I saw these guys open for Heart back in 2007 (I think?) at Nokia in Dallas. I can safely say they are the only opening act on which I, to this day, have not wished a quick and immediate death (Heart is my favorite band and I don't like to have to wait for my girls!). I remember having some sympathy for them when they took the stage and Jonathan began to play. He strummed a time or two then stopped and said, "Whoa... we've never played in a place this big before. It sounds cool!" Adorable.
After what seems like an epic wait (seems longer to them, I'm sure), Atlantic has finally signed them and their first real record is out today entitled "Pardon Me". You can find it most places online (Amazon, iTunes, etc) as well as in a few CD stores near you, I hope. As someone who has been following them for years I can tell you this album is exactly who they are: Pure. Raw. Rock. I have seen these guys at least 20x in concert and if humanly possible they sound even better live.
It's been gratifying to watch them go from playing small clubs and bars to opening for bands like Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top (with whom they are now on tour!). These are the nicest guys and fiercely talented. It's no shock to rock fans that the popularity of REAL rock-n-roll (not talking about Hinder or Halestorm here :p ) has taken a backseat to tween pop and Lady Gaga style theatrics. It's sad that a RnR group this solid in sound and writing had to wait so long to be signed.
Fitting that their first single is "Pardon Me" which is about rock n roll itself and encompasses exactly what this album is about: "Baby, it's been too long since rock n roll turned you on." WORD. Luckily, these guys (and Mo Brown!) are here to fix that.
They performed the single on Jimmy Kimmel a few weeks back for their first national TV appearance and I was watching with nauseating excitement like a proud mama bear hoping they'd kill it. And they did.
The album is solid --every track is a keeper. Even as someone one who owns and adores their first independent album (Hot Trottin'), I am head-over-heels in love with the new and reworked versions of songs I've been hearing for almost three years. The new take on "Bright Energy" has risen to the top of my favorites whereas before I only gave it an occasional listen. I do miss "She's From The Other Side" which may be my all-time favorite track, but I understand why it wasn't included. "Devil's Basement" is a great what I call 'blues train' song, but nothing compares to hearing it live (Jonathan Tyler knows how to work a blues harp). "Pardon Me" is one I won't be putting away anytime soon. These guys should be proud of an album well-done.
Here's to hoping thousands of people think they are as great as I do.
Get PARDON ME on iTunes
http://www.jonathantylermusic.com
http://twitter.com/JTandNL
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