Old rock'n'roll, folk-rock, techno-rock, acoustic ballads, pop songs, a Cajun waltz and a country and western lament. The lyrics vary from political to satirical tales to more personal stories.

17 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Political, COUNTRY: Country Blues



Details:
Taxi John has released his second CD "Hark the
Herald Barrel of Oil". Taxi John didn't get his performing name from
his mother. He was born in 1943 in Hamilton, Canada where his parents
gave him the name Jon Awde.
His friends named him Taxi John decades later
because he drove a cab in Toronto for over twenty years. He has
worked other jobs, attempted various careers, written a novel,
finished a screenplay and studied different forms of music.
But his real passion is writing songs. Taxi John
explains; "I've tried a lot of things but what I'm best at is
strumming a guitar and writing tunes." During the last fifteen years
he has been performing his songs at various Toronto clubs, including
the Free Times Café, the Silver Dollar and the Gladstone Hotel. For
the last four years, he has been performing at the Old York Tavern
where he met Grier Coppins from the band Taxi Chain. Coppins produced
"Hark the Herald Barrel of Oil" and some members of Taxi Chain play
on the CD.
"Hark the Herald Barrel of Oil" might surprise
listeners with its wide variety of musical styles; it has old
rock'n'roll, folk-rock, techno-rock, acoustic ballads, pop songs, a
Cajun waltz and a country and western lament. The lyrics vary from
political to satirical tales to more personal stories. "I played
these songs to Grier," Taxi John explains, "And we agreed that each
song had its own personality and we would try to bring that out in
the recordings. Some songs we left stark and simple and others we
filled out more. Whatever the song required."
Among the standout songs are;
"I've Been a Fool Again" A country and western lament,
detailing a man's condition and remorse after "three days of wine."
"Barrel of Oil" a critique of Western politics towards
the Middle East "they're very loyal to a barrel of oil" set to
eastern-tinged rock'n'roll in the tradition of "Paint it Black" by
the Rolling Stones.
"Canadians in Cowboy Hats" a satirical investigation
into the motives of Canadian performers who "roll over and play dead
for Uncle Sam" and sing about being from the United States.
"Mr. M." and "Privatize the Poor" are protest songs
for the modern world. The ballad "Summer Rain" shows the more
introspective side of Taxi John's writing.
Taxi John has been performing songs from "Hark the
Herald Barrel of Oil" in the Toronto area, both solo and with a band.
He looks forward to bringing his songs to a wider audience and adds
"I have a lot more songs."

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