Local psychedelic rock-influenced band Tax The Wolf–voted best progressive band (and band name) in this year’s Houston Press Music Awards–recently released its album, Hold The Sun, which the band is offering as a free download until Saturday night (10.30.10). TTW bassist/singer Mario Rodriguez recently answered some questions for Houston Calling in advance of the band’s appearance at Ghoulsfest (which, as a reminder, is this Saturday at Houston’s Tom Bass Park).

Houston Calling: Are you guys excited about playing at Ghoulsfest?

Tax The Wolf: We’re very excited to be performing at another special music festival in our hometown. The line-up is very impressive and scheduled for a good month of the year. We’re also looking forward to watching Bad Brains perform. We’ve been fans since our middle school years.

HC: What are you thoughts on how Houston is evolving as far as its music scene? With Summer Fest and now Ghoulsfest, we seem to have made a turn for the better, no?

Tax The Wolf: We’re definitely ecstatic to be a part of the evolving music scene in Houston. These annual music festivals are creating tremendous opportunities for our music community. Houston needs this and we’re all going to make it. We’re looking forward to everything coming up.

HC: Why should someone take the time to come see Tax The Wolf’s set at Ghoulsfest?

Tax The Wolf: You should go check out Tax the Wolf at Ghoulsfest if you’re wanting a twist on some old styles and favorites. The curiosity that we build in each song through melodies and time signatures were made to keep you entertained. We can honestly believe that if you take the time to listen to us you will find something in our music worth sticking around. We’re performing something quite different, out of the ordinary and it’s all for the music lovers. Music festivals are meant for music lovers.

HC: You guys recently released your debut album. Have you been pleased with the response so far? I know you did an in-store at Cactus to help promote it — how did that go?

Tax The Wolf: We have been very pleased with the outcome of our first album release. We were very anxious to release it and get a proper response from our friends, fans, and press. Slowly people are taking the time to listen to the CD .There’s been a lot of positive opinions and it’s a huge relief but we’re not settling into a comfort zone just yet. Everything has been motivational in the past months. We had an in-store Cactus show performance…the afternoon show was great! New crowd. We got an interview, new fans, plenty of attention, and we signed a Peter Frampton record.

HC: What can fans expect from Tax The Wolf for the rest of 2010 and into 2011?

Tax The Wolf: Our fans can expect new music, inspiring shows, a music video, live webcasts, and a small Texas tour. We are also in the process of recording our collaboration project with local Hip-Hop duo, Juzcoz. Most likely it will be an EP (enigmatic, classic hip-hop, psychedelic, and pop sound). We are definitely going to try to break some boundaries for the next couple of months. We hope you can join us.

Tax The Wolf plays this Saturday (10.30.10) at Ghoulsfest in Houston. Visit the band online at www.taxthewolf.com.