If you’re even remotely a fan of live music, chances are you’ve heard of Brandon “Taz” Niederauer. A known shredder equally at home on the festival circuit or a television appearance, Taz has garnered critical acclaim and is in high demand pretty much everywhere. He is also known for his connection to the Allman Brothers family, having performed with Gregg himself as well as Oteil Burbridge, the late Col. Bruce Hampton, Derek and the late Butch Trucks, and Warren Haynes); thus it is only fitting that his newest project is Trouble No More, a new ensemble (sanctioned by the band) that’s been tasked with carrying on their live-performance legacy and introducing their music to a new generation. Recently Brandon “Taz” Niederauer took just a moment to answer a few questions about this new group, growing up as a musician, and more.
Andrew Howie: So Trouble No More, tell me a little about it and what’s in store.
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: It’s a band that creates realizations of Allman Brothers songs, the music of the Allman Brothers, and try to do it justice as best we can, but also a new younger spin on it, which I really like because it’s my favorite music in the world. It’s a crazy, crazy group of amazing musicians, all at the top of their field. We all have different main projects, but we come together to make this really cool thing and vibe with all these Allman Brothers songs. We have a lot of amazing people in this band, and we started with a tribute show for the 50th anniversary of Eat a Peach, one of the greatest albums of all time, and we’ve been playing more and more shows, which leads us to this Port Chester show, and I’m very excited for it.
AH: What is it about the music of the Allman Brothers that makes it so timeless and enduring?
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: Music that tears at your heartstrings and moves you in a certain way, it’s going to move a person here on Earth in 30 years, just like it moved someone who lived when this stuff came out. The thing that’s great about timeless music is it always evokes a reaction, it takes over your brain with memories, and allows you to live freely. That’s the reaction I get, whether it’s Allman Brothers or The Beatles or something else. The great thing about Allman Brothers music is how improvisational it is. It really depended on where they were playing, and all these other factors, what was going on in their lives, and that all came together through this immense and amazing expression, almost a spirituality in a sense, with all of this music, and you can really hear it in those recordings. I’m super excited to keep those traditions going with these shows.
AH: So in a sense, this spiritual sense, it’s part of how you communicate, you’d say?
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: I was never the best at communicating my emotions; the best way I’ve learned to do that is through guitar or singing a song. There is no better way of therapy for me than to sit down with a guitar. It’s always been like that, it’s always been the most natural. The guitar has always been my best friend; any emotions I have I can channel through this little piece of wood plugged into an amp and play really loudly for 90 minutes or so. It’s a really nice experience and a nice way to be able to express myself, which is sometimes hard for me. That’s why music is the same as it was when I was starting. It’s always been like that.
AH: Do you find your perspective has been at all influenced by any of the artists you’ve played with over the years?
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: I’ve been blessed to play with so any artists. Everybody has a different perspective and genre, but at the same time the songs channel the same emotions out of people. It’s about the connection between you and the audience, and if they believe or connect with the emotions in the sound wave. As far as songwriting goes, you can have death metal or country or classical, but everybody can understand what the person is trying to say, and as long as people understand what you’re trying to say, that’s a successful song in a sense. Being creative and writing songs, you start with a blank piece of paper and create something that in itself is literally timeless. What I’m basically getting at is as long as there is emotion there and intention there, that’s what makes the greatest songs.
AH: It must be a trip to have had music play such an intrinsic part of your formative years.
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: Being exposed to the music industry and the good and the bad since I was very young, it’s definitely had good and bad effects on me. All in all though it’s been an amazing experience. It’s taught me to become a very hardworking person, and also the stars have aligned where I am somehow able to attract people to come watch me play. I can’t believe it. I’m a fan first, and the fact that people want to come to my shows, I am just so grateful for it.
I think my whole time in the music industry, which is probably seven years as a pro, has also taught me that the road can be unforgiving, but it will teach you a lot about yourself. Just being in the bands, vans, meeting people and fans, having your good and your bad days, just the fact that the band comes together and keeps rolling on, it’s a cool experience. I’ve been on a constant journey of finding myself as a person, just as everyone else is at my age. Being on the road and meeting so many people has helped me sort of hammer away at the iceberg.
AH: Do your friends dig the scene or come to shows? Do you have any trouble balancing your musical responsibilities with everyday life?
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: Some of my friends have seen me play. We think it’s super cool when they’re there, but my friends are just super normal. They help me through things, I have my good and bad days, but they remind me constantly just through cracking jokes, making fun, I’m not any more or less important than anyone else. They keep me really grounded in that regard by just roasting me. When I wake up the first thing I want to do is hang out with them, especially the ones here at Yale. They give me a new perspective on life. They’ve always been here for me. I met them pretty much as soon as I got here.
They’re the best individuals I’ve ever met, and it’s the same with my brother. I do whatever I can in the industry, but I go home and my brother can beat me up if he really wants to, I’ve accepted that. I love him and we have a really strong bond. I know him and he knows me and we love each other more than anyone else in the world. We have a really good dynamic, and playing with him is the best experience. He also helps me on my bad days, and vice versa, and we have a really nice relationship like that. Through him, my friends, our parents (greatest in the world), I’m so blessed, super blessed with my whole situation with my circle right now. I’m so humbled to have all of them. It keeps me down to earth, experiencing life without a huge head.
