Before TikTok, before Spotify, in a time when internet was dial-up and frosted tips were peak fashion, Aussie kids got their music from 'Rage' and random compilation CDs.
Taxiride was the soundtrack to that era. The first notes of 'Creepin' Up Slowly' are basically a direct line back to the days of brick phones and disposable cameras.Taxiride ft TTSAR singer, songwriter, guitarist, and tambourine tactician, Tim Watson is always keen to chat about music. When we catch up, he's just finished a gig at a rather unique venue. "It's this weird place," he laughs.
"Part retirement village, part early learning centre. We've done three shows there now, all acoustic. About 80 people, chairs arranged in the foyer. Not your typical rock venue."
However, typical was never Taxiride's vibe. Though they came up at the height of the boy band era, that was never quite their thing. They weren't exactly Aussie pub rock, either. You really have to go back to the '60s to fit them into any kind of niche that makes sense.
With beautiful, intertwined harmonies from four strong singers, comparisons to The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds feel more apt. They existed outside their own era back in the day, which is perhaps why their music doesn't feel dated when you revisit it today.
The band is experiencing something of a musical renaissance in 2025, and their main fan base isn't who you'd expect. "We're seeing this weird spike with the 16- to 25-year-old demographic on Spotify," Tim says, "and they're bringing their parents to shows. It's like this new kind of musical inheritance."
Tim's got a theory about why. He reckons these kids are getting bored with the corporatised sound of modern pop. So they're seeking refuge in the rougher, more authentic, pre-AutoTune music of the past.
"There's a real gap in the market now," he explains. "So much pop music feels manufactured, especially from overseas, and we don't see a lot of local music getting pushed."
This thirst for authenticity was baked into Taxiride from the start. Their first album was what Tim calls "emotionally earnest" – a quality he laughs about but is ultimately proud of. "We didn't censor ourselves," he says. "We were inspired by the '60s, when musicians really believed in what they were singing about."
That organic approach is precisely what made their first album, 'Imaginate', so special. "We were dancing like no one was watching. . . just enjoying ourselves writing, working out the songs, putting them together, recording. We didn't actually have a particular goal in mind apart from doing what we loved."
These days, the band approaches their music with a maturity that comes from years of experience. Gone are the wild, boozy shows of their youth. Now, it's about precision and treating each song with respect. "We sound better than we've ever sounded," Tim says after considering the concept for a moment. "We've replaced youthful energy with focus."
This focus is laser pin-pointed with their goal to make every show a completely distinct experience, shared only by them and that particular audience. "We always have a chat throughout the shows," Tim says, "but it's not just 'hey, how you doing, Melbourne? How you doing, Brisbane?'.
"I hate repeating things I say to an audience. It feels insincere. So I'll always base it on what's happening that evening. There's never a night where you don't find something more personal to talk about."
If you're in South East Queensland, Taxiride ft TTSAR's upcoming Kingston Butter Factory show is your chance to share such an encounter with the lads. The line-up features Tim Watson and most of the band's original members, including Tim Wild, Sean McLeod, Andy McIvor and Ripley Smith. Supported by local alt-rock kids Tear Drive, the event still has a few VIP tickets on offer, giving you the opportunity to meet the band members, snap some photos and have a good old chat.
As for the future, Taxiride ft TTSAR isn't planning any stadium tours or elaborate reunion spectacles. They're just doing what they've always done – making music they love. "The musos aren't making money anymore," Tim jokes. "Should've been a chartered accountant. Or a tradie. The tradies are making all the cash."
However, you get the sense he wouldn't trade this for anything. In the words of the man himself: "Enthusiasm is the big motivator. You have to love what you're doing, otherwise you'll never put enough work in to make a success of it."
Catch Taxiride ft Tim Watson, Tim Wild, Sean McLeod, Andy Mcivor & Ripley Smith (TTSAR) at Kingston Butter Factory (Brisbane) 30 May.
Taxiride ft TTSAR 2025 Tour Dates
Fri 30 May - Kingston Butter Factory (Brisbane)Sat 31 May - Casula Powerhouse (Sydney)
Sun 1 Jun - Heritage Hotel (Wollongong)
Fri 20 Jun - District 14 (Melbourne)
Sat 21 Jun - St Andrews Hotel (Melbourne)
Sun 22 Jun - Musicland Melbourne
Sat 5 Jul - Music By The Watefront (Devonport)
Sat 19 Jul - ARCOBAR (Melbourne)
Sat 6 Sep - Royal Oak Hotel (Launceston)
Sun 7 Sep - Longley International Hotel (Longley)
Sat 13 Sep - Brunswick Ballroom (Melbourne)
