Like Trains & Taxis
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
This band has the ability to take the best aspects of what used to make great music great & merge it together with the uncanny, innovative & creative approach that continues to produce their heartfelt work.
-Valerie Gonzalez - Rapt Magazine
The EP sounds like what the world would still be listening to had Stevie Wonder not gone all adult contemporary on us a few years back or, to put it in other terms, like a much more soulful version of Spoon.
Alex Biese - Metromix, Jersey Shore
New Brunswick indie-soul combo Like Trains and Taxis comes up kings with its latest EP, ""Charlie,'' a work balancing measured restraint and soaring invention that haunts with a cool yet pervading air -- even at only four songs.
While vocalist Chris Harris has obviously taken a cue from Donny Hathaway's smoky, slinking croon, and the trio collectively draws just much from "Kid A''-era Radiohead as it does Johnny Ace and Stevie Wonder, Like Trains and Taxis' finest achievement with "Charlie'' is its ability to build off classical foundations while creating something that's far more relevant than the simple sum of its influences. - Asbury Park Press
Like Trains & Taxis – I’ve Got Nothing But Love For This Trio
-Joi - Strike a Chord Music Blog
The music is real rich, loaded with smooth talent and a touch of wit--you can literally hear the girls and gay men melting in their seats.
-SD - Tambourine Music Blog
They’re a fresh new band with a vocalist that has the x-factor, love them.”
-Scott Stamper
Owner/Talent Buyer of The Saint - Scott Stamper
"Like Trains & Taxis puts on a live show that is as energetic as it is eclectic. Their mellow and confident enthusiasm puts them on a tier with bands that have been around much longer."
- Ian Kelly, Stage Manager, Alicia Keys
- Ian Kelly
“The musical journey this band will take you on passes through a myriad of genres, from piano pop to jazz, with occasional pit stops in soul. If you are ready to be taken for a smooth and relaxing ride, Like Trains and Taxis is ready to take you on board.” - Bill's Music Forum
“Like Trains & Taxis focuses on quality songwriting. Lead singer Chris Harris guides the band with his sultry vocal and piano lines, through songs that evoke both the soul of Stevie Wonder and the offbeat nuanced approach of bands like Ben Folds Five.” - The Deli Magazine
“An irresistible three-piece blend that sits on the outer ledge of jazz and ultra chic alternative pop. This band comes up with the coolest arrangements and soundscaped colors, and the outcome is both memorable and specific. The amount of people that I’ve seen at their shows tells me that they are becoming an important and vital addition to our music scene here in New Jersey and the rest of the world.” – The Aquarian - The Aquarian
“One part soul, one part pop, one part jazz, and a dash of rock and roll tossed in for good measure... Ben Folds Five meets John Legend." - City Beat
“Incredible debut album…a return to lyrics that not only have meaning, but those whose message remain with you throughout the day. Their sound is so refreshing and inspiring.” – Mostly Junk Food - Mostly Junk Food
“How can you not love these guys? I loved how [Bullet to the Brain] built to the unexpected bridge! This is one I’ve found myself going back to over and over. And the rest of the CD is as good or better.” - Music Savvy Mom
“This trio has a jazzy vibe of soothing, soulful, bubbly pop melodies, with rock undertones that will enlighten and charm any listener’s ear. This 11 track disc has a diverse range that makes the guys stand out from the crowd and is sure to please a multitude of musical tastes.” - Eat Sleep Breathe Music
I can't say I have heard anything exactly like this, which is always a thumbs up in my eyes. Like Trains & Taxis plays an upbeat poppy form of Jazz with soft vocals that tell you a story and make you want to sing along. Check em out. - Chris Mattern - Chris Mattern (Jersey Beat)
Discography
"Like Trains & Taxis EP" (2008)
"Charlie EP" (2009)
"Tales from a Revolving Door" (2010)
Photos
Bio
"Like Trains & Taxis features the compositional wizardry of Chris Harris, a guy who combines the traditional talents of Billy Preston, Booker T, Sly Stone and Ray Manzarek all rolled into one." Says John Pfeiffer of The Aquarian Arts weekly
Since November 2007, Like Trains & Taxis has evolved into one of the most promising bands on the east coast. Sometimes referred to as “Indie-Soul,” Like Trains & Taxis combines a modern indie sensibility with traditional notions of song writing, aiming to create songs that hold up on their own without relying on gimmicks and superficial fluff. This idea of shifting the focus back to the song is central to the Like Trains & Taxis philosophy. Imbued with the D.I.Y ethos of their home town, New Brunswick, NJ, the band has played nearly 250 shows in 31 different states, developing a reputation not only for their fiercely original and intelligent music, but for their dynamic, if not hypnotic, live show. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Like Trains & Taxis was nominated for 5 Asbury Music Awards in 2009 to go along with their 3 nominations from 2008 including: Best Pop Band, Best Male Vocalist, and Best Keyboard player, as well as being labeled Badass new band of 2008 by the Asbury Park Press.
The trio is composed of lead singer Chris Harris, whose pursuit of the song as art object informs Like Trains & Taxis' underlying sincerity; a characteristic that has become the backbone of their style, even in its most esoteric moments. The songs are then taken to the next level by Owen Susman and Mike Del Priore, whose musicianship adds texture and brings the music to life, inspiring the entire band, as a collective, to color the final arrangements. The end result is a sound that at times recalls classic soul singers like Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, as well as the off beat nuanced approach of artists like Ben Folds and Fiona Apple, with hints of modern titans such as Radiohead, and the "post genre" ideology of the 21st century.
Like Trains & Taxis released their debut full length album, "Tales from a Revolving Door," on April 6, 2010.
Links
