NEW YORK (Atlantic Records) -
Velvet Hammer Music/Atlantic recording group
Taproot has announced the release of its much anticipated third album. The album - dubbed "BLUE-SKY RESEARCH" - will arrive in stores on August 16th.
Produced by Toby Wright (who helmed Taproot's critically praised "WELCOME"), "BLUE-SKY RESEARCH" sees the Ann Arbor-based quartet continuing their musical exploration of hard rock's many textures. The album showcases Taproot's gifts for inventive melodies and thought-provoking lyricism, as is evident in the album's first single, "Calling." "BLUE-SKY RESEARCH" finds the band collaborating with such like-minded artists as Billy Corgan, who shares credit on three of the album's most intriguing songs: "Lost In The Woods," "Violent Seas," and "Promise." Overall, the album displays Taproot's consistently remarkable artistic growth, once again showing them to be among today's finest hard rock outfits.
"Calling" has already provoked a huge reaction at multi-format rock radio outlets across the country. The track has bulleted onto the Active Rock and Alternative national airplay charts, and is currently among the week's five most-added new songs at both formats. In addition, "Calling" has received the No 3 most-increased plays at Active Rock stations nationwide. A companion video for the track, directed by Moh Azima, was recently shot in Los Angeles.
Considered one of today's most striking live acts, Taproot will spend the summer on the road, heralding the upcoming release of "BLUE-SKY RESEARCH." The band is currently slated to join forces with Chevelle for a major U.S. tour. The trek - which kicks off on July 9th in Indianapolis - also features support from 30 Seconds to Mars (see attached itinerary).
Founded in 1997, Taproot made their Velvet Hammer Music/Atlantic debut with 2000's "GIFT," which featured the Active Rock radio hit, "Again and Again." They followed that success two years later with the Toby Wright-produced "WELCOME," a collection which spawned the major rock smash "Poem."
In addition to their success at radio, Taproot has also built a loyal and devoted fanbase via their powerful and provocative live shows. The band has headlined a number of national tours, been a fan favorite on Ozzfests 2000 and 2001, and made notable support appearances alongside Linkin Park, Incubus, Deftones, and Mudvayne.
Taproot is: Stephen Richards: vocals, guitar; Mike DeWolf: guitars; Philip Lipscomb: bass; Jarrod Montague: drums.
TAPROOT SUMMER 2005
All Dates with Chevelle & 30 Seconds to Mars
* signifies headline show
JULY
9 Indianapolis, IN Murat Egyptian Room
11 Flint, MI Machine Shop*
12 Grand Rapids, MI Orbit
14 Ft. Wayne, IN Piere's
15 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
16 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
18 Toledo, OH Headliners
19 Pittston Township, PA The Staircase
21 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
22 Northampton, MA Pearl Street
23 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
25 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
26 Dewey Beach, DE Baycenter at Rusty Rudder
28 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
29 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
AUGUST
1 Portland, ME State Theatre
2 Boston, MA The Roxy
3 New York, NY Irving Plaza
5 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
6 Columbia, SC Headliners*
8 Orlando, FL House of Blues
9 Tampa, FL Jannus Landing
11 Birmingham, AL Sloss Furnace
13 Chicago, IL Tweeter Center
14 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center
16 Detroit, MI St. Andrews*
