Founded originally as Carbon-14 (C14) in 1999, Tantric are Hugo Ferreira, Matt Taul, Jesse Vest and Todd Whitener. Jesse and Matt are childhood friends whom, along with Travis Meeks, founded the band Dead Reckoning. That band evolved into multi-platinum selling Days of the New (lyrics from a Dead Reckoning song). The evolution from Dead Reckoning into Days of the New is quite unique and lengthy. That story is waiting for VH1.

"Ernie" was the original lead singer of Dead Reckoning. Legend (Jesse & Matt) have it that Ernie was so wild that keeping him focused on short term goals proved impossible. Ernie eventually quit and at the urging of Matt, Jesse and Gary Meeks (Travis Meeks' father), Travis began singing in Ernie's place. The search for an additional guitar player began.

Travis worked at legendary MOM's Music and met Todd Whitener (whom Travis invited to practice with the newly formed Days of the New). If you are a fan of DOTN, then you now know that Travis has apologized to the world for misleading the fans into believing Jesse, Matt and Todd were ever "members" of DOTN (MTV News). That story is waiting for VH1's behind the music as well.

Totally broke and a few thousand chicken wings later, Hugo Ferreira (formerly of the popular Detroit band Merge) takes the helm as frontman for C14. Hugo met former Days of the New members Matt, Jesse and Todd in Michigan during some of DOTN's first club dates. Hugo's current association as a member of tantric came as a result of mutual parties' re-introductions (kudos lucci). C14 signed to a major label record contract (Maverick Records) and changed its name to tantric. One dozen songs are in the can and their first CD release date is set for February 13, 2001.

I am trying not to rush, but so much of this story is being left out as we go to press. We are going to be adding the important pieces as we go - so keep checking back and until then the story goes like this..

The terms Tantra, Tantric, Tantrik refer to a philosophy, a science, an art and a way of life whereby sexual energy is consciously and creatively utilized. In it's simplest form, Tantra means paying attention 100% to what you're doing. The mystical treatises, known as the Tantras, contain a broad spectrum of practical techniques for enhancing sexual awareness and achieving transcendence. The hidden potency of sexual union is the seed of all creativity. Through an understanding of the practical teachings of Tantra, a whole new experience of life opens up. Tantra shares great similarities with the Taoist tradition of China, but derives from the Hindu teachings of India and the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, both of which trace their roots to the Tantras, texts written in ancient Sanskrit. The Tantric approach to spirituality makes use of the senses of the body rather than suggesting, as is done in other religious teachings, that these should be suppressed, in order to transcend the physical world and its desires. It is greatly useful in an individuals personal path of spiritual unfoldment and enlightenment, to awaken Kundalini, and utilize it in the synergistic combination of sexuality and spirituality.

DEAD RECKONING
Charlestown, Indiana
circa. 1989

Jesse Vest and Matt Taul are 12 and 11 years old, respectively. They have been friends since the age of nine. Their original practice sessions took place on the front porch of Matt's parent's house in Charlestowne, Indiana. Matt's father was a respected drummer in his time and Matt had taken the early introduction to drums and his God-given talent and turned it into what has become a distinctive yet complex sound. Jesse's affinity toward funky, heavy bass chords and his long-term relationship with Matt has created a naturally intuitive musical foundation that is pure, stripped down, classic rock-and-roll. Witnessing an improvisational jam session between these two is humbling.

The earliest jam sessions on Matt's porch included their original lead singer Ernie and an introverted prankster named Travis Meeks on lead guitar. Ernie eventually quit the band (he saw no future in it). At the bands prodding Travis began singing lead vocals.

These early days of playing cover songs in Southern Indiana naturally placed Travis and Jesse working, at one time or another, at the now infamous MOMS Music in Jeffersonville. Travis happened across future lead guitarist and phenom Todd Whitener while Todd was buying equipment at MOMS. They immediately hit it off and shortly after playing in one of the local talent shows were signed by Outpost Records President and legendary producer Scott Litt (REM, Nirvana, The Wallflowers, Veruca Salt). The initial record has gone on to sell close to two million copies worldwide (and with very little tour support).

Metallica Tour
Summer 1998
Press

Your wildest dreams becoming reality---- is surely not common---at least for me. If my wildest dreams are reality---then heaven is now. The fact that not once now--but twice ----Todd, Matt and Jesse are living in a world twice as wild as even they were beginning to be.

In the Summer of 1998 Days experienced a dream that a large part of the male adolescent population can only begin to imagine...hanging out with Metallica. But not only did they hangout with them, they opened for the Metallica Summer tour of 1998 when they were 18 years old! I mean come on already..

It is amazing to see such a thing. I was fortunate to be first hand through it all. This was a bittersweet success; however, given the current disassociation of the band (really just Travis).

Long before the 1998 summer Metallica tour (DOTN opened all the US dates) Todd informed Jesse that he was going to start a solo project. Matt, Jesse and Todd had had enough of Travis.

It became obvious that Travis Meeks did not care what happened to his former bandmates. As each one struggled financially, Travis' believed what everyone around him was saying- that Travis was Days and he did not need the other guys---blah ha!

I was in the studio for 80% of the second album. Travis thanked me "steve over at Hooters" because the guys were mostly vegetarians and I brought 'em rabbit food. We made the best cheese and tomatoe grilled sandwiches this (or that) side of the Ohio.

Anyway, Travis put some voodoo shit on Matt Taul during the recording of the second album. Travis would tell Matt that they were the only ones with any skill the whole while seperating each band members performance on the album and feeding one after the other the same line. It broke down. travis kept telling the band they had to finish this album to get paid --- he already got paid. One night Matt and I got raging fucking drunk in a Steak and Shake on the way to Travis' and it was the weirdest drunk cause Matt was afraid.

They went out and finished the tour but when they got back it was matter of factly over with Days of the New. The next few months saw a tattered but not shatterd crew come together.

The 1st (and only) Showcase

Todd, Matt and Jesse quickly started practicing and recorded new material with Clark Hagan. Clark was an engineer with the Days stuff and has an impressive resume of production work. The music Clark recorded made it's way into the hands of Hugo via Dan colucci who worked for Rick Smith (Travis' Manager). To this day I do not think that Travis knows that Victor (Rick's assistant) made the recording arrangements for the trio

The guys formed a new band called Carbon-14 to represent an unbreakable bond and recruited Hugo from Detroi (Lucci managed Hugo's band Merge). Hugo's band opened sveral times in the early days for days---blah---say that a couple of times cindee.

I will always remember our ride to Memphis, TN on January 4, 2001. The very first Tantric concert took place at Newby's in Memphis on January 5. I will always remember Jesse and Matt saying "Dude don't be surprised if no one shows up tonight." I thought surely we would have 50 to 60 people! I was surprised when 7 people showed up and of those we personally knew 5 of them from Louisville.

The ride over to the venue was short. We later learned that the club forgot we were playing. The show started at 10:00pm and I will tell everyone it was definitely one of the best shows I have seem them perform-period.

With the first show over, we loaded out and headed for Missouri. Being the resident roadie/webmaster it made for a rather enlightening experience into the world of rock n roll.

to be continued...