Tylor & the Train Robbers – Hum of the Road
The first thing noticeable is that if you like Country music a little edgy within its traditional confines but with a quirky voice in a Jimmie Dale Gilmore gear, Tylor Ketchum (lead vocal/rhythm guitar/harmonica) is the ticket. I like him. The music moves along in a tasteful melodic way & because the vocals don’t sound like standard mainstream fare it reeks of originality & more importantly, authenticity. It’s what made people like Guy Clark & Townes van Zandt legends.
Now, Mr. Ketchum may not be legendary but he provides a fresh curve in the genre. There are 10 hums on the exit ramp to Tylor & the Train Robbers – Hum of the Road (Drops May 3/Independent/39:00). Even though some song titles hint at the standard country topics don’t let that fool you. “Next Long Haul,” is a truck-driving song but the way Tylor sings the band plays this with no C.W. McCall “Convoy” silliness. This has creative muscle.
Each piece on this album has colorful instrumentation & some will tug on the ear more than others. The old hat stuff is being brushed & the boots of these songs are polished. Tylor sings with a Johnny Bond exuberance on some without sinking into novelty. The band is as tight as a knot in a string. The rockers are based out of Idaho (that’s different) but the CD was recorded by Cody Braun (of Reckless Kelly) in Texas.
Songs like “I Ain’t The Only One,” are melodic & driving in the same wonderful manner as Eddie & the Tide years ago (“This Could Be The One”). The set has its eclectic sides but that’s the attraction. There’s plenty of stuff on their table – rock n’ roll anthems, country swing, psychedelic temptations, folk ballads & classic country husks. Something will resonate with a listener. The album is a journey – a musical excursion with spirits of the past passing the window & boundaries to leave behind in the rearview.
I felt listening to this LP & especially “Workin’ Hands,” that the late Boxcar Willie would’ve loved to have played & sung with these young men. They have his enthusiasm, those hit-the-road melodies, his storytelling fluency & yes, his finesse as a true original. These men aspire to that tradition more than just looking for a hit country song. That deserves the loudest applause.
Highlights – “Hum of the Road,” “Next Long Haul,” “Skittle Man,” “Workin’ Hands,” “Straight As An Arrow,” “I Ain’t The Only One,” “On the Go” & “Tons of Trails.”
Musicians – Jason Bushman (bass/harmony vocals), Tommy Bushman (drums/harmony vocals/percussion), Rider Soran (pedal steel/lap steel/dobro), Johnny “Shoes” Pisano (lead guitar) with Dave Percefull (organ), Jonathan Tyler (synth/hand claps/organ) & Katy Braun (handclaps).
Color image contributed/courtesy of their website. CD @ https://www.tylorandthetrainrobbers.com/
Song premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2023/12/05/song-premiere-tylor-and-the-train-robbers-i-aint-the-only-one/