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Taper's @ The Troubadour

Writer's picture: Ghost LlamaGhost Llama


Forewarning this ramble is going to be long. I have a lot of thoughts about the Taper’s Troubadour show, the Prog Hat album, and how they announced their follow-up album entitled Jam Hat


Part 1: The Troubadour



First, the Troubadour has a vibe like no other venue I’ve been to. I really enjoyed the aura of the place. Before the opening act the place felt electric; everyone was abuzz with the return of Taper’s Choice. Despite the band members each having East Coast roots, Taper’s Choice is an LA Band.  After everything LA has been through, the show felt cathartic. Like everything was going to be okay. 2025 has been a tough year overall so far and for a weekend I was able to forget that and spend my time thinking about prog and jam hats. The first spot I hit going into the venue is the merch booth on the left in the back of the bar with three new items for sale: Prog Hat benefit tape, prog hats, and jam hats. The band is already asking us to make a decision between hats. (Yes I know both can be bought, but you can only wear one.) Personally, I was undecided and attended the show sans hat. 




Before the boys took the stage we were treated to the spectacular talents of Outside World. The band is great at picking top notch talent to showcase to their fans. Consisting of Henry Solomon and Logan Kane, they impressed the growing crowd with their experimental jazz. Highly recommend checking out their bandcamp. 


Soon Zach took the stage while the crowd continued to chat amongst themselves while waiting for the other members of the band. Instead Zach begins playing “Laura Palmer’s Theme” to honor David Lynch. The entire place falls silent as Zach’s playing captivates us. The rest of the band take the stage and they launch into a charged up version of “Chest Fever” as tribute to Garth Hudson, the last surviving member of The Band who passed early that week as well.


2025 is rough. It felt appropriate that “Darkness on the Edge of Midtown" was the first Choice song played after Alex addressing the LA Fires. As the band jammed on you could feel the room letting go of all the negative energy. Before the start of “Pino Botticelli” Alex let it be known he was putting on his prog hat for this one. This will become a theme throughout the night as Alex will switch between prog hat and jam hat. This seemingly silly antic is important so remember it later. 



Pino has only been played half a dozen times but this one might be the best one I’ve heard. Watching CT drive the jam into the ending part of the song with that consistent hi hat beat felt like watching long distance runners grit through the miles for that sweet stratification of crossing the finish line. As the band ended the song, I decided that “Pino Botticelli” might be my favorite of the newer songs. That version ripped. I can’t believe these guys only played two shows in 2024 and sound this good. They sounded tighter than ever. 


Alex makes his first hat switch of the night, putting on the jam hat before the band plays “Lick the Toad" and somehow the energy gets even higher in the place. As Dave does what I can only understand as Dave Wizardry on the guitar and captivates the crowd. Before I realize it the band has begun its transition into “Walking Around” (note jam hat still on). Somewhere in the first blissful jam of the evening I felt like things were going to be okay. The jam radiated hope for the future in a way. I can’t explain it but there was a peak in that jam where I had a moment of transcendence. I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience. Moments like these are why we go to concerts in the first place. 


Just when the crowd thought set one was over, Alex announced they had time for one more, calling it a “set 1 encore” while he switched to his prog hat. The band launches into a feisty rendition of “Doner Wrap" where noted concert filmographer Travis Strong was able to take a break from slinging merch and join the fun with some choice dance moves near center stage. The harder Travis danced the more energetic the jam became with the entire place soon joining Travis in dancing their cares away. All the energy being put forth slowly healing us, allowing ourselves to feel happy and carefree. 


Set break happens but I stay in my spot so I don’t lose it. The same conversation is happening all around me. “Why don’t these guys play more? They are so good.” I met people who were seeing their third or forth show and folks who had just discovered the band from the Relix stream and the resounding theme was LA needs more Taper’s Choice. 



As the band began to take the stage for set 2 and Alex had to turn around to get his hats for the set. With everyone in place and a jam hat sitting firmly on his head Alex led the band through “Vegan in the 90s.” The jam giving Dave an opportunity to showcase his slide abilities. It wasn’t until the following song, “Mahi Mahi Fish Stew,” where things really took off. Every member of the band was in sync and firing on all cylinders. The instant classic continued into the Sometimes Man segment with Alex making references to the AQI and confusion about how to keep yourself safe, clearly voicing what the majority of the local audience must have been feeling too. Before starting the highlight of the show, the band brings our special guest Nick Sanborn, who also sat in with the band for the NC show last year, to play modular synth. The ensemble began slowly building up a solid ambient base before exploring the far reaches of whatever musical mode they were in. I was completely lost in the Lilac. The band hadn’t even reached the first verse and I couldn’t see a path back into the song. All I could do was in awe as Zach kept rocking out while Nick and Dave were playing off each other. Yet somewhere under it all was the steady beat of Alex’s bass letting us know things might be weird but it was okay he knew was things were going. Sure enough after watching the vibrations off the bass take flight into the night I hear CT kick in on vocals. We are back to the familiar at least for a minute before the band takes the song back out for another spin, going even further. 



