As a rule when I begin a review I generally go to the website before I listen to the songs to get a feel for the artist and their music. I like to see who their influences were, where they are from, read a little about their roots and generally get a feel for what they are all about. This time the songs were attached to the email and I downloaded them to listen before I even took a look at the band site. How surprised was I to find out how young this duo is?

Ryan (age 16) and Tyler (age 14) of the Ryan Tyler Band are actually still in school and have been playing and writing for years. The boys hail from a small town in Missouri – Thayer, MO to be exact – a railroad town. Both boys are self-taught musicians – both play several instruments and pen lyrics far beyond their years. They formed their first band a few years ago and appear to be heading for the big time as rumor has it Lyric Street Records is looking at them already.

The first song I listened to was “My Guitar” – a song I would categorize more in the Southern Rock genre than in Country. With the first few bars what first came to mind was a Bon Jovi song – “Wanted Dead or Alive” – the slow guitar, the hauntingly eerie chords – - then the vocals break in with perfect harmony. The song is about being on the road chasing dreams with no place to call their own but being fine as long as they have their guitar. This is an excellent ballad that is written and performed expertly by these young men. I really love this song – it flows smoothly and ends with a haunting “electrical vocal” nicely done.

“Letting Go” was another song I completely enjoyed. The first few chords I thought were leading into another ballad – surprise!! We went rock! A song about not wanting to let his girlfriend leave town, it was presented with fast tempo and lots of drums and good harmony as well. This is definitely Rock and fun to listen to.

“The Best Part of Me” is a song that can be new country with a rock edge in a heartbeat. The harmonies sometimes are presented as a “tag team” – a hard accomplishment at times where the lead vocal is followed off-beat by the harmonizer and, in this song, with an electronic edge to the harmonizing voice at times. These young men are on their own cutting edge of music and doing a great job of it!

There is no doubt about it – if they are this good at this young age I can only imagine where these young men will go in the years to follow, and I’m thinking they will go far. I am thinking I’ll be in line for their first CD!

Check them out on www.myspace.com/theryantylerband or follow them on www.twitter/ryantylerband as well.

Calamity Annie
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