MOON TAXI

Interview by Christine Sloman Press Photo by Don VanCleave Live Photos by Ross Bustin

Having spent the past 15 years selling out shows and headlining festivals, the guys in Moon Taxi know how to pull off the whole “being in a band” thing. The Nashville rockers have experienced quite a lot together, and the nostalgia they feel looking back at all of those memories can be heard on their latest album, Silver Dream.

The band made most of the album on their own, which gave them the freedom to experiment with their sound. As they dabbled in genres such as folk, alt-rock, and soul, Moon Taxi took their music to new heights. New doors and possibilities were opened sonically, with the lyrics to these tracks staying as grounded and inspiring as ever. We hear about the importance of taking risks, standing up for yourself, and celebrating the good times, which are all essential functions of life.

We had the opportunity to reminisce with Moon Taxi’s keyboardist, Wes Bailey, on the album making process, standout tracks, favorite memories with the band, and what it has been like playing shows post-lockdown.

SIMILAR ARTISTS: Young the Giant, OneRepublic, Little Comets LISTEN: “Keep It Together”, “Live For It”, “Say”

Melodic Magazine: Congratulations on the release of your fifth studio album, Silver Dream! What was the creative process like for this album, and how did it feel to have it come out after such a stressful year? Wes Bailey: Silver Dream was a unique process for us in that we co-wrote a lot of the songs with some fantastic LA songwriter/producers in July 2019. There are so many lyrics that fit perfectly into what people were feeling in 2020, so it felt good to have some songs that hopefully brought them comfort. “Yea it’s been a hard year for me too” from “Light Up” comes to mind.

Melodic Magazine: “Hometown Heroes” became a huge hit during lockdown last year, and served as an anthem for frontline and essential workers. What was it like to see the track take on this meaning and connect with so many people? Wes Bailey: Those frontline workers are certainly the heroes of the past year. We never imagined the song would apply to that type of situation when we wrote it, but are so grateful that it could be heard from that perspective. That song will always serve as a reminder of their sacrifice.

Melodic Magazine: Is there a track on Silver Dream that speaks to you the most? Wes Bailey: I personally love “Above The Water” because it was written solely by the band; it feels like we have more ownership. I love its message about the person or people in your life keeping your head held high when things are low. Melodic Magazine: You recently played a small string of shows in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. What were these shows like? Did it feel like things were back to normal? Wes Bailey: Things are very close to back to normal and that excites us a lot. The pod style shows are a bit different for us because obviously people are so spread out, but we’re just thankful to be playing again. The new songs are sounding great live and we’ve been doing some really cool stuff with them for the show.

Melodic Magazine: Of course, tours were canceled/rescheduled last year due to Covid. They are just now starting to come back and you guys recently announced that you will be hitting the road in a couple of months for the Silver Dream Tour. Are you ready/anxious/excited to be properly touring again? Wes Bailey: We can’t wait to see all the friends and fans we missed out on last year, and of course some of our favorite venues. We’re very excited to get back out doing what we love.

Melodic Magazine: Do you ever get nervous for shows or performances, like a television appearance or even just a nightly show on tour? Wes Bailey: I remember being really nervous for Letterman because it was our first Late Night appearance. I stared at the ceiling the whole night before trying to imagine how the day of show would go. Other than that, we’ve played probably over a thousand shows at this point so nerves aren’t really an issue at this point.

Melodic Magazine: Having been together since 2006, is it mind-blowing to think that it’s been 15 years of Moon Taxi? Did you all think you would still be together at this point? Wes Bailey: And what’s even more rare is that it’s been the same five guys who have eaten Five Guys burgers together since 2005. I always imagined we would last this long, despite all the high cholesterol.

Melodic Magazine: What would you say has been your favorite project or endeavor with Moon Taxi, be it a tour, a performance, an album, a collaboration...? Wes Bailey: Seeing the massive streaming success “Two High” had in 2017/2018 was really rewarding. That song had so much meaning to us, and to see it connect in such a big way felt like our years of hard work were paying off. Melodic Magazine: Any funny or embarrassing memories you have with the band that you can share with us? Wes Bailey: I was accidentally left at a rural Alabama gas station by the band back when we were in a van and I had no cellphone. I used a telephone book to locate our drummer’s parents who lived 30 minutes away. I was also in a tux.

Melodic Magazine: Where do you see Moon Taxi in another 15 years? Wes Bailey: Less shows, more babies. I think we’ll keep putting music out in some capacity ‘til we start writing songs about prune juice and social security.