While Nick left the stage Alex switched into his prog hat before taking “The Dave Test.” Perhaps the most controversial Dave Test to date as the test portion of the song went by fairly quick and Dave’s Yes wasn’t very decisive. Watch for yourself and decide.  After the yes the jam becomes very blissful and eventually gives way to “21 Miles” to close the set. The crowd cheers until the band returns to play a quick version of” Running From the Rain”, perhaps foreshadowing what was in store for the Ivy Room. 


Part 2: Prog Hat



Released as a cassette to benefit the relief efforts for victims of the LA fires, Taper’s Choice Prog Hat showcasing how much this band has grown during its offseason. Despite each member having at least one side project demanding attention for almost all of 2024, the boys found a new level. Prog Hat might only have 4 songs but clocking in at just under 35 minutes the tape isn’t short on jams. Opening with the oddly spelled Pino Botticelli the band showcases their quirky side singing “Pino Botticelli… peanut butter and jelly.” The song that made its debut on night 1 of Taper’s Ball ‘23 has come a long way. Doner Wrap finishes side A. Not only is it 1000% longer than the History of… version, it’s a proper Doner with the verse ending. 

Side B begins with something fans have been asking for since its debut, a studio Dave Test. The jam after is blissful and serene exploring some transcendental musical realms. The tape concludes with a new song titled Song Hat and proudly shouts its Pink Floyd influence to the jam universe for all to hear. 


Part 3: Where Shit Gets Conspicuous 


During the Troubadour show I was updating friends on BlueSky and thought it would be funny to also note the hat changes. Upon reviewing my updates, I noticed something strange about the hat changes. The band used hat changes to reveal what songs were on their two albums. The first being Prog Hat and the second album that hasn’t even been announced yet is Jam Hat


Before you dismiss this theory, let me lay it out. 


Prog Hat Track List Side A:

Pino Botticelli

Doner Wrap

Side B:

The Dave Test  (Yes)

Song Hat


Songs played wearing prog hat

Set 1:

Pino Botticelli 

Doner Wrap

Set 2:

The Dave Test (Yes)

21 Miles


The biggest issue with this is "21 Miles" instead of "Song Hat" being played. I don’t have an explanation other than the band isn’t ready to play "Song Hat" live so "21 Miles" was used in its place. 


If we look at the remaining songs in the set, Alex was not present for "Laura Palmer’s Theme" and hatless for "Chest Fever" and "Darkness on the Edge of Midtown". "Lilac Palace" had a special guest and therefore isn’t included in what I’ll refer to as the album songs. Lastly, "Running from the Rain" was an encore and not an official song in the planned setlist. 


That leaves the following:

Songs played with jam hat

Set 1:

Lick the Toad

Walking Around

Set 2:

Vegan in the 90s

Mahi Mahi Fish Stew


Potential Jam Hat Track List

Side A:

New Song

Walking Around

Side B:

Vegan in the 90s

Mahi Mahi Fish Stew


If we consider that "21 Miles" was a previously released complete song on History of... then we must consider that the previously released complete song from History of... is also a substitute for a new song that will open Jam Hat. We know Taper’s Choice is a band that likes duality; remember the first Taper’s Ball? 

If we look at the two albums, Prog Hat and it’s hypothetical counterpart Jam Hat, you’ll notice how the songs are mirror reflections of their previous release status.


Prog Hat

Pino Botticelli - Played live never heard studio version

Doner Wrap - Heard untitled on the Choice Tapes

Dave Test - Heard untitled on the Choice Tapes

Song Hat - Heard for the first time on Album


Jam Hat

Jam Hat New song - Heard for the first time on Album

Walking Around - Heard untitled on the Choice Tapes

Vegan in the 90’s - Heard untitled on the Choice Tapes

Mahi Mahi Fish Stew - Played live never heard studio version


Do you think there is going to be a Jam Hat album?


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