PRESS
“I had as much fun making Shoebox Photographs with TapWater as about anything I’ve ever done. They are fantastic
players, terrific writers, amazing singers and great people, and this new record reflects all of that and then some!”
Steve Berlin of Los Lobos aka legendary, 6-time Grammy award winning producer
“Portland’s TapWater sounds like Americana gods The Band if they’d taken a load off in N’awlins and picked up steel
drums and a love of funk”
Ben Salmon - The Bulletin
“Tapwater is a dextrous and shape-shifting band that merges world rhythms with bluegrass and rock for highly dance-
friendly shows long on chops and energy”
The Goodfoot (Portland,OR)
“...world twang, their unique mix of instrumentation and melding of genres is definitely the differentiator setting them in
a class almost wholly their own.”
Eran Afner - Randomville
“TapWater are a six-piece Americana group based in Portland, Oregon, slowly but surely building their reputation
through a series of well received releases and a busy concert schedule. Such is their growing status, their latest album,
"Too Dark To Blink" has attracted various high profile guest turns, including several members of Los Lobos. Indeed,
Steve Berlin produces and plays saxophone and melotron. Not two instruments that are naturally associated with an
Americana band, but when you consider that frontman Rudy Slizewski also contributes steel drums, xylophone,
trombone and marimba, and other listed instruments include lap harp and flugelhorn, it's probably best to chuck those
stereotypical expectations out of the window.”
Leicester Bangs
“TapWater proffered a mixture of styles that strained the word 'eclectic' to the breaking point."..."with some of Steely
Dan's compartmentalized nature, where banjo and handclaps meet '70s Dead breeziness, tribal breakdowns and folksy
mores in a mixture they call "World Twang."”
Dennis Cook - JamBase
“Thanks to Berlin's production (and the band's experience) it's somewhat remarkable that "Too Dark To Blink" doesn't
ever feel cluttered or clumsy. The sound is full and rounded, and the variety of instruments is beautifully judged. When
the steel drum makes an appearance on "Drownin' Without Love" it's a genuine moment of joy, and they repeat the
trick on "See Ya Maria", though it's mixed gently with lead guitar. Tracks like "Frankie Leigh" and "Big Belly Blues"
make comparisons with early Wilco and The Band fully justified and the short but very serious, almost classical, "With
My Curtains Closed" indicates a band willing to take on anything, and able enough to prevail. Recommended.”
Leicester Bangs
“I ran into this band while at the Oregon State Fair a few years ago. What intrigued me about them immediately was the
way the underpinnings of their sound were instantly recognizable, yet their songs were unique. I heard vestages of
1970s Stevie Wonder, Rare Earth, and a little Grand Funk. They were touring behind this album, and those sounds are
here in spades. If you're in the mood for something off the beaten path, or are a Boomer like me looking for new music
with vitality, as opposed to irony or anger like most of today's music, get this disc and you won't be disappointed.”
Gary L. Quay
“Generally I’m not a fan of twang, but TapWater breaks all the rules and the result is nothing less than brilliant. Their
performance kept our bodies moving and our minds intrigued over what they would do next.”
Eran Afner - Randomville