Tavern Tan
Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005 | INDIE
Music
Press
By Dave Howell Special to The Morning Call
“All the Right Mistakes” Tavern Tan Fez Monkey Records 2012
There are a few mistakes here, and maybe not always the right ones, but they are overshadowed by solid songwriting and tight musicianship. On its fourth release, Tavern Tan changes its sound with 14 tracks that are all written by the band members.
This CD comes closer to a singer/songwriter vibe and might be a shade more folk oriented, although “Lock of Your Hair” is straight ahead rock and roll, and the opening cut “Demolish Me” has an easy going drive. It is darker in tone, too, as titles like “Pinewood Overcoat” suggest.
Harmonica player Tom Aczel takes a stronger role on this CD. He wrote four songs and co-wrote one, and his country-inflected playing is more prominent. The electric and acoustic guitars of Andrew Brubaker and Doug Ashby blend together more seamlessly than ever. Everyone sings, including drummer Dave Joachim and bassist Bill Melcher, and all but Melcher contributed songs.
(Tavern Tan) shows an energy and groove that carries from the swamp rock of “Devil Come Up” to the slightly goofy barroom lament “Only Song I Know.” With so many different songwriters in the band, they come up with a lot of variety in their alt-country/Americana/roots music that gets better all the time.
- The Morning Call, 2012
By Rosemary Pratka
Those who spend their days sleeping in and their nights at the local honky-tonk basking in the shining neon of lights develop what is known as the tavern tan.
Bands that play out a lot also develop this look, and one listen to Tavern Tan's debut disc, ''Foxed, Flawed & Cupshot,'' a tightly played collection of rock 'n' roll, American roots music and blues, will tell you this group is acquainted with the lifestyle.
Everyone in the band writes songs and takes a turn on lead vocals (during live shows they also switch instruments occasionally).
Vocalist-guitarist Doug Ashby, known for his blues-based band Hurry Down Sunshine, pulls out all the stops on ''I Ain't Got You'' as he runs through what he has — cigarettes, gas in the car, a temporary job — everything but what he really wants. Ashby is ably complemented by countrified R&B guitar and Tom Aczel's down-home harmonica.
Guitarist Andrew Brubaker's ''Becky Brown'' is an original murder ballad, updated lyrically but sung in a folksy Americana style, while ''Caroline Lee,'' written by Aczel, is about the girl everyone desires — to their detriment. The upbeat swing style and the rhythmic tempo set by drummer Dave Joachim make it a great dance track.
The disc ends with a cover of the late RL Burnside song ''Jumper On The Line.'' Tavern Tan tears it up wildly, with Ashby's rough, frantic vocals and rapid-guitar riffs a testament to the passing on of a tradition to able hands. - The Morning Call, Allentown, PA
Roots-Rockin' Band At Godfrey Daniels
When not making road trips to New Orleans, as Tavern Tan did in April, or opening for The Neville Brothers, Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker, the Lehigh Valley quintet often plies its trade in area taprooms such as Bethlehem's Funhouse. However, on Saturday Tavern Tan will present its blues-heavy, roots-rockin' music in more genteel quarters, at Godfrey Daniels. And why not? The band is more than capable of juke-joint jive full of hot guitar licks, rhythmic backbone and down-and-dirty harmonica. But Tavern Tan's songs also have depth and emotion— perfect for a listening room.
- - Morning Call (Jun 26, 2008)
Discography
"All the Right Mistakes" 2012 on Fez Monkey Records. 14 tracks
"A Barrel Full", 2009 on Fez Monkey Records, 17 tracks.
"3 Horse Power", 2007 on Fez Monkey Records. 16 tracks.
"Foxed, Flawed and Cupshot, 2006 on Fez Monkey Records. 14 tracks.
Much local radio airplay on WDIY 88.1 FM and WXLV 90.3 FM, as well as WMUH, WLVR In PA. All songs are available on iTunes, Spotify, Rhapsody, MySpace, and numerous other internet music sources.
