April 3 — A month after announcing it will release its first new album in more than a decade, Taproot premiered the first single from that album this week.
The band debuted its new single, ‘VIP – V\C\T\M PLAY’ Monday. The song, which is available to stream and download is the first preview of the band’s forthcoming album, SC\SSRS. The record is scheduled for release Sept. 29 through THC Music/Amplified Distribution. The record will be the band’s first new music since the release of its album, The Episodes, in 2012.
Taproot’s new album will feature a revamped lineup from the band, of sorts. Original drummer Jarrod Montague has returned on this record. New guitarist Taylor Roberts also provides his talents to the record alongside Richards and longtime bassist Phil Lipscomb, who has been a member of the band since its formation in 1997.
The musical arrangement featured in Taproot’s new single boasts all of the intensity and fire of the aggro-rock compositions for which the band had come to be known throughout the course of its existing albums. Front man Stephen Richards’ familiar distinct vocal delivery style is as present as ever here, as are the sharp guitar lines and that equally distinct sound from the drums.
No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the news release announcing the song’s premiere. The lyrics provided with the song on the band’s official Bandcamp page hint at a theme of someone dealing with another person who is a toxic personality. That is just this critic’s interpretation.
In other news, Taproot has announced a new tour schedule in support of its new album. The tour is scheduled to launch Sept. 29 at The Machine Shop in Flint, MI, where the band will host a record release show. Tickets for the concert are sold out, as are tickets for a second show at the venue Sept. 30.
Tickets for a third scheduled date Oct. 30 at The Machine Shop are available here.
Following the band’s brief “residency” at The Machine Shop, it will head to The Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, IL on Oct. 6 and The Forge in Joliet, IL Oct. 7. Dates through the rest of October and into November are also included in the band’s tour, which is noted below.
Fri 9/29 – The Machine Shop | Flint, MI – SOLD OUT w/ Heartsick | Lift the Medium
Sat 9/30 – The Machine Shop | Flint, MI – SOLD OUT w/ Eva Under Fire | See This Through | Never the Crash
Sun 10/1 – The Machine Shop | Flint, MI – with Eva Under Fire | Heartsick
etix.com/ticket/p/7556754/taproot18-flint-the-machine-shop
Fri 10/6 – The Apollo Theatre – Belvidere, IL- w/ Smile Empty Soul | Heartsick | Finding Ghosts
https://www.ticketweb.com/event/taproot-the-apollo-theatre-ac-tickets/13044905
Sat 10/7 – The Forge | Joliet, IL- w/ Smile Empty Soul | Heartsick
https://www.ticketweb.com/event/taproot-the-forge-tickets/13047315
Fri 10/13 – EPIC Event Center | Green Bay, WI- w/ September Mourning | Heartsick
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7467383/taproot-green-bay-epic-event-center
Sat 10/14 – The Blue Note | Harrison, OH- w/ September Mourning | Lift the Medium, Xero Hour
https://www.cincyticket.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=6170
Fri 10/20 – The KING of CLUBS | Columbus, OH-w/ September Mourning | XFACTOR1 | Artifax
https://wl.seetickets.us/event/Taproot/538999?afflky=TheKingofClubs
Sat 10/21 – The Winchester Music Tavern | Lakewood, OH- w/ September Mourning | Brothers At Arms
https://bit.ly/TAPROOT_216
Fri 11/3 – Wally’s | Hampton Beach, NH w/ Eva Under Fire
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/01005E7B0FDABC20
Sat 11/4 – The Gramercy Theatre | NYC, NY- w/ Eva Under Fire
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00005E7BE2474039
Fri 11/17 – Elevation | Grand Rapids, MI
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7187497/taproot-grand-rapids-the-intersection-elevation
Sat 11/18 – The Eclectic Room | Angola, IN
https://www.ticketweb.com/event/taproot-album-release-tour-the-eclectic-room-tickets/13087705
Before Taproot launches its upcoming tour in support of its new album, it will also perform at a pair of festivals Aug. 18 and Sept. 7-10 respectively. The band’s Aug. 18 performance is at the Northwoods Rock Rally in Glen Flora, WI. The September schedule is at the annual Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, VA.
Montague will appear on the band’s “reunion show” at this year’s annual Blue Ridge Rock Fest. Dave Coughlin (Sponge), who has handled drumming duties for the band since 2013, will handle drumming duties on the rest of the band’s tour.
In other news, Taproot is also scheduled to release a new compilation record, titled Best of Besides May 5. Pre-orders for the 17-song record, which features remastered demos and rarities, are open.
More information on Taproots’ new album, compilation record, and live dates is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Website: https://Officialtaproot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaprootMusic
