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Our top 10 Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs list presents the music of a youthful American band renowned for its classic rock influences. The band was formed in 2009 by the talented guitarist/vocalist Tyler Bryant in conjunction with bassist Calvin Webster and drummer Caleb Crosby. Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown has had immense success, often seen as one of the young torchbearers of the next rock and roll generation.
Thanks to its solid musicianship, the band has toured with outstanding acts/artists including Jeff Beck, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, and Guns ‘N Roses, to name a few. While Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown has been cited to be a blues rock band, the band has from time to time given the rock world a taste of his roots, country, and hard rock inflections. The band’s career has been summarized by its high-spirited and raw ballads that radiates blues rock-infused melodies and muscular guitar riffs from Tyler Bryant that give authentic rock and roll vibes.
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
The success of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown narrows the individual excellence of Tyler Bryant as a guitarist. Building his skillset under the tutelage of blues musician Roosevelt Twitty during his teenage years, Tyler Bryant grew to become one of the emerging guitar sensations of the twenty-first century. His major inspiration in the blues rock arena include brilliant acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crowes, The Rolling Stones, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
After teaming up with Caleb and Calvin in 2009, the band found it worth adding an extra guitarist to its lineup, going for Jason Stoltzfus. However, Jason was a member of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown for just a few months in 2010 having him replaced by guitarist/backing vocalist Graham Whitford the same year. Graham is the son of Aerosmith’s rhythm and co-lead guitarist Brad Whitford.
The band went on to record its debut extended play My Radio in March 2011. My Radio featured four tracks including “Where I Want You,” “Big Time,” “Speed of Sound,” and the EP title track. Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown returned in September 2011 with a seven-track EP entitled From the Sandcastle. Like the band’s debut EP My Radio, From the Sandcastle was issued through Tyler Bryant Music.
From the Sandcastle was quite a momentous record featuring some of the best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs including “Kick the Habit,” “Say A prayer,” “Kickin,” and “Shackles.” The success of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s sophomore extended play helped attract the attention of blues rock enthusiasts to the band’s musical pursuits. Sadly, the band lost the services of original bassist Calvin Webster with his position taken by bassist Noah Denney.
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s Album Releases over the Years
With a compacted lineup, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown entered 2013 with great yearnings to impress blues rock enthusiasts. In January 2013, the band issued its debut studio album Wild Child through Carved Records. Wild Child was quite an impressive record featuring some of the best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs including “Lipstick Wonder Woman,” “Downtown Tonight,” “Last One Breathing,” and “House on Fire.”
The album also featured “Say A Prayer,” a solid rocker first featured on the EP From the Sandcastle. After multiple tours, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown was back with its third extended play, Bombay B-Sides in 2015. The EP was Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s first and only record issued through Smokedown Records. Bombay B-Sides is home to musical gems such as “Stitch It Up” and “Free & Easy.”
Bombay B-Sides was quickly followed by Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s fourth extended play The Wayside. Issued in November 2015, The Wayside is among the most alluring records by the band featuring some of the best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs including “Devil’s Keep,” “Mojo Workin,” “Loaded Dice & Buried Money,” and the EP title track.
In 2017, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown issued its eponymous sophomore album through Snakefarm Records. Other artists who have issued record(s) through Snakefarm Records include Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Billy Gibbons, among others. Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown was quite a momentous record featuring outstanding blues rock-oriented tracks such as “Heartland,” “Backfire,” “Aftershock,” “Ramblin’ Bones,” and “Weak and Weepin’.”
Truth and Lies, issued in 2019, marked Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s third studio album. While most of the band’s previous records were primarily blues rock-oriented, Truth and Lies finds Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown giving us a taste of its hard rock inflections. Joining the band in the production of this album is Joel Hamilton, a record producer revered for his work with Highly Suspect, Aaron Neville, Violet Road, Tom Waits, and Elvis Costello. Truth and Lies is home to some of the best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs including “On to the Next,” “Ride,” “Shock & Awe,” and “Out There.”
In 2020, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown returned with its fourth studio album, Pressure. Pressure features a number of impressive hits including “Crazy Days,” Holdin’ My Breath,” and the album title track. While the album was quite an impressive record, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown barely promoted it, suspending its tours with Stone Temple Pilots and Nickelback due to the Covid-19 pandemic onset.
