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Morgan Taylor's Rock grooup
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A move to a huge metropolis like New York City can be pretty daunting for anyone. Especially for a musician. And being a Midwesterner can certainly add an extra layer of culture shock.
But Dayton native Morgan Taylor has found the entire experience a thoroughly invigorating one. The singer/songwriter/guitarist, who played with numerous bands in the area, including most recently the amazing Pop machine, Mink, is enthralled by the constant stimulation of the city.
"There's always something creepy or funny going on," he says. "Even going from your place to the corner store for light bulbs, you don't know what you'll see during that 30-second walk. I can see how people burn out from the constant 'go-dog-go' vibe of this place though. It hasn't gotten me yet."
Hastened by late-night conversations with NYC-based singer/songwriter David Poe (also a Dayton native) and several successful shows in the city with Mink, Taylor decided to make his move. Upon arrival, he procured a job running sound at a downtown club, The Living Room. That experience, he says, has been the cornerstone of his life in New York.
"Every person that's important to me in New York, I've met from working at (The Living Room)," Taylor says. "Bandmates, best friends, girlfriend, manager, recording engineers, lawyers, publishers, publicists. How many people get to come home and tell the truth when they say 'Oh, work was fine tonight, David Bowie stopped in to catch a band I was mixing.' "
Taylor writes the incredibly catchy and crafty Pop/Rock songs of the Morgan Taylor Rock Group, but he shied away from presenting it as a complete solo affair. To stay away from the singer/songwriter stigma of "a guy sitting in a café singing sensitive songs to a group of people all sipping warm water," Taylor enlisted a new set of bandmates. Bassist Ronnie Smith, drummer Jeff Lipstein and guitarist/keyboardist Fil Krohnengold each found their way into the band after Taylor liked what he saw -- personally and musically -- when they were in different bands playing the Living Room.
"I wanted a band with four strong characters who wanted to commit because they love the songs and believe in it," he says. "That's what's good about New York also is that there's enough people to not end up with a band member who rocks out wearing a mullet and sweatpants."
A seven-song disc Taylor self-released shows the group falling along the similar Smart-Pop stylings as his former Dayton band, with a touch more focus. Addictive, graceful tracks like "Awake," "Bring Back Summer" and "Dear Lorraine" are as hook-ridden and crafty as anything you'll hear on Modern Rock radio these days -- if not more so. And Taylor's song lyrics -- visceral and uniquely poetic -- give them an edge over most of the songs they'd fill a playlist with. There's an economy of words at work that gives the songs a precision and honesty that pulls the listener in.
"I like simplicity and directness," Taylor says. "Even if it's an abstract concept, it can be done (directly). (I like to) describe things, or get (my) point across with as few words as possible. I enjoy twisting grammar -- even putting words in the wrong order to use less syllables -- but have it come out clearly. It forces you to pick the strongest words."
Taylor and his bandmates have been experimenting with various studios in the city, with hopes to have a full-length out by spring. Being in a major music hub like New York, it's almost a given that a band this tight and effective would draw "industry types" to their shows. But Taylor insists he pays as little attention to that as possible.
"We've had quite a bit of buzzing around at shows, and are being spied on by frothy-mouthed goons wearing T-shirts and blazers," he says. "That's all I'll say for now about that. If you care too much about that stuff, it ruins everything."
Instead, Taylor concentrates on making his music the best it can be. Despite the disposable nature of popular music these days, this singer/songwriter has confidence that people will always return to what is real and timeless.
"People buy turds because there's a unicorn and rainbow painted on the box, and because TV Guide tells them everyone else is already buying it," Taylor says. "Then everyone does buy it and it becomes 'successful.' "
"I'm not worried, though. Only the good stuff lasts," he adds. "All I can do is come up with music that I like, tell my story my way, and then play it and mean it. The listener can tell if you're for real or not."
MORGAN TAYLOR'S ROCK GROUP plays Sudsy Malone's on Friday with Rockets To Mars and Saving Ray.
