Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Electrify Charlotte

TBSD Shakes the Roots of Neighborhood Theatre

Every once in a while a concert completely takes you by surprise and blows your mind. This is exactly what happened when Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown made a stop in Charlotte in support of their latest album Electrified. I mean to be fair I was expecting this to be a good show, but I wasn’t fully prepared for the musical force that was lying in wait behind the doors of the Neighborhood Theatre. 

The evening kicked off with the fiery Americana rock of Crenshaw Pentecostal. Hailing from Winston-Salem, the band is a staple on the local scene and never fails to put on a great set. This was going to be a night of bare-bones, nitty-gritty, rock and roll and nobody does that better than Crenshaw Pentecostal. A highlight of their performance was their latest single “Cold” which features haunting vocals and gorgeous guitars. The crowd was pumped and having a great time and this incredible night of rock and roll was off and running. If you haven’t checked out Crenshaw Pentecostal yet, do yourself a favor and go listen to “Cold” now!

Next up was Nashville-based rockers Ace Monroe. I was fairly unfamiliar with the band and was excited to see what they had to offer. From the moment the band hit the stage, I knew we were in for something special. My first thought was are we still in Charlotte because I felt like I was transported back in time to the late ’70s and early ’80s on the Sunset Strip. That was the total vibe I was getting and I absolutely and positively fell in love with it. 

Ace Monroe brought all the fire and energy that the small stage could handle with the look and the attitude to match. But make no mistake about it, they are no gimmicky band, the musicianship is top-notch with searing guitar riffs and songs full of hooks and sing-along choruses. Lead vocalist Robbie Dylan is a consummate frontman and the twin guitar attack of Josh Alfano and Jack Kaiser are a force to be reckoned with. Their latest single “Summer Heat” really had the crowd in a frenzy as they sang and danced along.

Ace Monroe is definitely a band to put on your radar. If you missed their performance this time, they will be back in the Charlotte area on July 5th, and let me tell you you won’t want to miss it. 

After a short break to clear some of the gear off the stage, the moment had finally arrived for Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown to bring the heat and bring it they did. One of the things that I love about Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown is that for me they exemplify everything that made me fall in love with rock and roll. I like it dirty, nasty, raw, and powerful and that’s exactly what TBSD brings to the table. 

Everyone in the band is just uber-talented so the musicianship is top-notch but what really sets them apart is the passion they have for the music. Yes, I know, cliche because all musicians are passionate about their music right? But, TBSD brings that passion to life on the stage. Just a bunch of guys with their instruments, no bells and whistles, no explosions or pyro, just the music and they make you a part of it. I mean you feel their energy and you get caught up in the moment and the energy cycles back and forth. The atmosphere is electric and that to me is the epitome of rock and roll. When Tyler is wailing on that guitar, you can see the emotion come through in every note and every movement from the expression on his face to the way he handles his guitar, he is in a state of pure joy and it is amazing to watch. 

The set was heavy with songs from the new album Electrified but also offered plenty of old favorites and everything in between. In fact, fairly early in the set, Tyler looked down at the setlist on the stage and said yeah that’s the end of the setlist tonight. We’re going to do whatever we want and then laughed that the band hated when he did that. But, the crowd loved it and we couldn’t wait to hear what they dove into next. 

It’s not only Tyler whose passion burns bright, the whole band is on fire. Drummer Caleb Crosby is pounding away on his kit, standing on the bass drum, and pointing his sticks at the crowd. At one point in the show, he brings a tom down to the front and plays front and center with the crowd.  Bassist Diego Navaira is pushing the pace, keeping those bass lines slinking along and guitarist Graham Whitford is busy keeping the riffs coming and getting together with Tyler for some epic jams. 

The intimate setting of the Neighborhood Theatre was a perfect spot to experience this show. The crowd is close and pushed up to the stage. You can feel the heat coming off the band and you are getting hit with tiny splashes of sweat as TBSD throws it down. Bryant’s guitar is so close, you could reach out and touch it as you gaze in wonderment at his fingers moving and sliding across the fretboard as he made that guitar sing for us all. 

In fact, it wasn’t just one guitar, Tyler brought an entire arsenal of well-loved and well-used instruments with him. This includes one that may or may not belong to his wife although Tyler sheepishly claims it as his own. There were stories told as the evening went on and nobody wanted the night to end. TBSD played for about two hours, I don’t know for sure as who was keeping track of the time. We were too busy having a great time. I looked down at my phone and thought, wow it’s getting late, but I’m not going anywhere. This is too good to miss even a second of it and I’m sure the crowd around me agreed because nobody was making their way to the exit. 

That week I attended four other shows, including a big country show and an arena rock staple, but I have to say Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown were my favorite. This was real rock and roll played with passion and fury along with an honest gratitude by the band to be able to do what they love and share it with us all. If you’ve never seen Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, run don’t walk to the show closest to you. Seeing them live should be a bucket list item for all fans of raw, rock and roll. 

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.

Click Here to Listen to Electrified!

Tour Dates:

June 8, 2024

Murphysboro, IL

Shawnee Cave Revival

June 22, 2024

Alton, IL

Mississippi River Festival

July 4, 2024

Springfield, IL

Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series

July 24, 2024

Avon, CO

AvonLIVE!

July 27, 2024

Macon, GA

Bragg Jam Concert Craw

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