By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Tyler-Thompson finds the grass greener at home

Having worked as a music critic for various Central Iowa newspapers and magazines during the past 13 years, I’ve had the pleasure of writing about many talented local bands with dreams of “making it” elsewhere, whether it be through releasing a CD, signing with a record label, launching their own record company or embarking on a national tour. Their will to succeed and creativity inspires, and I never grow tired of telling their stories no matter how many times I have heard them.

Unfortunately, some of those dreams are crushed by broken promises, unrealistic expectations, band politics and break ups. It’s the nature of the music business, which explains the low survival rate for many bands.

Maybe that’s why I feel good telling you about The Tyler Thompson Band, a Des Moines rock institution. After getting a taste of some big-time success opening shows across the United States and Europe for the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends and Gov’t Mule, it seems the quartet which includes singer-guitarist Mike Tyler, bassist-singer Wade Thompson, drummer-singer Paul Thompson and guitarist-singer Jacob County Berhow has found happiness with a homegrown record label and a local music scene that allows them to explore the boundaries of their creativity.

“We’re at a nice point in our career,” says 38-year-old Wade Thompson, announcing the release of the band’s latest album, “Cold Cuts,” their debut effort for Des Moines-based Authentic Records. “We just age well.”

Twelve years ago when the TTB formed, nobody could have predicted its staying power and success. It started in December 1995 when Wade and Paul Thompson walked into the 30th Street Bar and heard Mike and Dave Tyler playing. Their chance meeting culminated into an all-night jam on Christmas Day. And on Dec. 26, they officially launched the group.

“We didn’t know it would go on this long,” Thompson says. “We did the three-piece thing for a while when Dave left the group, then about five years ago Jacob joined and we’ve been plugging away ever since.”

The band’s first album, “Fine Young Man,” recorded at Great Plains Recording Co. in Clive, caught the attention of the Allman Brothers Band’s tour mystic Kirk West. With his help in 2002, the TTB traveled to Macon, Ga., to record their second album, “Living on the Edge.” The album not only was noteworthy because it included performances by the Rolling Stones’ keyboardist Chuck Leavell, country guitarist Leroy Parnell, Col. Bruce Hampton and Slipknot’s Mick Thompson, but it was the last one made at the old Capricorn Studios where Southern Rock legends like the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker bands recorded.

“I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” Thompson says.

But just as it seemed the TTB band was on the fast track to national acclaim, things changed. Disillusioned by the politics of working with a major record company the TTB band took a two-year hiatus in 2005-2006. Members of the band stayed in touch and gathered to write songs while working on various side projects. The Thompson brothers, for example, formed To My Surprise, which included Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan, and played the Austin music conference, SXSW.

“It wasn’t like we stopped getting together, we just had a good time playing music with other people,” says Thompson, who along with his brother, Paul, inherited the music bug from his father and grandfather and is now passing it along to his two children. “We’re fortunate to live in a town where musically there are all kinds of opportunities.”

When the band decided to “regroup,” they turned to another Des Moines fixture — The Nadas — for some help, signing with their independent record label Authentic Records. The collaboration resulted in the newly released album, “Cold Cuts,” which features 14 original tunes that showcase the TTB’s pleasing organic mix of rock, blues and country on standout tracks like “Loves A Fool,” “Hard Luck Living,” “Angel” and “Shelf.” The band recorded the album at the home studio of Brian Vance, an Ankeny resident and longtime friend.

“I think we’ve become even more explosive after going through what we’ve experienced and having had some time off,” Thompson says. “We took our time with it and I think it’s our best stuff. The writing is more mature. The songs are more focused and not so jam oriented, though there are still some lengthy tunes on it.”

Thompson says “Cold Cuts” also reflects the serenity the band feels having signed with Authentic Records. After experiencing the highs and lows of working with a major record company and big-name acts, Thompson says the group is glad to be working with an independent label where it has more control on and off stage.

“It’s nice to be involved with someone down the street where there are no smoke and mirrors,” Thompson says.

To promote the new record, the band has booked a handful of local shows this summer. Thompson says it might book some Midwest dates, as well as a possible European tour this fall, though they’re in no hurry. It seems the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the tracks.

“As long as it makes sense, we’ll travel farther,” he says. “Success is what you consider it to be. We’re just a group of guys from Des Moines singing about every day life. Right now we’re fortunate to be in a creative situation that we’re all happy with.”

Scene notes
The final round of competition for the 2007 Iowa Blues Challenge will be held Friday at 9:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston. Three bands will compete for more than $5,000 in prizes and the chance to represent Iowa at the 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The Smokin’ Mojo Kings from Davenport, followed by Des Moines contestants the Yetti Bluz Band and Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts will compete. Admission is $8. Visit www.cibs.org. … Local musicians will also compete Friday in “The Buzz and Sing Thing” at the Ritual Café to raise funds for FutureNet, the Iowa Network for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Parenting and Sexual Health, a non-profit group in Iowa. Ankeny singer-songwriter Mary McAdams will emcee the event. The performer that receives the most amount of tips wins. The top three finalists each win a guitar. Visit www.ritualcafe.com. … Also on Friday, “Homegrown in Iowa,” an exhibition of photographs by Iowa City photographer Sandy Dyas and Friday night concerts by mostly Iowa City artists, kicks off in Perry’s cultural district. The exhibit includes photos from Dyas’ forthcoming book “Down the River: Portraits of Iowa Musicians.” Monthly concerts include Bo Ramsey (Friday), Dave Zollo (June 15), Joe and Vicki Price (July 20) and Mike and Amy Finders (Aug. 24). Greg Brown will perform Aug. 25 at the Perry Event Center for the town’s annual festival. Visit www.hometownperryiowa.org. … Zoo Brew returns to Blank Park Zoo on Wednesday for another summer of beer, music and activities from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Swing Crew will perform at this week’s shindig entitled “Calling All Parrot Heads.” Other Zoo Brews are scheduled for June 20, July 18 and Aug. 29. CV

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