Katie and Lou discuss one of their favorite topics: songwriting. They share their personal expertise as well as some great tips from the of the best songwriters of all time
Featured Louini Artists: Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown, Michael Mazochi, The Apocalypse Blues Revue
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown
TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN IS A ROCK AND ROLL BAND BORN OF NASHVILLE, TN. THEIR SOUND IS A SOULFUL PATCHWORK OF ROOTS-INFUSED MELODIES AND MUSCULAR RIFFS, ALL WOVEN TIGHTLY WITH THE THREAD OF THEIR ALTERNATIVE PSYCHEDELIC MYSTIQUE. IT’S AS RAMBUNCTIOUS, RAW AND REAL AS ROCK & ROLL GETS THESE DAYS.
A NATIVE OF HONEY GROVE, TX, TYLER CUT HIS TEETH ON GREATS SUCH AS LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS & FREDDIE KING. BRYANT STUDIED THE BLUES UNDER ROOSEVELT TWITTY SR. AND BELIEVES THAT THE SOUL IN ROOTS MUSIC IS WHAT PUTS THE “ROLL” IN ROCK & ROLL.
AT SEVENTEEN, TYLER MOVED TO NASHVILLE TO WRITE SONGS AND START A BAND. THERE HE MET DRUMMER CALEB CROSBY AND THEY BECAME FAST FRIENDS. “THE INSTANT WE STARTED PLAYING,” CALEB SAYS, “I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO START A BAND. WE PLAYED OUR FIRST SHOW A WEEK LATER AND HAVEN’T STOPPED SINCE.” TOGETHER THEY FORMED WHAT WOULD BECOME THE SHAKEDOWN.
GRAHAM WHITFORD, A ROCKER KID FROM BOSTON, WAS INTRODUCED TO TYLER AS THE GUY WHO COULD PUT HIM OUT OF A JOB. AS SOON AS TYLER HEARD GRAHAM PLAY, HE ASKED HIM TO JOIN THE BAND AND MOVE TO NASHVILLE RIGHT AWAY.
NOAH DENNEY WAS THE FINAL ADDITION TO THE SHAKEDOWN. “HIS BASS SOUND SCARED ME AND HE ADDED AN EDGE AND ATTITUDE TO THE BAND THAT WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WE NEEDED,” SAYS BRYANT. TYLER TOURED AS A SOLO ARTIST FOR A SPELL, PLAYING ERIC CLAPTON’S CROSSROADS FESTIVAL IN CHICAGO, RECEIVING THE ROBERT JOHNSON FOUNDATION’S NEW GENERATION AWARD, AND SHARING THE STAGE WITH ACTS SUCH AS B.B. KING & JOHNNY WINTER.
“PLAYING ON MY OWN WAS COOL, BUT I REALLY WANTED A GROUP OF FRIENDS I COULD HANG AND MAKE MUSIC WITH,” SAYS BRYANT. “THE MORE TIME I SPENT WITH THE GUYS IN THE SHAKEDOWN, THE MORE THEY STARTED TO FEEL LIKE MY BROTHERS. NOW I CAN'T IMAGINE MAKING MUSIC WITH ANYONE ELSE.”
IN 2013 THE BAND RELEASED “WILD CHILD,” THEIR FIRST FULL-LENGTH ALBUM, WHICH WAS FEATURED IN ROLLING STONE, NYLON MAGAZINE, PASTE MAGAZINE, INTERVIEW, AND MANY MORE. THE BAND MADE ITS TELEVISION DEBUT ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE RECORD THAT HELPED GAIN THEM A CULT LIKE FOLLOWING.
TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN RECENTLY INKED A DEAL WITH JOHN VARVATOS/REPUBLIC RECORDS AND GOT RIGHT INTO THE STUDIO WITH CELEBRATED PRODUCER/ENGINEER, VANCE POWELL (JACK WHITE, SEASICK STEVE).
THE BANDS NEW EP, THE WAYSIDE, WILL BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 13TH. THE FIRST SINGLE, "LOADED DICE & BURIED MONEY" IS A RAW, UNHINGED REMINDER THAT SOME THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT WE PERCEIVE THEM TO BE.
