The vintage lighting, the warmth, and the distant clatter of bowling pins have lent Brooklyn Bowl a homey feel for many since it opened so many years ago. This is especially true for Tauk, who rose the ranks through the jam scene playing show after show at the effervescent Williamsburg venue. As the energetic quartet took the stage, the vibe was very much that of a home game, and from the first pitch it was an absolute heater.

Tauk is a four piece band consisting of masterful synth & keys, blistering guitar, pounding bass, and transcendent drums. Their form of musical odyssey may best be described as intense, with a rhythm section that sets your blood to pumping and melodic ventures that send you on cerebral journeys. The band came in hot, and soared to incredible heights between the two opening jams, Dead Signal and Moon Dub. The first set flew by at blinding speed, delivering a heavy dose of headbanging that fans have come to expect from Tauk. From deep space jams to unbelievably tight riffs, the band was absolutely locked in.

Rarely is a band able to stretch the range between form and freedom as far as Tauk, coming out of unique and moving solos into precise and powerful leading lines. As a result, the crowd became similarly entranced, fully on top of every beat spinning out of drummer Isaac Teel’s magic fingers. We all moved as one as the drums skittered past engaged eardrums at light speed through the entirety of the show, delivering an unforgettable performance.

Highlights of the night included brand new songs heretofore unreleased to the public. One of these tracks came in the first set, and has recently been titled “Hot Brown” – a smooth and laid back groove that eventually gave into a headbanging thrash tune, an irresistible combo that evoked both rock tradition in form and music’s future through synthetic tone and texture. Another new track, delivered early in the second set, spurred excited whispers amongst the crowd, hopeful for a new album from a band whose work from the studio has yet to disappoint.

The Funky Dawgs horn players came out for both debuts, and sat in on other bangers as well, including a personal favorite, “Dormammu.” The crackling quartet closed out a driven first set with a smile-ripping rendition of Nirvana’s “In Bloom,” accompanied by blazing solos from guitarist Matt Jalbert and pianist/synth aficionado Alric "A.C." Carter. The team ended the night by bringing the Funky Dawgs horns back out for a romp through “Mindshift,” one of the band’s oldest and most impressive musical feats. Bassist Charlie Dolan danced nimbly around the fretboard, infecting the entire groove with contagious syncopation to finish out the show. We didn’t want to go home, and cannot wait until the next time we get to see such a spectacular band do their thing. Keep your eyes out for their new album as well!

Connect with Tauk on Instagram, Spotify, TikTok and their website.