Bloodshot Baby

The Zoo Crew is groovin’ to the raw, electric vibes of Bloodshot Baby by Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, straight off their single release of the same name. This track is a high-octane nod to rock ‘n’ roll pioneers like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Tyler himself described it as a celebration of the unbridled fun those legends brought to the stage, saying in a Rock Metal Mag interview, “These guys seemed to be having the time of their lives, and we wanted to do the same.” The song’s gritty, no-holds-barred energy captures that spirit, with lyrics and riffs that hit like a lightning bolt. The Zoo Freaks are surely feelin’ this one, as it’s built to make you wanna crank the volume and dance like nobody’s watchin’.

Another cool tidbit about Bloodshot Baby comes from its music video, which dropped on YouTube in January 2025. The band shared on their Facebook that the video was shot with a retro vibe, paying homage to the sweaty, rebellious energy of early rock ‘n’ roll clubs. Tyler mentioned in a post on Instagram that they wanted the visuals to feel like “a party you’d sneak into at 2 a.m.” The band’s commitment to keeping rock raw and real shines through, and fans on X have been buzzing about how the song’s live-wire energy translates perfectly to their live shows.

Now, let’s rewind to how Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown got their start. Hailing from Paris, Texas, Tyler Bryant was a guitar prodigy who picked up his first axe at age six. By 11, he traded his Christmas dirtbike for a red Epiphone Les Paul, a move that screams dedication. While still in elementary school, he met bluesman Roosevelt Twitty, who became his mentor. Together, they formed the Blues Buddies, gigging around Texas and even opening for acts like Paul Simon. At 15, Tyler put together his first band, playing local shows in his hometown of Honey Grove. In 2006, he snagged the Robert Johnson Gibson New Generation Award, and a year later, he won Ernie Ball’s Play Crossroads Competition, earning a spot at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. Talk about a teenager living the rock ‘n’ roll dream!

At 17, Tyler packed his bags for Nashville to chase a songwriting career. There, he linked up with drummer Caleb Crosby and bassist Calvin Webster, forming the early version of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. They hustled hard, playing Nashville’s bars and clubs, with Tyler pretending to be his own manager to book gigs. Graham Whitford, son of Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, joined on rhythm guitar after a chance meeting in New York, and the band’s chemistry clicked. Over the years, they’ve toured with heavyweights like Jeff Beck, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses, building a rep for their explosive live shows. Their current lineup, including bassist Diego Navaira, keeps the Shakedown’s rootsy, blues-rock sound alive and kickin’.

For all you Zoo Freaks who can’t get enough of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, stay connected with the band on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans are also vibin’ in online spaces like the Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Fans Facebook group, where you can swap stories, share setlists, and geek out over their music. Keep it locked to THE ZOO, where we’ll keep spinnin’ the tracks that make your soul shake!