The Sweet Taunts

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Our Story
The Sweet Taunts is the musical collaboration of Christine and Dustin Taunton, an inseparable singer-songwriter duo from Northern California. Their original music, which incorporates elements of folk, rock, country blues, details stories of love and hardship sung with strong emotion and conviction. They have shared the stage with notables such as Steve Morse and Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones @ RRFC 2020), John Anderson (YES @ RRFC 2020), and Tommy McClendon (former guitarist of UFO), and Nashville Artist Shelly Rann.

Christine (vocals/guitar) and Dustin (vocals/bass) spend countless hours of dedication, sacrifice and love to create a sound that is fresh and undiluted. They are passionate about their original music and strive to preserve and further Americana Music, creating a unique sound to the folk-rock genre.

Along with original music, The Sweet Taunts perform an eclectic selection of covers from the 50’s to current hits. They cover songs in their true sense, not reinvent the wheel. Best known for their tribute to Fleetwood Mac, this attractive duo delivers an intimate, yet edgy rock show, captivating the ears and hearts of the audience.

Depending on the event, this unique duo expands to a trio or full band, inviting musically gifted friends who share the same passion for performing. The Sweet Taunts are blessed to perform with guitarist Mike Hill, who delivers both eclectic and emotional leads, drummer Dave Mompean, whose creative and razor-sharp instincts, compliment every song, and Keyboardist/Guitarist/Vocalist John Wise who's skills solidifies the bands high energy level of performance. Individually, each member holds their own on stage, but collectively, they enhance each other’s unique musical talent. During live performances, they bridge the divide between stage and audience, pouring their hearts into every lyric and note, encouraging the audience to become part of the experience!
The Sweet Taunts exemplify the spirit of support and kinship by inviting local musicians to join them during a set. Sweet Taunts had been the house band of Lodi Open Mic since 2015 (Whisky Barrel Saloon, Woodbridge Crossing and McGuire’s). They have performed at events which include the California Women’s Music Festival, First Festival Sacramento, Lodi Farmer’s Market, and were recently a featured artist at the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville.
The hard-working professional and popular group performs regularly at local wineries, festivals, private events, fundraisers, community events, nightclubs, and open mic jams throughout Northern California, always delivering fun-loving music and entertainment.

Both Christine and Dustin love collaborating with other like-minded musicians that support each other for the simple joy of a musical journey.

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