TAYLOR MCCLUSKEY captures the raw spirit of Rock ‘N’ Roll on new live EP

Recorded at Montreal’s Historic Piccolo Studios, Live from Piccolo Studios, Montreal, 2026 Features Four Live Tracks and Accompanying Performance Videos

New EP Dedicated to the Memory of Beloved Photographer and Friend Susan Moss

California-born, Montreal-based alternative rock musician, songwriter and filmmaker TAYLOR MCCLUSKEY has released his new four-track EP, Live from Piccolo Studios, Montreal, 2026, capturing the raw energy and chemistry of his band performing live at Montreal’s historic Piccolo Studios, which has hosted legendary artists including Céline Dion. Blending alternative rock, grunge and blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll, the EP trades studio polish for the grit, spontaneity and electricity of a live performance.

“I didn’t want to make a studio record that pretended to be live,” says McCluskey. “We went into Piccolo to play. What you’re hearing is four musicians in a room pushing each other. The amps, the drums, the bleed, the imperfections — that’s the good stuff. That’s rock ‘n’ roll.”

The EP features McCluskey on vocals and rhythm guitar, Ange E. Curcio on drums, Gary McKenzie on bass and Justin Read on lead guitar. All four songs were co-written with longtime producer and bandmate Glen Robinson (U2, David Bowie, AC/DC), whose decade-long creative partnership with McCluskey has been instrumental in shaping his sound.

Accompanying the release are four official live performance videos for “Dancing Mist” (1.4 million views on TikTok), “Breaking The Mirror,” “Cold Surveillance” and “Bullet in the Head,” filmed during the Piccolo Studios sessions to capture the band’s performances as they happened.

The EP also carries a deeply personal significance, marking the band’s final photo shoot with beloved longtime friend and photographer Susan Moss, who has since passed away. The record is dedicated to her memory.

“Susan wasn’t simply our photographer. She was our friend and part of our creative family,” McCluskey reflects. “She knew how to disappear into a room and capture what was actually happening. There was trust there. We loved her very much, and we miss her. This record is dedicated to Susan.”

Reflecting on the release, McCluskey adds, “To me, this EP is a photograph in sound. It captures where we were as a band at that exact moment. You can always go back into a studio and make another record, but you can never recreate a particular day, a particular group of people or that exact chemistry again. That’s what makes a live recording special.”

STREAM LIVE FROM PICCOLO STUDIOS, MONTREAL, 2026
https://taylormccluskey.komi.io/

Track List:

1. Dancing Mist (Live)
2. Breaking The Mirror (Live)
3. Cold Surveillance (Live)
4. Bullet in the Head (Live)

About TAYLOR MCCLUSKEY:

California-born and Montreal-based, Taylor McCluskey is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and filmmaker whose music draws from alternative rock, grunge, blues and classic rock ‘n’ roll. Influenced by artists ranging from The Rolling Stones and Nirvana to Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath and U2, McCluskey combines gritty guitar-driven songwriting with melodic hooks and a distinctly cinematic sensibility.

Taylor McCluskey returns with four new live-to-tape recordings: “Dark Thoughts (Live),” “Ride My Soul (Live),” “Roll With You (Live),” and “See You Through (Live),” set for release on November 20, 2026.

Recorded on September 29 at Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal, Canada, the tracks were produced and recorded live to tape by Howard Bilerman and Taylor McCluskey, capturing the band’s raw energy and natural chemistry in the room.

A Montreal-based musician, engineer, and producer, Bilerman is known for his work with artists including Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Leonard Cohen, Wolf Parade, and The Weather Station. As co-owner of Hotel2Tango, he has played an important role in Montreal’s independent music community. The new recordings also introduce Roman Pagliaro as the band’s new bassist.