Photos
Bio
It's the complexion you get from the neon nightly beer lightsa tavern tan. And these boys spend a whole lotta time workin' on it.
Yes, Tavern Tan play Live American Music. This is the sound that used to be standard in taverns, pubs, bars, juke joints, dancehalls, and the local dive in every town and city in America...before the Karaoke machine was created and the theme restaurants took their ugly hold. Roots, blues, honky tonk country, R&B, pop, and plain ol' good rock n' roll!
Now based in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, and with experienced members that have played (individually or collectively) at Gun Clubs, Honky Tonks, Festivals in Europe, NY Studios, down In Memphis TN at Sun Records, and opened for various BIG GAME like Neville Bros, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker (R.I.P.), and R.L. Burnside (R.I.P.), this is the sound of original roots rock n' roll. The sound of a small portable drum kit with the guitar amps along the back wall. The sound of Tavern Tan.
After the success of their first CD, "Foxed, Flawed and Cupshot"2006 Fez Monkey Recordsthe boys of Tavern Tan shambled into Dan's House Studio (Center Valley, PA) again in the spring of 2007 and blasted into 16 all-new tunes...with Dan McKinney of the classic garage rock outfit The Original Sins not only producing...but again rippin' it up on keyboards on select cuts! "3 Horse Power", from 2007 Fez Monkey Records, explored more facets of their eclectic roots/rock style....from the hard hitting, rocking opening mission statement "Rock n' Roll Shoes", to the honky-tonk country cover of Ray Price's "Crazy Arms", to the hypnotic modal blues of "Come on Home", and on to the completely un-definable silliness (or possibly GENIUS) of the funky "Monkey with a Fez On" , this CD confirmed that Tavern Tan has absolutely no idea what they are doing...and they'd love to keep it that way. It's just too much fun. These polished, experienced musicians play without a set list, and rip through a dynamic show that is unique—no two shows are alike! Don't miss it!
17 new songs appeared in the late summer of 2009. The 3rd Tavern Tan release was "A Barell Full"...another sharp, rollicking blow to the back of the head of rock n roll, blues, country and a few genres that haven't even been named yet.
In 2012, along came the latest set of tunes on Fez Monkey Records, called "All the Right Mistakes". This set again expands upon the Tavern Tan canon of eclectic rock n' roll and was recorded at Westwires Recording, USA and produced by Wayne Becker and the band. It's another winner and has received extensive local radio airplay, extensive itunes downloads and excellent reviews...The Tan continues to write songs and perform wherever and whenever the neon beer lights call, and people want a refreshing take on original, rootsy rock n roll!!!
Visit us at our official webiste, www.taverntan.com as well as our MySpace page (www.myspace.com/taverntan) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tavern-Tan/146310798921) for more songs and info!
Recent successful shows include:
Godfrey Daniels/Bethlehem, PA, sold out shows 2/26/11, 3/9/12, 3/5/16
2-hour sets at North Bethlehem's Musikfest and at South Bethlehem's Steel Stacks Musikfest 2008-12, 2013-14, Bethlehem, PA...as well as numerous Steel Stacks events and festivals
2015 VIP Concert Easton PA, BaconFest, one of the largest food festivals in the country
Opened for and accompanied Celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse at IACP Charity Benefit, New Orleans, LA on 4/17/08
Live 1-hour set on WDIY 88.1 FM opening for The Alexis P. Suter Band of Levon Helm's Midnight Rambles.
Puck/Doylestown, PA
Bear Creek Resort, Macungie, PA
Flow, Jim Thorpe, PA
Live performances on WXLV 90.3 FM Allentown
Lehigh River Blues Festival/Catasauqua, PA
McCoole's Beer Fest, Red Lion Inn, Quakertown, PA
Monthly shows at The Funhouse/Bethlehem, PA
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