For Roshaun Davis, “making lemonade” represents making the best with what is at hand and always going on with the show.  Davis, a hip-hop emcee known as TAIS, claims to always “make lemonade” with performances that have otherwise gone awry.

He and his sometimes-drummer Adam Saake do not always have the best luck at shows.  Davis and Saake have had to improvise on more than one occasion.

TAIS, an acronym for Truth Arises In Search, is performing at noon today in the Serna Plaza. The hip-hop concert is free and open to all ages.  TAIS is Davis’ project as well as his emcee name.  TAIS holds solo performances and performs with a live band backing him at times.

“Students should come see me because I’m a good time on the mic,” Davis said.

Davis and Saake said they expect the Nooner to be an interesting show.  Davis and Saake said they hope other sometimes-members Anthony Coleman, Mark Pease and El Conductor will perform with them today.

“It’s hip-hop, but it’s live too,” Saake said. “We find that balance of being a fun, musical band, but still remaining hip-hop.”

TAIS stands out from other hip-hop artists when performing with a live band – there is more than just a DJ and emcee.

Saake said he met Davis through mutual friend Paul Brizuela about three and a half years ago. The duo clicked right away. Saake and Davis last performed at Sacramento State in October. The show was moved last minute to a different spot and they were made to improvise.

“I like this gig a lot,” Saake said of Sac State. “It’s a cool gig because it’s not about getting people in the Sacramento area to come to a show at Sac State; it’s about getting the students to sit down and listen to you for half an hour. That’s what’s cool; you get to attract people that maybe wouldn’t be otherwise exposed to (TAIS). It’s good for students to hear local bands.”

Davis was born in Sacramento, though he has lived throughout the United States and abroad in Germany.  He claims his childhood was spent as an army brat, but he has been back in Sacramento since 1992.  Davis started writing in middle school after trying his hand at a few things – break dancing, graffiti and even DJ’ing. But writing was where he found his niche.

When he writes, Davis said he does not like to do simple rhyming. His thought process is in syllables and rhymes within rhymes. A favorite song of his own, which Davis is particularly proud of, is titled “Knowing.” Saake favors “I Can’t Put it into Words” because of his artistic input. Davis said he has noticed fans tend to enjoy “Too Complex.”

Saake has lived in Sacramento his entire life. He began drumming at the age of 16, and claims to be terrible at every other instrument. Saake said Ludwig drums are the best, which is why they are the only kind he plays.

TAIS is not the first project for Davis or Saake. Davis was previously in Righteous Movement, whereas Saake was the drummer for New Humans. Davis had his first solo-mixed tape for TAIS in 2008, and the second in 2010 and he is currently working on a full-length album. Saake said his goal with TAIS is to put out an EP, album or potentially have some songs recorded live.

TAIS has been on hiatus for nearly a year following Davis’ marriage late last year and the birth of his son, Parker, in April of this year. Parker joins older brother Noah, 9, and the two are already involved in their father’s career.

Davis proudly claims Noah as his main public relations person. Noah attends Davis’ shows and dances on stage.

“He knows all my rhymes,” Davis said.

Noah Davis said his brother Parker is their dad’s biggest fan.

“He can’t be – he’s too small,” Roshaun Davis said. “Maybe he’s my littlest biggest fan.”

For more information about TAIS, go to

www.taismusic.com

Courtney Owen can be reaced at [email protected].