Still Young (Hey Kids)

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your hippie DJs from The Zoo Crew are spinning a killer track for you right now—Still Young (Hey Kids) by Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown from their debut album Wild Child. This song’s got that raw, power-pop vibe with a nod to the carefree spirit of youth, and it’s perfect for cranking up while you’re cruising or just chilling with your crew. Fun fact: in a 2013 interview with Music Musings & Such, Tyler called this track one of the high-energy rockers on the album, built for going wild at live shows. He said they “go to town” when performing it, and you can feel that reckless, youthful energy in every riff. Plus, the song’s lyrics, like “From the school bus to Wall Street, we’re all in such a hurry / Maybe we should slow it on down,” hit that sweet spot of reminding us to stay young at heart, no matter where life takes us.

Another cool tidbit about Still Young (Hey Kids) comes from its vibe on the Wild Child album. A 2021 review on The Grooveman’s Collection noted that this track could’ve been a power-pop hit straight out of the ‘80s, calling it a total earworm with “single written all over it.” The song’s got that anthemic chant-along quality, perfect for a crowd of Zoo Freaks shouting the lyrics under the stars. Tyler’s songwriting process for the album, as he shared in a Muse on Muse interview, often involved jamming with Nashville pals like Neil Mason, with whom he’s written dozens of songs. This collaborative spirit gives the track its infectious, let’s-all-hang-out energy that makes it a staple for our radio waves here at THE ZOO.

Now, let’s dive into how Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown got their start. Hailing from Honey Grove, Texas, Tyler was a guitar prodigy who picked up the instrument at age six. By 11, he was jamming with grown-up musicians, soaking up the blues in local Texas guitar shops. At 15, he snagged the Robert Johnson Gibson New Generation Award, spotlighting him as a rising star. His big break came when he moved to Nashville at 17 to chase songwriting dreams. There, he met drummer Caleb Crosby, and within a week, they formed the core of The Shakedown. Bassist Calvin Webster and later guitarist Graham Whitford—son of Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford—joined the crew, along with Noah Denney on bass. Their name? It came from a funny moment at an airport, as Tyler told Glide Magazine in 2013, when Graham saw Tyler getting questioned over his guitar case and quipped, “They’re shaking him down.” The name stuck, and so did their gritty, blues-rock sound.

Tyler’s early years were all about hustle and heart. He played gigs with old blues bands as a teen, making decent money by 13 or 14, as he mentioned in the Glide Magazine interview. His parents kept it real, supporting his passion without meddling, driving him to gigs and letting him carve his own path. By 2009, music photographer Robert Knight featured Tyler in the documentary Rock Prophecies, boosting his profile. He’s since opened for legends like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Aerosmith, and even played Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. The band dropped their first full-length album, Wild Child, in 2013 with Carved Records, cementing their place in the rock scene with a sound that’s equal parts delta blues and high-octane rock ‘n’ roll.

Wanna keep up with Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown? Check out their official site at tylerbryantandtheshakedown.com for the latest news and tour dates. They’re also vibing on social media—follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for behind-the-scenes goodies and updates. For you Zoo Freaks who can’t get enough, there’s a fan community on Facebook where fans share love for the band’s music and live shows. So, crank up <巧妙地 spins those records, stay wild, and keep rocking with The Zoo Crew!