Tyler Childers

Soooo...I'm sitting in a bar in Lake Tahoe with my son last week (its his last Spring Break as a high school student) trying to get down some pretty marginal ribs. I keep hearing bits and pieces of a country album playing overhead and I finally Shazam a song just before it ends. Hmmm....Tyler Childers...need to check that out. I forget about it for a few days as we drive south; butn when we're sitting around our motel room in Lone Pine I head down a deep YouTube rabbit hole about him.

Tyler Childers is from rural Kentucky. His father was a coal miner and his mother was a nurse. He graduated high school and took a few college courses and then started working odd jobs and playing music. Sounds like he also started drinking, drugging, and a whole lot else as he mentions getting sober 11 years later.  That's somewhat important as he talks about a lot of this in his songs. And his songs are about as real and raw and honest as you get. As is he. I'll start you out with the one I Shazamed but don't give up before you get to Nose on the Grindstone. It's probably the most powerful song I've heard since the first time I heard Fast Car by Tracy Chapman 30 some odd years ago. If you have the time, there a ton of this person/that person 'Reacts' videos to this song and just watch each of their reactions when they first hear him singing. Wow!! I'm not doing justice to this by trying to explain it; and it may not be a style for everyone...but his depth and the realness of his voice is worth taking the time. to hear. And 22K million views tells you I'm not alone.  Gritty is what everyone seems to agree on.

One final note. Tyler put out an album of all fiddle music a short while back with one vocal piece called Long Violent History. He wasn't sure how it would be received so he added a video explanation that is also very worth listening to. It kind of ties all of this together and really lets you see the kind of person he is. Honest. He has been since nominated for a Grammy.

So hear we go...

• Feathered Indians: the first song I heard. Amazing slide guitar and beautiful melody.
• Bus Route:  probably my second favorite. Great groove and two beautiful guitar leads. Listen to the lyrics.
• Hard Times: Wow.
• Nose to the Grindstone: If you don't hear any of the others...this is the one you want to listen to.
• Long Violent History and Explanation

There are a lot more songs out there if you're interested and I hope a lot more to come. Hope you enjoy him!