Rust ‘N’ Roll, issued in 2021 through Bare Bones Records, marked the band’s fifth and most recent extended play. The extended play is home to impressive hits such as “Don’t Come Cheap” and “Born Rockin’.” In September 2022, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown went ahead to issue its fifth studio album Shake the Roots through its own record label Rattle Shake Records. Shake the Roots is home to notable musical gems including “Ain’t None Watered Down,” and “Ghostrider.”
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s Legacy
With his signature shell pink Fender Stratocaster, Tyler Bryant has been serving rock adherents with his impressive smoking riffs. Tyler Bryant and his band have been at the forefront of rekindling the love for rock and roll. The band’s impressive music catalog ooze some of the best modern blues rock sounds tinged with southern rock, hard rock, old-school roots rock influences.
Over the years, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown has shared the stage in support of prominent acts including ZZ Top, Guns ‘N Roses, Aerosmith, and AC/DC. This has seen the youthful souls effectively position themselves as the frontrunners in taking over the mantle from these legendary acts. Here we present our ten Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs.
#10- Ride
Ushering us to the ten best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs list is the raving hit “Ride.” The song is among the top musical gems off the band’s third studio album Truth and Lies. While songs on Truth and Lies are tinged with hard rock influences, “Ride” maintains the band’s signature bluesy vibes.
This mid-tempo ballad feels a little primal with its sound evoking the flavorings of the blues rock band ZZ Top. “Ride” has its lyrics alluding to viewing life as a journey rather than a destination. The song’s heavy-sounding basslines, especially at the song’s beginning, are quite spellbinding.
#9- Say A Prayer
“Say A Prayer” is one of the brightest musical gems issued by Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown at the early stages of the band’s career. The song is featured on the band’s sophomore extended play From the Sandcastle. “Say A Prayer” is yet another proof of Tyler Bryant’s individual excellence both on the guitar and the vocals. His powerful croons find him making a vocal delivery that aligns with the song’s emotional vibes.
While “Say A Prayer” is placed in the middle of the EP song’s list, the track feels more like the band’s musical peak on From the Sandcastle. “Say A Prayer” remains one of the band’s most energetic tracks, making it a perfect choice for live performances. The music video to this hit marked the band’s debut music video, issued shortly after Tyler Bryant was done touring with Jeff Beck.
#8- Ramblin’ Bones
It is intentional that we dropped some of the best songs from the band’s eponymous album such as “Weak and Weepin’” and “Heartland” just to find space for the hit “Ramblin’ Bones.” Notably, “Ramblin’ Bones” is a slight departure from Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s signature blues rock sound. Any time Tyler Bryant has guided his band in departing from their signature blues-rock sound, the move proves to be worthy just like this gorgeous soulful rock ballad “Ramblin’ Bones.”
The song finds Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown giving us a delightful taste of the band’s roots rock inflections. Despite the slight departure from blues rock, “Ramblin’ Bones” still feels not out of place in the album. Its refined rootsy guitar riffs help open a conversation about roots rock as the spring from which blues rock draws inspiration.
The song has its lyrics alluding to touring as revealed by the band members on a live recording of this track. “Ramblin’ Bones” is the kind of magical roots-tinged track that send shivers down your spine! The incredible Laura Cox (another youthful rock legend in the making) paid homage to this incredible hit, uploading a cover of this hit on her YouTube channel.
#7- Loaded Dice & Buried Money
“Loaded Dice & Buried Money” is one of the best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs issued on the band’s EP The Wayside. The song has its lyrics dig deeper into the feeling of how some things aren’t as we perceive them. “Loaded Dice & Buried Money” brings out the individual excellence of Tyler Bryant, thanks to its thrilling guitar riffs.
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s chorus to “Loaded Dice & Buried Money” is quite alluring telling of the band’s seasoned songwriting skills. A song that closely emulates a similar old-school yet alluring guitar playing style on the EP is Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s hit “Mojo Workin’,” which is the cover of the song “Got My Mojo Workin’,” a hit popularized by Muddy Waters.
