Tauk

Montauk, Long Island, is known by conspiracy theorists, monster buffs, military historians, sport fisherman, the vacationing elite and, yes, even music fans – the Rolling Stones wrote a song about “Memory Motel,” a local estate owned by Andy Warhol and frequented by the band, and Billy Joel waxes nostalgic about the Montauk Sound in his song “The Downeaster Alexa.”

Now, prepare to meet Tauk (yes, short for Montauk), a band that deliver a unique blend of funk, jazz, pop and rock with a fresh, experimental spirit. Since forming earlier this decade, the Long Island-based quintet have built an impressive DIY buzz, scoring opening gigs for O.A.R, earning slots at top festivals like Gathering of the Vibes (alongside Buddy Guy and Bob Weir and Ratdog) and being featured on Fuse TV. Their profile is only going to grow with the release of their first full-length album, Brokedown King.

On their debut, Tauk have crafted eleven gems that dip into everything from soaring rock anthems (“Eye to Eye”) to knotty, jazz-funk odysseys (“Snoopy’s Revenge”) to gorgeous, breezy ballads (“Turn Me In”). But don’t peg Tauk as a jam band: cuts like “Hiker” and “Does It Matter” show these five gifted musicians have a talent for mixing in atmospheric, boundary-pushing experimentation not all unlike their influences Radiohead, Wilco and Phish.

“Everyone thinks music is easy, because technology has taken us to a point where anybody can create it. It’s taken for granted, and nobody is taking the time to listen to musicians like Frank Zappa anymore,” says singer Alessandro Zanelli. “We feel passionate about music, and we care about music. How we’ve all gotten to where we are as a band is completely different, but what we all say together is very important to us – we want to share that the best we can, and connect with as many people as we can.”

Grammy-winning producer Robert Carranza [Jack Johnson, Mars Volta] helped Tauk harness their eclectic vision, collaborating with the band for three months split between three studios - Jack Johnson’s solar-powered Solar Plastic Power Plant in Los Angeles, historic Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, CA, and One East Recording back home in New York. ”We try to do songs that are concise and then we try and do songs that are more experimental,” says Zanelli. “We definitely don’t stick to a formula – we’re willing to air things out a little bit.” Adds Carranza, “What’s compelling is the raw power of the band, from their light moments to full-out jamming. Music is a language that some feel and others speak – and Tauk do both very well.”

Tauk’s tunes are adventurous in scope, but the band’s origins are humble. Bassist Charlie Dolan, keyboardist-organist Alric “A.C.” Carter and guitarist Matt Jalbert met as teenagers in middle school and instantly connected over a shared passion for music. “We’d finish lunch really quickly and then run off to the school’s practice room and jam,” says Carter. “We’d be jamming and then realize, ‘Shit, we’re missing class!’” adds Jalbert with a laugh. When the band moved on to high school, they met Zanelli and, soon after, drummer Adam Akpinar, who previously logged time playing in a punk band.

While most high-school bands break up when they head off to college, Tauk’s musical bond survived over long distances. All five members majored in music in college, and Tauk regularly performed over school breaks. They hit the road in the summer of 2007 to play nearly 40 shows in the nation’s top concert markets (including Boston, Philadelphia, New York) along with more out-of-the-way spots like Central Pennsylvania. Zanelli knew they were on the right track when, after opening for O.A.R., the band gave them big props. “They told us, ‘You guys are ten times better than we were when we were your age,’” says Zanelli. “They said, ‘Keep playing. You can absolutely make this happen.’”

Lyrically, Zanelli explores ideas of youth and love with heartfelt, poetic introspection. “I’m exploring themes of growing up,” says Zanelli. “I’ve gained this awareness that sometimes you’ll have difficult things going on around you but you have to learn how to deal with it and I do it with my lyrics.” No matter where he is, Zanelli, whose classically trained voice ranges from a gentle lilt to a ferocious bark, is always fine-tuning his craft. While backpacking across the world – including a harrowing trip from Southern Argentina to Peru – he came up with the key melody to “Eye to Eye” on a boat ride in the middle of the Amazon River. “I just started singing the words,” says Zanelli. “It just sort of popped into my head.” Spontaneous creative bursts like those happen to every other member of the band. “Every moment, we’re always thinking about writing music,” he says. “We’re ultimately inspired by different moments in our lives – that’s where all of our music comes from.”

For Tauk, that’s where the music comes from… and the connection begins.