Implementing the use of influences like The Clash and Weezer, Chicago musician’s AM Taxi have fleshed out a sound from punk of the past and pop of the present. With vocals that take a shine to Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba mixed up with a less gritty version the Lawrence Arms, AM Taxi delivers songs ranging from the punk signature we know and love to rock and roll as done by The Police.
Started with a backing from Michael “Miguel” Happoldt (Sublime, Unwritten Law) drummer Chris Smith, bassist Jason Schultejann, and frontman Adam Krier worked on their sound and recorded in Minneaplois before adding brothers John and Luke Schmitt to the line up. From there the five-piece began playing the Chicago scene, explored their options, and eventually found a home with Virgin Records.
Having previously released two EP’s, the band will be debuting their first full-length, We Don’t Stand a Chance through Virgin in June of this year. AM Taxi headed out to Austin to record, with “a character named Mike McCarthy. Quite the wizard, he was! He is responsible for the great sounds you hear on most of the Spoon records. It was cool to record live as a band to tape just like they did it in the past.” (AM Taxi) The full-length features reworked music from their past as well as new material, which they say is “influenced by punk rock, but it’s really rock n roll at the end of the day.”
Besides working on the new album, the boys have been keeping busy playing shows, hitting the road in 2009 with Sum 41 as well as Billy Talent. They’ll get a chance to revisit the friends they made on the road this summer as they partake in Warped Tour from June to August, hitting the states West to East and back.
For those of you in the Chicagoland area who just can’t wait until the summer to see AM Taxi, you’re in luck- the band will be at Lincoln Hall this Saturday, February 6th along with Big Science and Royal Bangs. Presented to us by Betta Promotions, the show is all ages with doors at 7pm, tickets for $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
AM Taxi Online
Myspace
AMtaximusic.com
Download AM Taxi’s songs “The Mistake” for free
Check out AM Taxi frontman Adam Krier’s cover of “Reason to Believe” with Chicago musician Kevin Adrew Prchal
AM Taxi took some time to talk with us this week about old projects, musical favorites, and dream line ups
Telegram Sam: What are your top three favorite cities/venues to play?
AM Taxi: It’s really hard to pick. We’re from Chicago so that’s gotta be one of them, but we can’t pick a favorite room. If we had to, it would be called “The Double Empty Lincoln House of BottomT’s MetroKitchen (Hideout)”.
San Francisco and Boston might be next on the list but it changes every time. It doesn’t matter if it’s Omaha or New York City. There are cool people…sometimes where you least expect.
T.S: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
AM Taxi: Living or dead? Well…Elvis during the Vegas years because Luke looks fantastic in a jumpsuit, The Runaways around 1976 because it might be a long tour and we’d get sick of each other’s faces and Otis Redding because we could all stand to learn a thing or two.
T.S: What are your top three musical influences?
AM Taxi:
Adam - The Clash, The Replacements, E Street Band
Luke - The Pixies, Weezer, My Uncle Mark
Jason - Zeppelin (John Paul Jones), The Roots (Ben Kenney), Chili Peppers (Flea)
Chris - Zeppelin, Pumpkins, Chili Peppers
John - Eddie Wilson, Citizen Dick, Ziggy Stardust
T.S: What are your plans for AM Taxi in the next year? Beyond that?
AM Taxi: We hope to be on the road pushing the new record. Warped should be fun but a lot of work. No long term plans, we’re just gonna keep doing what we do and try to enjoy every second.
T.S: Is there any instrument you don’t play already, but wish you did?
AM Taxi: Kazoo
T.S: What other projects have you been a part of as individuals?
AM Taxi: Buddy Nuisance, Logan Square, Lucky Boys Confusion, Air the Side of Caution and Deals Gone Bad to name a few.
T.S: Before you decided on AM Taxi, what other names did you come up with?
AM Taxi: We were called American Taxi for a bit, but there was another group with almost the same name. They came along first so we changed it to AM Taxi.
T.S: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
AM Taxi:
Adam - The Breeders, Flaming Lips, Tribe Called Quest and loads of others. It was the Lollapalooza tour one summer.
Luke - REM
John - Jerry Lee Lewis
Jason - Metallica
Chris - Lollapalooza
