Bonnaroo Blog caught up with Moon Taxi’s Wes Bailey to talk with him about the band’s first appearance at the festival in June.
By Evan Brenner
This year marks 11 exceptional years for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and Moon Taxi’skeyboard player Wes Bailey couldn’t be more excited to finally play the festival that’s literally down the road from his band’s home base of Nashville, Tennessee.
“Seeing a Moon Taxi-less lineup for so many years was pretty discouraging,” said Bailey.
But, Bailey, who’s originally from Knoxville, said he feels the festival invite couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for the group, and accredits years of writing, practicing and playing shows to the band’s readiness to rock Bonnaroo.
Bailey began playing music with friends at the age of 15. Hearing Phish for the first time encouraged him to study jazz theory and improvisation. By the time he reached college, he had several songs written, which he shared with Trevor Terndrup, Moon Taxi’s lead singer.
“Moon Taxi’s singer (Trevor) heard one called ‘Totally Nude’ and loved it,” said Bailey.
Terndrup wrote lyrics for it, and started performing the song. This eventually led to Bailey joining the band, making it his main project.
Bailey is excited to play the festival, and hopes the group’s music will find new listeners that enjoy their style as well.
“I think I’m most looking forward to all the people that have never seen or heard Moon Taxi experiencing their first show,” said Bailey.
When it comes to the Bonnaroo’s makeshift city, otherwise known as the campgrounds, Bailey said he might take advantage of the proximity to his Nashville home during the weekend.
“I don’t think my girlfriend will go for bathing in that mushroom fountain,” he said.
Bailey’s keyboard playing recently landed him in an issue of Keyboardmag.com, which can be viewed by clicking here. The band has also received praise in newspapers like the University of Georgia’s independent student newspaper, Red and Black.
He recalled his most memorable show with Moon Taxi to date, where they opened forMatisyahu in Washington, D.C.
“I had never played a room that size where the balcony wrapped around the stage packed with people. There was insane energy coming from every direction and it felt like we were the headlining act that night,” said Bailey.
Speaking of Matisyahu, the reggae artist lends his vocal prowess to the band’s track, Square Circles, off their most recent record, Cabaret.
Make sure you catch Moon Taxi at this year’s Bonnaroo, and heed to Bailey’s advice regarding an item nobody in the campgrounds should forget: Gold Bond.
Check out Moon Taxi on Social Media:
Check out Moon Taxi on Facebook: Facebook.com/ridethemoontaxi
Check out Moon Taxi on Myspace: Myspace.com/moontaxi
Official Web site: Ridethemoontaxi.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/ridethemoontaxi
evanbrenner.com 