Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Book of Shadows II
Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm
This event is 18 and over.
Tickets on sale Fri. 5/13 at 10am!
Tickets available at TICKETMASTER.COM, or by phone at 800-745-3000. No service charge on tickets purchased in person at The Sinclair Box Office Wednesdays-Saturdays 12-7PM. Please note: box office is cash only.
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Zakk Wylde
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Don’t ask what Zakk Wylde has been up to in the two decades that passed between the release of the singer and guitar legend’s debut solo album, Book of Shadows, and its newly-minted, equally moving and introspective sequel, Book of Shadows II. In all truthfulness, a better question would be, “What hasn’t Zakk Wylde gotten into?”
He kicked booze before it killed him and now squeezes endless joy from life with both fists. He’s possessed of boundless energy, relentless enthusiasm, and insurmountable charm. His limitless strength of will allows him to lord over a mini-empire that includes Wylde Audio, The Black Vatican recording studio, hot sauces, and Wylde’s very appropriately named Valhalla Java Odinforce Blend coffee. Sure, artists like St. Vincent and Arcade Fire have gotten into the caffeinated beverage game, but none draw the same inhuman power from the magic beans as Wylde.
The fearlessly introspective melancholy and melody of Book of Shadows helped to make its follow-up one of Rolling Stone’s Most Anticipated Albums of 2016. As fierce and diverse as his work in BLS and as large as his accomplishments as lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne have been, Book of Shadows II offers an even richer look into the spirit and psyche of one of the most beloved pillars of the hard rock community. Brand new tracks like “Sleeping Dogs,” “Tears of December,” “Darkest Hour,” “Harbors of Pity,” and “The King” are bold proclamations of intense feeling and powerful catharsis.
As frontman for Black Label Society, the New Jersey born West Coast transplant has led the band across nine studio albums, two live records, an EP, and countless international tours. Black Label Society songs like “Stillborn,” “My Dying Time,” “Bleed for Me,” and “In This River” (his tribute to his fallen friend, the late Dimebag Darrell of Pantera) are all certifiable hard rock anthems, inexorably linked to Wylde’s larger-than-life persona. He’s the ultimate embodiment of rowdy rock n’ roll warrior. He’s also father to four children, fiercely devoted to his wife, Barbaranne, and a deeply trusted loyal brother in the heavy metal community.
Zakk Wylde has been immortalized by the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame, countless rock music publications, and Guitar World’s 2012 Rock N’ Roll Roast, where William Shatner, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Scott Ian from Anthrax, and Guns N’ Roses legend Duff McKagan were among the friends and peers who assembled to good naturedly mock Father Zakk’s beard, muscles, and rowdy demeanor. Sharon Osbourne served as roast master, which made perfect sense – after all, it was her husband who plucked Wylde from obscurity on the strength of a demo tape, helping ensure the “bullseye” guitar design would reach iconic status.
One of the modern generation’s few true guitar giants, Wylde served as spiritual successor to the late Randy Rhoads as axeman for Ozzy Osbourne, collaborating and co-writing on Ozzy classics like “Mama I’m Coming Home” and “No More Tears.” His tenure with The Ozzman includes co-writing and recording several studio albums, three live albums, a Grammy for “I Don’t Want to Change the World” and countless world tours and television appearances. Wylde co-wrote Ozzy’s biggest selling album, No More Tears, as well as the bulk of the double platinum Ozzmosis.
Zakk Wylde’s powerful pipes, mayhem-inducing charisma, mischievous humor, and instantly recognizable pinch-harmonic driven blues based histrionic guitar shredding have made him the world’s most beloved American Guitar Hero.
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Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown
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Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown is a rock and roll band born of Nashville, TN. Their sound is a soulful patchwork of roots-infused melodies and muscular riffs, all woven tightly with the thread of their alternative psychedelic mystique. It’s as rambunctious, raw and real as rock & roll gets these days.
A native of Honey Grove, TX, Tyler cut his teeth on greats such as Lightnin’ Hopkins & Freddie King. Bryant studied the blues under Roosevelt Twitty Sr. and believes that the soul in roots music is what puts the “roll” in rock & roll.
At seventeen, Tyler moved to Nashville to write songs and start a band. There he met drummer Caleb Crosby and they became fast friends. “The instant we started playing,” Caleb says, “I knew we were going to start a band. We played our first show a week later and haven’t stopped since.” Together they formed what would become the Shakedown.
Graham Whitford, a rocker kid from Boston, was introduced to Tyler as the guy who could put him out of a job. As soon as Tyler heard Graham play, he asked him to join the band and move to Nashville right away.
Noah Denney was the final addition to the Shakedown. “His bass sound scared me and he added an edge and attitude to the band that we didn’t even know we needed,” says Bryant.
Tyler toured as a solo artist for a spell, playing Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in Chicago, receiving the Robert Johnson Foundation’s New Generation Award, and sharing the stage with acts such as B.B. King & Johnny Winter.
“Playing on my own was cool, but I really wanted a group of friends I could hang and make music with,” says Bryant. “The more time I spent with the guys in the Shakedown, the more they started to feel like my brothers. Now I can’t imagine making music with anyone else.”
In 2013 the band released “Wild Child,” their first full-length album, which was featured in Rolling Stone, NYLON Magazine, Paste Magazine, Interview, and many more. The band made its television debut on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE in support of the record that helped gain them a cult like following.
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown recently inked a deal with John Varvatos/Republic Records and got right into the studio with celebrated producer/engineer, Vance Powell (Jack White, Seasick Steve).
The bands new EP, The Wayside, will be released on November 13th. The first single, “Loaded Dice & Buried Money” is a raw, unhinged reminder that some things aren’t always what we perceive them to be.
“When you give everything you’ve got to something, you hope it won’t let you fall by the wayside,” explains Bryant. “This album was inspired by times where the feeling of having nothing felt overwhelming. In those moments, music offered us an escape. It gave us something that had nothing to do with money or dissolving relationships, and everything to do with freedom and expression.”
The Shakedown has earned their stripes by touring the country and winning fans one at a time. Whether playing a dingy rock & roll club, touring the country with Jeff Beck & ZZ Top, or opening for Aerosmith, this is a band that is proud to be loud and dedicated to leaving it all on whatever stage they set foot on.
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Jared James Nichols
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Jared James Nichols’ is a great mix of 1970’s rock and blues getting attention and press with a debut album just released.