Band of the Day: Tarah Who?

A group effort from today’s featured BotD. Rattling off answers to our usual questions are:

TGC: Tarah G. Carpenter Guitar, Lead Vocals

PC: Paul Costanza – Drums

MP: Matt Peltcher – Bass, Backing Vocals

tarah-who-federal-circle-of-shameSimple things first – where are you guys from?

TGC: I was born in Paris, France. Paul (drums) is from Boston, Massachusetts and Matt (Bass) is from Los Angeles.

How did you meet?

TGC: I met Paul through a friend and Matt emailed us when he heard we were looking for a new bass player.

How long have you been playing as a band?

TGC: Tarah Who? Has been around for a little while now (maybe 7 years as a band?). Paul has been in the band since 2013 and Matt has recently joined us, about 5 months ago.

Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?

TGC: I couldn’t find a band name. I emailed the guys I was playing with at the time. The subject of that email was “Tarah Who???” . It was a joke but we decided to keep it because we had some gigs lined up and desperately needed a band name to give the venues and promoters.

What are your influences?

MP: Bands like Joy Division, The Cure and Rancid influenced me initially. Lately I’ve been influenced a lot of early punk and even some “rock en espanol” Enanitos Verdes is my favorite :)

PC: Hall and Oates,The Supremes, Kenny Loggins.

TGC: I love 90’s punk, rock, grunge.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

MP: Tarah Who?’s music is loud and fun. You will want to dance and shout and jump around.

PC: Our music is raw, full of attitude, and it kicks you in the nuts. It’s unique because it’s actually good.

TGC: It’s hard for me to describe our music… It is more simple than that: I write, I play, If it feels good, and sounds good in my ears, I keep it. I am not trying to look for a special sound, I like it simple. As Paul said, I like it Raw. I am not so much into pedals or anything too complicated. I like to go on stage, plug in and play. I like to sweat, I like to scream my heart out, I like to let go and watch people enjoying themselves.

Do you have any particular lyrical themes?

TGC: No… I write about my experiences or emotions. My songs are very personal. I don’t have a theme, I just write about whatever situation or person that has touched me.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

TGC: FUN! We enjoy playing with the crowd. The crazier the crowd is, the crazier we get. I honestly haven’t counted them!

PC: Full of energy, really loud, and a lot of excitement. A shit ton.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?

TGC: London – I have seen someone break her arm and insisted on staying in the mosh pit.

PC: I once actually talked to a fan. I usually try to avoid people.

What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?

MP: Pretty partial to Fender basses

PC: I use Ddrum, zildjian, and vic firth.

TGC: Depends, I have a Gibson J45 for our acoustic shows. Electric: I have different tunings so I change guitars a lot, but my favorite is the one that my friend Chris Lai built for me to use for Tarah Who?. Check him out: Boat’s Rock FactoryThis guitar sounds amazing with the Archer overdrive pedal, and I am using an Ampeg guitar amp.

What are your plans for the rest of 2016 / 2017?

TGC: I finished writing our new album. We should start recording in January 2017. We will release it soon after the recording and start touring. Until then, we have a few music videos that should come out soon, in order to keep you waiting until our next album! :)

If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!

TGC: Dead Sara (Opener) then Tarah Who?, ending with the Foo Fighters. 

PC: Dude idk.

Tara Who?: official | facebook | twitter | instagram

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September 13, 2020 11:43 AM

[…] 2016, we featured Tara Who? for the first time. Then they released some new music so we ran an update. Three years hence, and […]

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January 23, 2021 10:50 PM

[…] featured punk duo Tarah Who? three times in the past as Band of the Day – 2016, 2017 and 2020! The L.A. based grunge-punk powerhouse duo fronted by Tarah Carpenter, writes […]