Backstory:
Sweet Tax was born out of a late-night jam session in a Brooklyn basement in 2012. The band members, comprising of lead vocalist Francis Black, drummer Hannah Gale, bassist Tommy ‘T-Bone’ Grady, and the eccentric keyboardist, Jeff ‘Hammerhands’ Mason, all have day jobs as accountants. They were drawn together by their shared love for music, their mutual frustration with the taxing mundanity of their 9 to 5 jobs, and their united rebellion against the system. Thus, “Sweet Tax” became a creative outlet, a vent to their pent-up creativity, and a satirical commentary on their daily grind.
Their shared passion for music and uncanny ability to connect with their audience led them to rise from playing in local bars to hosting gigs in some of the top venues in New York City. Their sublime sound, paired with their lyrical genius, made Sweet Tax a household name in the city’s underground music scene.
Genre:
Alternative Rock
Title:
“Cash and Burn”
Full Song Lyrics:
(VERSE 1)
Am – C – G – F
Strapped in this suit and tie, (Am)
An army of numbers standing by. (C)
Burning the midnight oil, (G)
In the belly of the corporate coil. (F)
(CHORUS)
Am – C – G – F
Cash and burn, the world’s on a spin, (Am)
Trading our dreams for a life of sin. (C)
The sweet tax of life we pay, (G)
Just to get through another day. (F)
(VERSE 2)
Am – C – G – F
We’re all just playing our part, (Am)
In a system that’s falling apart. (C)
Clocking in, clocking out, (G)
That’s what this life’s all about. (F)
(CHORUS)
Am – C – G – F
Cash and burn, the world’s on a spin, (Am)
Trading our dreams for a life of sin. (C)
The sweet tax of life we pay, (G)
Just to get through another day. (F)
Fan Testimonial:
The band’s favourite fan is Mike ‘The Auditor’ Johnson. Mike, an auditor himself, sees Sweet Tax as a beacon of rebellion in his own monotonous life. He says, “Sweet Tax blends the angst and frustration of our mundane jobs into sweet, sweet music. It’s like they’ve voice to the silent screams of our routine lives. They’re not just a band, they’re a movement. I’ve followed them since their first gig at a local bar, and I’ll be there at their last. They are my favourite band, not just for their music, but for their ability to make us feel seen, heard, acknowledged.”