Review By: Heather Penfield MacNeill | Photography By: Nadine Swiger

If you were looking for a sick tattoo Saturday night, and hoping to catch an even sicker live show, then the Mohawk Valley Tattoo Expo was where you needed to be. Taproot, rocked the Herkimer County Fairground stage, drowning out the buzzing of tattoo guns and revving bike engines. Those who were there to get some ink laid down by some of the hottest tattoo artists in the region had the aggressive riffs of Taproot to heal their pain. Hailing from Ann Arbor Michigan, Taproot first entered the scene back in 1997. With performances at Ozzfest, their album “Welcome” at gold status, and several highly successful singles, Taproot has endured and evolved since their 90’s rap rock days. Now with a darker more mature sound, minus the rapping, their latest album “Plead the Fifth” was released in May of 2010, and has

been described as a return to their roots while still remaining innovative and experimental. Saturday’s crowd made up of tattoo fans, stunt drivers, bikers, and roller derby girls were certainly quick to show their appreciation of the band’s latest incarnation, responding enthusiastically to vocalist Stephen Richards’ characteristically energetic performance. Drummer Nick Fredell also put on the inspired show that only a newcomer to the band could. With the band only a short time, but a fan of Taproot for years, Fredell has gone from fan to band member, in what can only be described as a dream-come-true scenario for many musicians. To hear him speak about this amazing experience as well as much more check out MPJ’s interview with him here. And for fans wishing to see even more of Taproot, the band

also debuted a brand new music video of their song “Release Me” which is available for viewing on the band’s Youtube channel, and is one definitely not to be missed. Not only this, but there are still some remaining shows left on their latest tour with at least seven more stops in venues across the country. Hurry up and catch them before this tour ends!

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PHOTO GALLERIES:

* TAPROOT :: PHOTO GALLERY

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For more information on:

TAPROOT : taprootmusic.com

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