Concert review: Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights at Trees (October 7)

by Jessica Harp

• Tweet
• Email
• Print
• 1 Comment

Tyler is a true front man – he has the right amount of looks, charisma, and talent that will help launch the band to national recognition.

DEEP ELLUM — Thursday night at Trees, two southern-bred bands proved that rock 'n' roll is not dead, in fact it is very alive – the mainstream radio waves just haven’t caught on quite yet. Ponderosa and Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights brought on a revival and preached the gospel of rock 'n' roll that was reminiscent of their classic rock predecessors, the ones whose names grace the halls of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Georgia rockers Ponderosa served up an appetizer of what was to come later on in the evening when Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights would take the stage. Ponderosa, whose sound is similar to that of The Black Crowes, filled the venue with their southern rock anthems and whisky-drenched melodies that would make southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd proud.

Lead singer Kalen Nash’s vocals carried a nice mix of that country twang and slightly scratchy sound that takes years of living a hard rock 'n' roll lifestyle to develop; Chris Robinson would be envious. The combination of the organ with the twangy guitar riffs made it impossible to not stomp your feet or nod your head to the sweet southern sounds that the band produced so effortlessly. They are a breath of fresh air, even if it is spiked with a little whiskey goodness.

Following Ponderosa, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights brought it home to Trees after kicking off their tour two months ago in Dallas. They put on a show like no other band in the area, and if there are true rock stars in the city, this band is it. They are a great reincarnation of all the classic rock greats that filled the radio waves back in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Tyler shimmied across stage with the swagger of Mick Jagger as if he were the Rolling Stone himself, albeit far more easy on the eyes. As he sang, “Maybe it’s been too long since rock and roll turned you on” during “Pardon Me” (off of the band’s major label debut), every woman in the house seem to cheer with him. Tyler is a true front man – he has the right amount of looks, charisma, and talent that will help launch the band to national recognition.

The Northern Lights has the makings of a true, long lasting band that is worthy to take the nation by storm with their funky, down south dirty rhythm and blues music, infused with just the right amount of guitar solos. It is only a matter of time that the rest of the country catches on to what Dallas is putting down.

Tweet