have already added their unique voice to the live electronic-rock scene. A Zoogma show combines the sonic diversity and precision of a DJ with the excitement and immediacy of a five piece rock group. Known for their energetic performances and retina pleasing light show, Zoogma consistently dishes out heavy-weight beat-driven dance parties across the nation. Sets are kinetic, combining carefully crafted beats and melodic textures so that one can't help but get out on the dance-floor.

Evolving in Oxford, MS, Zoogma's sound can be described as an eclectic fusion of Electronica, Rock, Jazz, World, and Hip-Hop. This blend of genres results in a musical experience that appeals to a range of audiences, with a sound that is refreshingly original yet steeped in the dance music tradition.

Sharing the stage or performing late-night after-parties for such national acts as Phish, STS9, Widespread Panic, Pnuma Trio, Big Gigantic, Perpetual Groove, Lotus, Umphrey's McGee, Galactic, Les Claypool, Matisyahu, Ozric Tentacles and The New Mastersounds, Zoogma is poised to electrify new audiences while gaining friends and fans along the way

Brian Schram, 24, achieved stardom playing with the group Uncle Kracker. He performed with them on Jay Leno MTVs Carson Daly,Regis and Kelly,exc. The famous Kid Rock himself said, I like what I heard and saw tonight, in fact we are looking at hiring Brian Schram, probably put him on the road with Kracker. This kid can play I liked what I saw, especially the fact that he got up tonight and showed some originality.

SHRAM is totally focused on originality. They have given away numerous CDs containing original songs to fans who in return give their devotion. The band has been getting rave reviews regarding what Doug Podell from WRIF calls their timeless songs and everyone likes what they hear. They have a raw sound that is a bit of a throw back with crushing guitar's and punchy rock, pop vocal hooks that defines the true nature of rock n' roll leaving fans breathless and in awe.

"Does your groovy-deep-roots-boogie band accidentally share a name with a song by 'The Band'? Do you just happen to channel some serious J.J. Cale-Tony Joe White-Allman Bros. back porch soul? No? You must not be the Whispering Pines, who are fabulous, authentic, and notorious local boys made good who OWN this sound. Not easily or convincingly done, mind you. Muscle Shoals in Silverlake, brother. I'll tell you, the river runs deep." -Amoeba Music, Hollywood|San Fransisco, 2010

Wisebird's recently released self-titled album is a faithful testament to the band's affinity for the roots of American music. The album captures the organic sound of Wisebird's heralded live performances. With astonishing musicianship and a passion for song craft, Wisebird takes their audience on a journey--from the up-tempo, second line rhythm of "Immortal Blues" to the gospel-stomp of "Hell" to the gritty funk of "Daylight in the Swamp". The impressive caliber of this 'group on the rise' is attributed to their years of hard work and dedication, which they continually bring to the table. Wisebird individually and collectively has shared the bill with such distinguished national acts as The Derek Trucks Band, The Doobie Brothers, Hot Buttered Rum, The Avett Brothers and many more. Wisebird has played shows from coast to coast, and has been warmly received at festivals such as Desert Rocks, Wakarusa and Las Tortugas. The band continues to garner new fans everywhere they go. With a well-earned popularity in the Western and Northern regions, Wisebird is currently digging their heels into the roots of the Austin music scene and delivering their addictive rhythmic vibes throughout the South and beyond. Hands-down; Wisebird is a show not to be missed.