"WHEN YOU GIVE EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT TO SOMETHING, YOU HOPE IT WON'T LET YOU FALL BY THE WAYSIDE,” EXPLAINS BRYANT. “THIS ALBUM WAS INSPIRED BY TIMES WHERE THE FEELING OF HAVING NOTHING FELT OVERWHELMING. IN THOSE MOMENTS, MUSIC OFFERED US AN ESCAPE. IT GAVE US SOMETHING THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY OR DISSOLVING RELATIONSHIPS, AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH FREEDOM AND EXPRESSION.”
THE SHAKEDOWN HAS EARNED THEIR STRIPES BY TOURING THE COUNTRY AND WINNING FANS ONE AT A TIME. WHETHER PLAYING A DINGY ROCK & ROLL CLUB, TOURING THE COUNTRY WITH JEFF BECK & ZZ TOP, OR OPENING FOR AEROSMITH, THIS IS A BAND THAT IS PROUD TO BE LOUD AND DEDICATED TO LEAVING IT ALL ON WHATEVER STAGE THEY SET FOOT ON.
http://www.tylerbryantandtheshakedown.com/
Michael Mazochi
Michael Mazochi is an eclectic songwriter who is constantly striving to try new sounds while blending old sounds in new ways. He frequently uses vintage instruments to create vibrant, exciting, and sometimes harrowing music. In the studio, Mazochi often works alone, playing nearly everything on record down to mixing the songs.
Live Michael Mazochi plays with an electric full band consisting of Jordan Gravely (Guitar), Alex Leota (Drums), Tom Dubois (Bass), & Maxwell Butler (Keyboards)
The Apocalypse Blues Revue
As the legend goes, Robert Johnson infamously started his career by meeting the Devil at the crossroads. By the same token, you could say Apocalypse Blues Revue began playing at the end of the world. Co-founded by Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola and featuring vocalist Ray “Rafer John” Cerbone and bassist Brian Carpenter, the quartet honors blues traditions, while etching their stamp on the genre in blood.
“As far as blues goes, Apocalypse Blues Revue is a little heavier, a little darker, and has some punk rock attitude in the lyrics,” affirms Shannon. “We wanted to make something deep that will provoke thought. It had to be evil though. We’re not trying to make it happy. It’s called blues for a reason! It was also an opportunity to show the world what a phenomenal guitar player Tony is.”
Shannon witnessed Tony’s knack for the style firsthand, while writing together for Godsmack’s 2010 offering The Oracle. Burnt out on metal and hard rock, the pair would loosely jam without boundaries. During one impromptu session in their Southwest Florida rehearsal spot, the drummer laid down a slow, simmering groove, and another side of the guitar player reared its head.
“I couldn’t believe it,” smiles Shannon. “I didn’t even know he was into blues or could play the way he does. My reaction was immediate. We had to officially start a blues band.”
“There’s always been some blues in my playing,” adds Tony. “It came from classic rock like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC. Then, I got into guys like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Gales. We decided to mix it up, merging traditional blues and heavier elements.”
In between breaks from their rigorous Godsmack touring schedule, the duo amassed countless ideas and decided to begin creating songs. Impressed by his Jim Morrison-esque baritone, they welcomed Rafer—who Shannon appropriately met at a biker bar—into the fold. 2013 saw Brian join after the drummer judged a local radio contest he won. With the lineup locked and a slew of shows under their collective belt, the boys cut a demo of “The Devil In Me.” It landed in the hands of Mascot Records who offered them a deal immediately during late 2015, and it also served as the perfect introduction to the group.
“It’s that dark blues man,” says Shannon. “It’s a good snapshot of everything we are.”
In February 2016, Apocalypse Blues Revue entered The Vibe Recording Studio and cut their self-titled debut in just nine days. Mixed by Dave Fortman, the music conjures up swampy soul colored by gusts of rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly over the course of 12 tracks. “The Blues Are Falling from the Sky” shuffles along on a powerful beat as the six-string wails in tandem with smoky vocals.