#6- Aftershock
Number six on our ten best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs list is the electrifying hit “Aftershock.” The song is featured on the band’s eponymous sophomore studio album. “Aftershock” is delivered with pure rock and roll fiery enough to crown Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown the next titans in the rock and roll scene. The song feels worth every bit of a mega-concert rock ballad thanks to its meticulous delivery and powerful groove!
We honestly feel indebted not to have featured “Backfire” on this list, a song delivered with almost the same kind of energy as “Aftershock.” Tyler Bryant revealed “Aftershock” to be one of his favorite songs at concerts owing to its wavy tempo. The singer/guitarist revealed “Aftershock” to have been musically inspired by acts such as The Black Crowes and Soundgarden.
#5- Devil’s Keep
Driving us back to the magical musical experience of the band’s fourth extended play The Wayside is the brilliant hit “Devil’s Keep.” Once again, Tyler Bryant showcases his versatility in the rock scene giving us a taste of his country rock/heartland rock inflections on this hit. The opening hook to this rock ballad delivers a hypnotic vibe giving “Devil’s Keep” an exceptional feel.
However, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown still manages to add to the song some southern rock-sounding guitars to this hit. The song’s country rock/heartland rock influences point towards Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ influence in the music career of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown.
#4- Downtown Tonight
“Downtown Tonight” is one of the most popular concert staples by the band thanks to its easy-going and raw bluesy vibe. “Downtown Tonight” features one of the most alluring slide riffs by Tyler Bryant. The slide riff to this hit is complemented by a pretty solid harmony which showcases just how good this song’s arrangement was executed.
“Downtown Tonight” manages to feature some blues roots and country rock inflections to its groove, while still maintaining Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown’s signature blues rock influences. The song is among the top musical gems from the twelve-track debut studio album Wild Child which finds rock legends such as Jeff Beck and Vince Gill giving a nod to Tyler Bryant’s impactful and promising career in the rock and roll scene.
#3- The Wayside
Coming in strong at number three on our ten best Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs list is the impressive hit “The Wayside.” This mid-tempo ballad serves as the title track to the band’s fourth and most definitive extended play. Thanks to the laidback vibe of “The Wayside” fans of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown are able to see the soulful side of Tyler Bryant’s vocal delivery.
“The Wayside” is delivered in mesmerizing blues rock sounds infused with virtuoso guitar solos from Tyler Bryant. Working on the production of this song and album is Vance Powell, a Grammy Award-winning record producer best known for his work with Buddy Guy, Chris Stapleton, The Whigs, The Raconteurs, Jars of Clay, and Jessica Simpson.
#2- On to the Next
“On to the Next” is yet another prodigiously-crafted track off the band’s third studio album, Truth and Lies. This hooky cut is among the tracks by Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown that allow Tyler Bryant to earn the endorsement of guitarists like Angus Young of AC/DC, thanks to its hard rock-tinged killer guitar riffs. The only song on Truth and Lies that gives “On to the Next” a run for its money is the album lead single “Shock & Awe” which features hypnotic hard rocking guitar riffs.
While “On to the Next” bends more to the hard rock way, Tyler Bryant doesn’t fully depart from the band’s signature sound adding to the song slight southern rock flavorings. Another major highlight in this hard rock-tinged hit is Tyler Bryant’s songcraft excellence and his impressive vocal delivery, especially the distorted vocals in the verses.
#1- Lipstick Wonder Woman
Number one on our top 10 Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown songs list is the fascinating hit “Lipstick Wonder Woman.” While Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown has quite a catalog of impressive rockers, “Lipstick Wonder Woman” serves as the emblematic track to the band’s blues rock sound with some rootsy influences. It is songs like “Lipstick Wonder Woman” that make Tyler Bryant sound/feel like a prodigy delivering his musical excellence in the ‘60s or early ‘70s.
Tyler Bryant revealed that he penned the song “Lipstick Wonder Woman” in collaboration with the multiple Grammy Award-nominated rock singer/guitarist Jaren Johnson, a member of The Cadillac Three. Bryant continued to say that the song’s lyrics were written about a beautiful girl who was blowing off his mind. “Lipstick Wonder Woman” features a killer slide guitar riff which adds to its alluring rootsy influences. The live acoustic version of this hit also sounds quite impressive.
Top 10 Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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