Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Sounds like: The members of Death & Taxes hail from the beat-down trad country land — meaning they know how to tune their guitars to give broken hearts and downtrodden dreams a mighty nice ring. The band’s signposts include the usual suspects: George, Loretta, Merle, Dolly, Willie, Waylon … with a Carter Sisters twist. Fronted by a trio of female vocalists, Death & Taxes’ lilting harmonies hearken back to Helen, Anita and June — radio regulars in Richmond during the late ’40s. Lest you begin to envision pearls and pin curls, however, be forewarned that the ladies of Death & Taxes are more likely to curse than curtsy between songs. This ain’t church music, people.
The band’s musical terrain covers stomping rabble-rousers, sweet and lowdown ballads and whiskey-soaked anthems. And although the stories are about being used, bruised and abused, there’s plenty of redemption to be had. “Sad songs aren’t depressing,” says Alysse Cullinan, who sings and plays banjar (a banjo tuned like a guitar). “They make you feel better.”
Kathy Poindexter, who sings lead on most of the group’s songs, agrees: “Writing and singing these songs has been therapy for all of us.”
Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Have Mohawks: Plenty of musicians have preceded their entree into country music with stints as punk rockers: The Reverend Horton Heat, Ryan Adams — even local country act Corntooth’s members come from punk rock giants Avail, Kepone and RPG. Death & Taxes has a similar story. Both Poindexter and singer/guitarist Nikki Price have had long tenures in successful punk bands (Picasso Trigger, Wifey and Hot Little Number.) It’s not that big of a leap when you think about it, Poindexter says: “Musically, they’re the same. Punk is fast country.
“Everyone in this room can say, ‘I grew up listening to country,’” she continues. “I was identifying with country songs in the fifth and sixth grade, when the guy I was going with dumped me at the roller rink. Punk was the antithesis to that. It was a way to shed your country roots.”
It wasn’t until Poindexter relocated from North Carolina to Richmond to attend law school that she refocused on those roots. “I want something I can grow old with,” she says. The genesis of Death & Taxes began with Poindexter and Price getting together to play some tunes. By May 2005 they’d recruited Cullinan, guitarist Wes Edwards, who, until the recent addition of bassist Steve Lowery, was the group’s lone Y chromosome.
Makin’ Rekkids: With about 10 shows under their belt, the members of Death & Taxes are done woodsheddin’. They’re working on an eight-song EP with engineer Ian Whalen, to be released later this fall. The record, to be titled “Last Resort,” is being recorded at Price’s house in the East End, home to the band’s imprint, Masonic Rekkids. With chickens in the back yard and Ed Trask from Avail living right across the street, it seems like a fitting place for seasoned punk savants to tap into their heritage and brew up some awesome country therapy. - Style Weekly
Discography
Red, Red Clay; Call Girl; Meet Me Down (all available in streaming media)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
When the mornings are quiet and cold, and when your life feels like one long, bleak, December; when the world has mocked you, starved you and beat your body sore; and your tears are bitter and they are shed "over the graves of deeds left undone," then you have loved and you have lost. You have tried and you have failed. You have come in last place and had a million doors slammed in your face. What then, can you depend on?
From the ashes of bridges burned and from the world of shattered dreams rises Richmond's ambassadors of heartache. The sweet and low down sounds of DEATH & TAXES speak to the lonely and bring Southern comfort to the drunk, the weary and the lost. Their songs document travels through a familiar landscape, by a lonely train, that will eventually get you home. Four-part harmonies and sweet, traditional, country appeal is presented to you by true belles of the ball.
DEATH & TAXES, the only two things in life that are certain, and you must make time for both.
Kathy Poindexter: North Carolina born and raised. Fronted legendary punk band, Picasso Trigger, on Alias Records (Burbank, CA) from 1990 – 1996. Provided backing vocals for tongue-in-cheek party act, “Jack Whitebread’s Neil Diamond Allstars” in Chapel Hill, N.C. from 1995 – 1996. Played Bass for Bucks Deluxe of Raleigh, N.C. from 1996 – 1998. Currently resides in Richmond, Virginia where she plays bass and also sings with Wiseacre, an alt-country quartet, and also plays bass in power pop-punk outfit, The Rulers. Kathy is the primary song writer and singer for Death & Taxes. Kathy has three dogs, a riding lawn mower and sorely wants to be a hairdresser. She can pitch a mean game of horseshoes.
Wes Edwards: Born in Jacksonville, Florida, home of Lynyrd Skynyrd and blackened alligator. Migrated from Texas, Georgia and South Carolina before arriving just South of the North to settle in the Old Dominion where he now resides as a lone cowboy in a sea of estrogen. This Dapper Dan has picked the guitar in many bands, but those of notoriety include The Hayes Elverston Band, The Stumbling Wallys and El Campo. He now plays guitar and is the honky-tonk gene for Death & Taxes. Wes is quite a charmer and truth told, could sell pants to a snake.
Nikki Price: This little gem was raised an only child in the old swampy area of Yorktown, VA and comes to Richmond bringing her own brand of “only-child” genius and ingenuity. Having had a lot of time to herself, this gal can build anything, given only a stick of gum, a piece of dental floss and a popsicle stick. And she can also play anything. She’s played guitar in punk bands, Wifey (Richmond, VA) and Hot Little Number (Richmond, VA) and also has rocked out in the Richmond all-star-group, Ramones cover band, “Los Ramones”. Nikki has also been in singer/songwriter duo Close Personal Friends. And for now, Nikki has turned down the half-stack and traded her Les Paul for a Guild to pick and sing with Death & Taxes.
Alysse Cullinan: Born in Charlottesville, VA and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Alysse is the eldest of a family of four girls, and it ain’t hard to tell: she is the consummate mediator.… and yet… like a true older sister of the South, she’ll smile and hand you a piece of pecan pie just as she tells you that perhaps your skirt is a little too short. Alysse sings like an angel, soft, lofty and sweet which can bring a tear to even a stone-hearted man’s eye. She also graces the band with a tune or two when she’s inspired, which adds a softer and gentler departure to Death & Taxes’ catalogue. Alysse also plays with Richmond, VA super-group, The Toe Lord Shakers.
Links
