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TAZ has had a passion for music since childhood, often playing games like Guitar Hero.

At just 10 years old, TAZ was featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for his guitar talent. By the time he was 12, he was touring with the Broadway musical production of “School of Rock.”

“When my dad showed me the movie ‘School of Rock,’ I was like, ‘Woah, kids can do this.’ I didn’t know that was possible,” Brandon Niederauer, known as TAZ, said.

On Wednesday night, TAZ played a mix of recent singles, unreleased music and covers at Funk ‘n Waffles. Syracuse University freshman Dylan Steele — known as DJ Amplitude — opened for him, mixing a set of recognizable pop, rap, rock and hip-hop hits.

The night drew a mix of students and older audiences who resonated with TAZ’s covers of throwback hits like “Blackbird” by the Beatles and an acoustic rendition of “Hey Ya!” by OutKast. The audience especially resonated with the many instrumental breaks; cheers erupted when he showcased his guitar skills.

TAZ is currently on tour with Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste, playing guitar with his band, which he said has been an amazing learning experience. He also played at Coachella with Batiste in 2024. Batiste keeps his touring band “on their toes,” TAZ recalled, always prompting them to learn new songs right before soundchecks.

“I’ve always wanted to do the tour bus thing, you know, as every kid rock star wants,” TAZ said. “It’s been an endless party, it’s been awesome.”

Playing small, intimate shows like Funk ‘n Waffles allows him to be experimental with his band in a similar nature, TAZ said. He sprung a new arrangement on his band just two hours before the show, but they riffed off each other energetically throughout the set.

“The best thing about these small rooms is that you can put on a really raw performance and get an intimate setting to really throw your balls to the walls,” TAZ said.

Syracuse local Cheri Giancola has been a fan of TAZ since he first played Funk ‘n Waffles years ago when he was in high school. When she heard him play, she was drawn in by his guitar skills and said he reminded her of a young Jimi Hendrix. She then saw him play at the Peach Music Festival in Pennsylvania a few years later and considers herself one of his first devoted fans.

“I’m the OG,” Giancola said.

She brought her friend Cindy Boehm to the show; they both love Syracuse’s live music culture. They take any opportunity to seek out new artists, like TAZ, the two said.

Giancola said she and Boehm often have vastly different music tastes, so TAZ’s mixed genre style was a good middle ground for them. Giancola also enjoyed the DJ set before, and it got her amped up for the show, she said.

“I will be dancing tonight,” Giancola said. “I wanted to dance to that cute little DJ guy, but I didn’t wanna be the only one out there.”

TAZ has been touring as a part of Jon Batiste’s band. His Wednesday performance gave him the chance to riff off his own band. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer

Freshman Kevin Lamprey and his group of friends gathered at Funk ‘n Waffles to support their friend Steele. They were eager to listen to their friend’s set and excited to hear TAZ perform. Having seen a Grateful Dead tribute show at the same venue a few nights ago, they love to indulge in the music scene in Syracuse, Lamprey said.

Steele is a freshman in SU’s Bandier Program. He’s been DJing since he was nine years old and said he is excited to continue networking and connecting with the SU community, playing shows both on and off campus. Since the semester started, he’s played at a Welcome Week event, opened for Juice Jam and more.

“It’s just easy to get connected with people and create lively events and showcase what I’m capable of to the audience in Syracuse,” Steele said.

Steele hadn’t previously heard about TAZ, but got in contact with his team through Bandier. Watching TAZ and his band play at the pre-show rehearsal and seeing what they were capable of was amazing, and he’s excited to be connected with them now, he said.

Currently, TAZ has two singles released, “Running After You Again” and “Say Something,” both of which he played on Wednesday night. He said he’s finding his sound as an artist, influenced by many genres and writing songs based on his real-life experiences. As a 2025 Yale University alum, he’s thankful for his college years and the friends he made; they’re valuable inspiration, he said.

TAZ aims to cater his music to a Gen Z and millennial audience — people who’re familiar with the music he grew up with. His main idols have always been the “Justin Biebers of the world,” and he wants to create music he’s truly passionate about, specifically contributing to the pop music scene, he said.

TAZ has played some of the biggest performances of his career alongside his mentors, like Batiste. Through touring, he’s traveled to countries like Japan, Switzerland and Brazil. He aims to replicate his mentors’ ability to perform and cater to their fans, and spread not just music, but love and joy to the audience, he said.

At last year’s Coachella Festival, TAZ watched the audience watch Batiste and be infatuated with him. He recalls appreciating the fans’ carefree energy; they weren’t thinking about the trials and tribulations of life. That’s what music is all about, he said.

“What I’m trying to do right now is cater my shows toward not just a musical experience, but also an experience where people can unplug,” TAZ said. “It’s more than just music, it’s a spiritual practice.”

Published on October 16, 2025 at 1:43 am