“I wrote that when we were on tour in Australia with Godsmack,” recalls Shannon. “I was really hungover, missing my family, studio, bed, and pillow. It was raining outside that day, and I came up with the melody and lyric. I ran to Tony’s room and sang it to him. He picked up the guitar and instantly started writing the riff. It’s my favorite song we’ve ever written.”
“It had some really cool off-time signatures,” Tony describes. “I just let the strat speak!”
“Devil Plays A Strat” grinds on a lead guitar screech, wah-wah cry, ominous groove, and heavy stomp. “I love the story,” he smiles. “A guy walks in to this bar with a Les Paul, and he’s going up against Satan on a Stratocaster. It nods to Charlie Daniels Band’s ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’”
Elsewhere on the record, slow scorcher “The Tower” features a guest solo from one of Tony’s heroes modern blues icon: Eric Gales.
“I wrote that one the same day I came up with ‘The Blues Are Falling From The Sky,’” Shannon recalls. “I just remember I was staying on one of the top floors in this hotel. I stared out the window, and I could see everybody down below. It was literally a ‘Tower.’”
“Evil Is As Evil Does” kicks off the record with a simmering Southern-style stomp, painting a picture of evil in the world. Ray smiles. “That’s deep heavy blues. It’s got real dark crossroads lyrics, and I gave everything I had right from my gut!”
“Junkie Hell” paints a picture of addiction’s demonic grip. “That one comes from within as well as some things I’ve seen firsthand,” Ray admits. “You’re watching someone go down. However, you wake up one morning, figure it out, and move on. It was powerful.”
Then, there’s “I Think Not,” which stops an antagonist dead in his tracks with Ray’s howl. He adds, “I was on an acoustic guitar, and I was around someone who was trying to hurt me in many ways. I got angry about it. I’ll tell you this, ‘You don’t want to piss off a songwriter and make them personally angry with you. You can end up getting ripped! It’s a true story.”
The ominous “Crossed Over” details as Shannon puts it, “Crossing over to the side. It’s that last big ride.”
“Whiskey In My Coffee” speaks to facing the day—but needing that liquid courage. Its push-and-pull is mirrored in the guitar and vocal tension, ultimately espousing a different escape than downing a bottle.
“Work In Progress” encapsulates the journey that Shannon, Tony, Ray, and Brian have collectively embarked upon together. “This is a work in progress,” says the drummer. “It’s all coming together one step at a time, and we’re rolling with it.”
Meanwhile, “Blue Cross” materialized on a day Shannon showed up to the studio rocking some blue suede shoes. They just started jamming, and the song came to life. “It was about that day,” smiles the singer. “Everybody put their touch on it, and we really gave the song a pair of balls. When Shannon hit that kick drum in those shoes, it’s awesome!”
Everything culminates on their interpretation of the Doors’ “Music’s Over.” “We all love the Doors,” he continues. “We end the show with the song, killing the lights and just getting into it. We wanted to play the song our way, and that’s it. All of the changes are subtle. This could be a tradition with doing one Doors song an album!”
The songs thread together the record’s themes reflected in the name.
“Back in the day, I was in a punk band called Amen,” says Shannon. “I got the nickname ‘Apocalypse’ on tour. It stuck with me, and I got it tattooed on my right forearm. Tony and I came up with the band name together. I connected it to the Blues Brothers, because at the end of the movie they do The Blues Brothers Blues Revue. Hence, the Apocalypse Blues Revue.”
Tony and Shannon’s creative union grows stronger by the gig. It traces back to 2001 when Shannon joined Godsmack. Selling 20 million records worldwide and garnering four GRAMMY® Award nominations, the juggernaut remains a hard rock institution. In 2007, Tony and Shannon would also co-found rock outfit Another Animal together. However, Apocalypse Blues Revue holds a special place in both of their hearts.
“I want people to walk away with our songs stuck in their heads,” Shannon leaves off. “The music speaks for itself on this record.”
“It’s back to basics,” concludes Tony. “I wanted to be able to go to a gig with no production—just an amp, a pedal board, and a guitar—and play.”
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