Josh Montoya refuses to give anything less than his full attention when it comes to any musical experience—a trait that makes him both an excellent musician, and a terrible multitasker. “I can’t even drive with music on,” he says. “It would be like bringing a Gameboy to an art museum.” Since 2008, he’s provided lead vocals and acoustic strums for The Taxi Project, as well as composed and arranged tunes for the sprawling band.
“There’s 14 different people that played on the record, between official members and special guests,” he says, referring to the band’s latest album, Dry Bones Dancing. “I really want the record to be an experience, [for people] to feel like they’ve gone on a ride, and feel like they’re in a different place than where they started.” Considering the quality of the album and the caliber of the band, Montoya appears to have accomplished his objective. Filled with layer upon layer of instrumentation and Montoya’s soulful vocals, Dry Bones Dancing balances structured songs and extended jams, sweeping the listener up in a wave of sound without watering down the basics of melody and rhythm. “We focus on improv,” he says. “The goal is for the audience to never see the same show twice.” The band will release four songs off the album each Thursday in January on its website, starting on Jan. 5 and ending on Jan. 26, when it will become available for purchase on iTunes. “[We’re] very proud of what we’ve made” says Montoya. “When I say that I’m proud of it, it’s in the same sense that you get after a good workout. A sense of peace, like, we got to where we were hoping we could get … We did the thing we set out to do, and now whatever people think of it is icing on the cake.” SCOTT MORLEY
INFO: For more information about The Taxi Project, upcoming shows, and to hear songs off the band’s latest album, visit thetaxiproject.com.
