Heir to the Throne

Photo by Greg Horowitz

Most musicians would sell their souls to play with legends like Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes and George Porter Jr. Yet 11-year-old guitar whiz Brandon “Taz” Niederauer has already shared the stage with those artists and many others since he first hit the scene at the end of 2013. “I really got into music when I was 8 years old,” recalls Niederauer. “I wanted to learn the guitar, so I started. Now, I play guitar.” Don’t let the understatement fool you. This is a kid that has shredded “Whipping Post” with the best of them. Whether he’s making waves at Bear Creek and Jam Cruise or showing off his chops on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Niederauer never fails to leave a trail of dropped jaws in his wake. With his prowess on the six-string firmly established, the young artist plans to record an album and go on tour with Lions on the Moon, a new band that he formed with his brother and a couple of other young musicians. “When I get on the stage and move into the groove, it’s the most amazing feeling,” he adds. “I just forget about everything and go into my zone.”