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ModernRock.com Presents...
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Tantric
Style(s): Modern Rock, Alt Metal, Rock
Location: Louisville, KY
Label: Maverick/WEA
Manager: Left Bank
Booking: 310-288-4545
Influence(s): Tool, Metallica, 8 Ball & MJG
Founded originally as Carbon-14 (C14) in 1999, Tantric are Hugo Ferreira, Matt Taul, Jesse Vest and Todd Whitener. Jesse and Matt are childhood friends whom, along with Travis Meeks, founded the band Dead Reckoning. That band evolved into multi-platinum selling Days of the New (lyrics from a Dead Reckoning song). The evolution from Dead Reckoning into Days of the New is quite unique and lengthy. That story is waiting for VH1.
"Ernie" was the original lead singer of Dead Reckoning. Legend (Jesse & Matt) have it that Ernie was so wild that keeping him focused on short term goals proved impossible. Ernie eventually quit and at the urging of Matt, Jesse and Gary Meeks (Travis Meeks' father), Travis began singing in Ernie's place. The search for an additional guitar player began.
Travis worked at legendary MOM's Music and met Todd Whitener (whom Travis invited to practice with the newly formed Days of the New). If you are a fan of DOTN, then you now know that Travis has apologized to the world for misleading the fans into believing Jesse, Matt and Todd were ever "members" of DOTN (MTV News). That story is waiting for VH1's behind the music as well.
Totally broke and a few thousand chicken wings later, Hugo Ferreira (formerly of the popular Detroit band Merge) takes the helm as frontman for C14. Hugo met former Days of the New members Matt, Jesse and Todd in Michigan during some of DOTN's first club dates. Hugo's current association as a member of tantric came as a result of mutual parties' re-introductions (kudos lucci). C14 signed to a major label record contract (Maverick Records) and changed its name to tantric. One dozen songs are in the can and their first CD release date is set for February 13, 2001.
I am trying not to rush, but so much of this story is being left out as we go to press. We are going to be adding the important pieces as we go - so keep checking back and until then the story goes like this...
Tantra is an ancient way of looking at the world. In the Tantric view, all life and every aspect of creation including sexuality is celebrated and held as sacred. The Tantric traditions of ancient India and other cultures viewed sexual energy as the source of life itself and as one of the most powerful forces available to us as human beings. Sexual ecstasy was seen as a taste of the divine. In these sex positive cultures, sophisticated lovemaking skills were developed and taught as a science and as an art. Since we have repressed sexual energy for so long in the West, we are only now beginning to rediscover this precise and highly developed science. By extending and expanding the peak of sexual ecstasy, erotic explorers of the past found that the act of love could become a natural vehicle for exploring altered states as well as for deepening intimacy between two loving partners.
The terms Tantra, Tantric, Tantrik refer to a philosophy, a science, an art and a way of life whereby sexual energy is consciously and creatively utilized. In it's simplest form, Tantra means paying attention 100% to what you're doing. The mystical treatises, known as the Tantras, contain a broad spectrum of practical techniques for enhancing sexual awareness and achieving transcendence. The hidden potency of sexual union is the seed of all creativity. Through an understanding of the practical teachings of Tantra, a whole new experience of life opens up. Tantra shares great similarities with the Taoist tradition of China, but derives from the Hindu teachings of India and the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, both of which trace their roots to the Tantras, texts written in ancient Sanskrit. The Tantric approach to spirituality makes use of the senses of the body rather than suggesting, as is done in other religious teachings, that these should be suppressed, in order to transcend the physical world and its desires. It is greatly useful in an individuals personal path of spiritual unfoldment and enlightenment, to awaken Kundalini, and utilize it in the synergistic combination of sexuality and spirituality.
DEAD RECKONING
Charlestown, Indiana
circa. 1989
Jesse Vest and Matt Taul are 12 and 11 years old, respectively. They have been friends since the age of nine. Their original practice sessions took place on the front porch of Matt's parent's house in Charlestowne, Indiana. Matt's father was a respected drummer in his time and Matt had taken the early introduction to drums and his God-given talent and turned it into what has become a distinctive yet complex sound. Jesse's affinity toward funky, heavy bass chords and his long-term relationship with Matt has created a naturally intuitive musical foundation that is pure, stripped down, classic rock-and-roll. Witnessing an improvisational jam session between these two is humbling.
The earliest jam sessions on Matt's porch included their original lead singer Ernie and an introverted prankster named Travis Meeks on lead guitar. Ernie eventually quit the band (he saw no future in it). At the bands prodding Travis began singing lead vocals.
These early days of playing cover songs in Southern Indiana naturally placed Travis and Jesse working, at one time or another, at the now infamous MOMS Music in Jeffersonville. Travis happened across future lead guitarist and phenom Todd Whitener while Todd was buying equipment at MOMS. They immediately hit it off and shortly after playing in one of the local talent shows were signed by Outpost Records President and legendary producer Scott Litt (REM, Nirvana, The Wallflowers, Veruca Salt). The initial record has gone on to sell close to two million copies worldwide (and with very little tour support).
Metallica Tour
Summer 1998
Press
It is not common for our biggest dreams possible to become reality. We have all witnessed self destruction as a result of living out what maybe should have remained a fantasy. In the Summer of 1998 Days experienced a dream that a large part of the male adolescent population can only begin to imagine...hanging out with Metallica. But not only did they hangout with them, they opened for the Metallica Summer tour of 1998.
It is amazing to see such a thing. I was fortunate to be first hand through it all. This was a bittersweet success; however, given the current disassociation of the band (really just the one egomaniac).
Sometime during the 1998 summer Metallica tour (DOTN opened all the US dates), Todd informed Jesse that after they finished their commitment he was going to start a solo project. All three members had had enough and when the Metallica tour ended, Travis terminated their employment. Thank god because Jesse, Matt, Todd and Hugo have created TANTRIC and some powerful tunes.
It became obvious that Travis Meeks did not care what happened to his former bandmates. As each one struggled financially, Travis' belief that he was solely responsible for the success of DOTN grew.
I assume that the attorneys finally got to Travis because he actually listed Todd and Matt on the "green" album and he thanked Jesse Vest? Rumor has it that he did so because ASCAP suspended his royalty payments for not paying the co-owners of the music-his band.
January 2001
I will always remember our ride to Memphis, TN on January 4, 2001. The very first Tantric concert took place at Newby's in Memphis on January 5. I will always remember Jesse and Matt saying "Dude don't be surprised if no one shows up tonight." I thought surely we would have 50 to 60 people! I was surprised when 7 people showed up and of those we personally knew 5 of them from Louisville.
The ride over to the venue was short. We later learned that the club forgot we were playing. The show started at 10:00pm and I will tell everyone it was definitely one of the best shows I have seem them perform-period.
With the first show over, we loaded out and headed for Missouri. Being the resident roadie/webmaster it made for a rather enlightening experience into the world of rock n roll.
to be continued...
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