EPK
Press Releases
Atlanta Business Chronicle
“…The Atlanta-based singer-songwriter and blues/soul guitarist was born in Anchorage, Alaska but grew up in Carrollton, Ga., where he taught himself to play guitar, play drums, sing, write music and produce songs. Neal eventually connected with Derek Trucks Band drummer Yonrico Scott, who helped develop Neal into a professional musician. As the frontman of The Madrid Express, Neal supported the late iconic avant-garde guitarist Col. Bruce Hampton and has shared the stage and befriended members of several internationally recognized bands including The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic and Dead & Company…”
Paste Magazine
“…The band was fronted by Bruce’s new protégé Tyler Neal, a talented finger-picking guitarist with a soaring voice (and who had actually taken drum lessons from Yonrico Scott)…”
Jerry Grillo, Author
“…I interviewed Yonrico… he’d been Tyler Neal’s drum teacher, then found out Tyler could play guitar. And sing. Really well. Eventually, Tyler became the front man of Bruce’s last band, the Madrid Express. Bruce told Yonrico, “he’s our secret weapon.”…”
Stomp and Stammer
“…Despite all of that activity, Yonrico would play gigs with assorted local acts at every opportunity, whether it be one of Bruce Hampton’s assemblages, or Diane Durrett, or Delta Moon, or Tinsley Ellis, or the Dan Coy Quartet, or the Tyler Neal Band, or… well, you get the idea…”
Live For Live Music
“…On March 16th, just six weeks before his unexpected death, the bandmates recorded their sold-out show at The Vista Room. The show was recorded with the intent of releasing it on vinyl. For several weeks, the project was being finished by Bruce, and is now in the hands of his band with the blessing of Bruce’s estate. Col. Bruce Hampton and The Madrid Express – Live At The Vista Room captures the essence of Bruce and his bandmates, and the undeniable energy he shared with those around him. Stranger Than Fiction: The Cosmic Curtain Call Of Col. Bruce Hampton. The Madrid Express is made up of Tyler Neal (Vocals, Guitar/Slide Guitar), Franher Joseph (Bass, Vocals, Potarth), Darren Stanley (Drums, Yells), Dante’ Harmon (Lap Steel, Vocals), and Nick DiSebastian (Mandolin, Vocals). The Zambi All-Stars include Denny Walley (Slide Guitar), John Mailander (Fiddle), Daniel ”Tojo The ManHole Nakazawa” Wytanis (Trombone), Joey ”Papa J” Sommerville (Trumpet), Dallas Dawson (Drums, Cases), Guarav Malhotra (Percussion), and Raphael (Tamborine). It’s a fact that Col. Bruce Hampton only surrounded himself with the best of the best musicians…”
ArtsAtl
“…Throughout the evening, Papa J. was at the helm, alternating on keyboard, trumpet and vocals, backed by his tight, experienced, energy-driven band: steel guitarist Dante Harmon (an alumnus of the late Col. Bruce Hampton’s band, and known as “the Minister of Sacred Steel”), Eric Essix and Tyler Neal on electric guitars, bassist Brandon Gilliard and drummer Darren Stanley. They played a mix of original charts with a few covers thrown in for good measure…”
The Velvet Note
“…Tyler is a difficult musician to classify. His musical personas range from acoustic singer/songwriter, to blues and soul guitarist/singer, and as of recently jazz drummer, as he has been studying drum set at the jazz program of Kennesaw State University since the beginning of 2015…”
Latest Release
"Nothing To Lose"
Released 7.20.19
Biography
Tyler first began exploring music on guitar and drums, trying to emulate the Hendrix and Zeppelin hits he loved. He didn’t realize it until later in life, but he was also inspired by the gospel music he heard in church, more compelled by the spirit of a song than the technique. He found a mentor in drummer and composer Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band, Royal Southern Brotherhood) who could see that the fire Tyler had for music needed fuel. Yonrico put words to many of the musical mysteries that had fascinated Tyler for so long, teaching him how to focus on rhythm (“the DNA of music”), and about the more conceptual aspects of songs – ways to compose, arrange and record that take a song from a set of lyrics and chords to a world unto itself. These were just a couple of the many revelations Tyler experienced under Yonrico’s wing, and he describes hearing Yonrico’s solo album Be In My World, and The Derek Trucks Band’s Roadsongs (on which Yonrico played) as “a musical rebirth.”
Tyler then entered the orbit of Col. Bruce Hampton. He started going to Bruce’s shows at Northside Tavern in Atlanta, and Bruce invited him to sit in…(“Come play with us tomorrow. Bring a bongo and a tambourine.”) Tyler dutifully obliged, and was soon playing with the Colonel regularly, first on the almost comical bongos and tambourine, then a larger array of percussion, then guitar. When Bruce invited him to officially join the band and go on tour, Tyler had no doubt the path Bruce offered was the one he belonged on. He spent the next two years as lead guitarist for Col. Bruce
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