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In the era of American Idol and Making the Band, it is nice to hear some kick-ass, straight edge Rock n’ Roll. Thankfully, Wyldsky recently released their debut CD. That is not to say that they are a one-trick-pony. They blend the best elements of experimentation, technical ability and experience to put together something phenomenal – a great rock album.
Wyldsky was founded by former Great White guitarist, Tyler Nelson. Naming his new creation after his two daughters, Wylie and Skylar Nelson, he gathered a group of exceptional musicians to form his vision into a reality.
Accompanying Tyler Nelson are Michael Lesniak on percussion, and Steve Evans on bass guitar. They are accomplished musicians in their own right. Lesniak is heavily influenced by jazz-fusion and according to Tyler is “the best drummer I’ve ever worked with.”
Blues and Jazz legend, Steve Evans was fresh off of a tour with Coco Montoya when Nelson first spoke with him about this project. Evans has also worked with top recording artist Rick Derringer and Canadian musician Pat Travers.
According to their website, the current touring line-up is as follows:
Tyler Nelson ( Vocals, Guitars )
Chad Quist ( Guitars )
Douglass Richardson ( Bass )
Chris Turbiss ( Hammond/ piano )
Mike Lesniak ( Drums )
Besides being a veritable guitar virtuoso, Nelson is also the lead singer. In this role he surrenders his heart and soul. What I love most about the way he sings is the control he has over his vocals. Tyler’s vocals are passionate and powerful. At times his voice has a “dirty” quality. It is raunchy, as is the case in a song like, “Next World”, where he spends the 4 minutes and 40 seconds of the track sounding like a kick-ass cross between Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails and Lemmy from Motorhead.
However on other songs such as “Nightmare and a Dream” and “Rendezvous”, his voice can be gentle and restrained one moment, passionate and fervent, another.
This album gives listeners a lot of everything. “Rendezvous” seems like it may just be a ballad, but many different elements are drawn to create an amazing track. The song begins with the sound of crashing ocean waves. A lone acoustic guitar begins to play and soon after an electric guitar accompanies. Nelson then sings both gently and then powerfully throughout the song. Four minutes in, we are hit with an amazing lead guitar solo while a Led Zepplin-ish riff plays in the background.
The song ends as Nelson sings, “spread your wings, we'll fly together, on this rendezvous through time.” All of these elements are drawn together perfectly to create a very memorable song. They ebb and flow to create one of the best tracks on the album.
“Comin' On” is another example where I felt different musical styles were used to create something unique. Like “Rendezvous”, it begins very classically as Nelson’s technical guitar ability really shows through. It carries on as a ballad, but then explodes into some of the most metallic music on the whole album – true anthemic rock and roll!
When I first began writing this piece for Soundline, “Nightmare and a Dream” was my personal favourite track. It reminded me of those old hard rock ballads – that is if they were written today and had a ‘current’ feeling to them. What blows me away about this album though is that each track is so good and distinctive in its own right.
Now near the completion of this article, I would be hard-pressed to pick one song that I felt stood out for me. I guess the song I like the best depends on what kind of mood I am in. And regardless of that mood, there is a track on this album that will resonate with me.
Although the band has been compared to Led Zeppelin, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Soundgarden and Pink Floyd, I think such comparisons are pointless and serve only to minimize what Wyldsky has accomplished with this album.
They are their own creation and, although not known in mainstream music as well as the aforementioned artists, their debut offering is a solid 10-track compilation, each song its own unique and dynamic expression of Nelson’s own experiences.
- SOUNDLINE Magazine
WYLDSKY bring us “Wyldsky” – their debut album. This is serious stuff from the heavy-rock world. Fine guitar licks coming from Great White’s Tyler Nelson, he’s pulled together a serious band here with great everything and this cd’s got with enough swish to urge your fingers to turn the volume up and light up a spliff. This is way worth getting your ear-wax syringed for! -NY Waste - NY Waste
Fans of classic hard rock should find plenty to like here. This has a lot in common with the music of the 1970’s, yet it’s modern. The group seem to combine the sounds of Guns N Roses with more classic rock elements and create their own motif that’s quite diverse. You’ll hear the blues here, but also southern rock and even hair metal. It all works some how. And these guys master something that seems a lost art – the idea of alternating hard rockers with mellower cuts to create a disc that has a life and an ebb and flow to it. A lot of bands could learn from this debut disc. I’d expect great things from these guys in the future, but this might be a tough first disc for them to top. - Music Street Journal
Discography
WYLDSKY's self-titled debut album was just released on 01/09/09 has already won "Rock Album of The Year" & "Best Live Artist" by the Los Angeles Music Awards.
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Bio
WYLDSKY was founded by front man and guitarist extraordinaire, Tyler Nelson in 2006.
Tyler is a seasoned musician and song writer. While playing guitars (electric and acoustic) for the legendary rock band Great White – performing benefit concerts for the families of the victims who died in The Station fire in Rhode Island – he was contacted by Ivan Gospich, founder of Mandatory Music Group. Ivan offered him a contract to make a CD and Tyler accepted. Tyler then started putting together an amazing ensemble of musicians; the formation of WYLDSKY, named after Tyler's daughters Wylie & Skylar.
The “Dream Team”:
Tyler Nelson: is a guitar virtuoso who seamlessly transitions from any stringed instrument. Many compare his style to Jeff Beck. Tyler also has a very potent and soulful voice, and sings his heart out – even at the rehearsals – which inspires the rest of the band to perform at their full potential every time they get together. Some fans liken Tyler to Jimi Hendrix, as he is very experimental: On one occasion he threw a Fender amplifier into a bathtub to see if any of the sounds it produced could be used on one of his songs!
Michael Lesniak: an extremely diverse percussionist with a passion for complex jazz-fusion styles. Michael’s talent on drums is like listening to the late great John Bonham, and Trilok Gurtu rolled into one – such grace and power in his playing.
Chad Quist: a Berklee College of Music Alumnist who is a true guitar virtuoso that has mastered all styles of guitar playing from classical, progressive, to down and dirty chicken pickin'...that loves to rock and amaze audiences.
Chris Turbis: has played Piano, Hammond B3, Synthesizers, Saxophones and all other woodwind instruments either with or as an opening act for an seemingly endless list of line-ups including and not limitied to Alabama, The Allman Brother, Alligator Stew, Black Oak Arkansas, Blackfoot, Blue Oyster Cult, Confederate Railroad, Dokken, Great White, The Guess Who, Iron Butterfly, Lynyrd Skynrd, Kentucky Headhunters, Marshall Tucker, Motley Crue, Molly Hatchett, Poison, Rare Earth, The Regulators, Ted Nugent, Ratt, Warrant and the list goes on...also bestowed with Piano Player Of The Year Award by AAMA in 2004.
Douglass Richardson: Chris's long time band mate in many of the above bands, is a true pioneer and can master any type of bass – stand-up, 5-, 6-string or even fretless – and his intricate yet consciously thunderous style is mesmerizing
To see these guys play live is not to be missed!
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