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As that subtitle suggests, he writes his own material. He has a distinctive voice and an admirable
approach to the blues - not for these guys the extended solo route. There is a little nod to the
ragtime blues on ‘Lots Of Rain’, whilst ‘Rain Fell Hard’, with rhythm section, achieves an intimate,
tight but loose sounding, slow blues feel.

There are shades of John Lee Hooker on the latter, but try the opening number ‘OD’d’; Oliver
doesn’t copy, but there is no doubt who he had in mind on this one. It is a very impressive
performance, with Peter playing Eddie Kirkland to Oliver’s Boogie Man. Other Hooker-ish material
comes courtesy of ‘Honeytrap Blues’ and ‘Good Clean Dirty Fun’.

But what of Peter Schneider? Well, he is a rather fine musician, playing various guitars including
the lap steel (take a listen to ‘This Road’ or again, try the final song), but then that is only to be
expected - Oliver refers to him, quite accurately, as “Ike Turner’s guitar player” (he worked with
Ike in the mid-90s). He and Oliver work so well together, it can sometimes be difficult to spot the
gap!

An impressive performance. Do try to check it out.

Victor Ian Leyland

Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown—Electrified—Rattle
Shake Records
(www.tylerbryantandtheshakedown.com)

This is contemporary, bluesy roots rock from Nashville,
Tennessee, right from the opening track by this trio. Driving
lead guitar work, driving second guitar and drums (Tyler,

Graham Whitford and Caleb Crosby respectively) power along
a powerhouse performance on ‘Between The Lines’, a loud,
energetic and exciting opener.
‘Crossfire’ is roots rock with a marked southern feel, with a deep
Appalachian folk influence.

These are generally the two strands of the music on offer here, though they are certainly not
mutually exclusive in Tyler’s hands. The sleazy ‘Snake Oil’, also released as the album’s first single,
has a tough attitude and a driving beat, whilst ‘Shake You Down’ is classic, supercharged
blues-rock. ‘Movin’’ is down-home rock and roll with a country tinge, ‘Mona’ (an original by the
way) has a menacing, bluesy strut, and ‘Carefree Easy Rollin’’ has a strong southern rock approach,
a rather nice way to finish up.
A couple of notable guests from today’s blues and roots scenes pop up on the album too: Ruthie
Foster adds her voice to the brooding ‘Happy Gets Made’ and Larkin Poe help out on the ballad
‘One And Lonely’. OK, this does tend more to the rockier side of things, but the roots are definitely
there. Blues-rockers should certainly take note.

Norman Darwen