Cody Tyler & Gypsy Convoy: Stare Your Demons Down
The debut full length album from Cody Tyler & Gypsy Convoy is titled with a lyric from the opening banger ‘One to the Heart’:
…if you find yourself on the wrong end of love,
Wrong end of a pistol, no guidance above
Just take a deep breath, there’ll be no time to cry
Stare your demons down and kiss your ass goodbye… .
‘One to the Heart’ is a rip-roaring ode to stepping up and making things happen, consequences be damned. Featuring the backing of a horn section that sneaks up during the chorus and brings it home, this song is the ear-opener that gets your attention and demands to be heard.
Cody’s rich baritone permeates each of the ten tracks on this album, but for all of its strength, it is the least personal of his investments on display. Each of the songs’ lyrics by Cody, (except for ‘One to the Heart’, co-written with friends Billy Sayle and Travis Lamoreaux) are based in his personal experiences. When I asked him for confirmation, Cody quoted a songwriter you may have heard of, saying “…all ten of them are autobiographical to a degree, some more than others. Others have been spun into somewhat tall tales, all “for the sake of the song” (Townes Van Zandt).
Family, Country, and Backwoods’ Pennsylvania ‘Shine (or Bourbon… or Beer) are recurring themes across Stare Your Demons Down. From the cover art to references to coal and moonshine, it is apparent in every song, but none more so than the tracks ‘Drop That Needle (Grandad’s Vinyl),’ ‘Eagle Tattoo,’ and ‘Still That Never Goes Dry.’
Cody told me he was raised on the blues and southern rock, and that The Allman Brothers Band is his all-time personal favorite, but
“…what really got me into country was my grandfather’s record collection. He passed away years before I was born, so as I was rummaging through my grandmother’s attic looking for my mom’s old classic rock records, I stumbled on my grandfather’s country records. He had a ton of Willie Nelson. Some Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Jr., but the one that really hooked me was Waylon & Willie and Willie’s “Stardust.” Those albums and that story inspired “Drop That Needle”.”
In ‘Drop That Needle’ Cody pays homage to both his Grandfather and those Greats, singing about how he was and continues to be inspired, as well as motivated, by his Grandad’s love of country music. ‘Eagle Tattoo’ is so personal, it feels almost voyeuristic to listen to: a man saluting the military service of his grandfather, uncle, and brother, with symbol both visible and indelible of his pride, as well as a prayer breathed to God for the safety of our Service Members around the world.
My favorite of the Family-themed tunes is ‘Still That Never Goes Dry.’ Listening carefully, one can hear the story of the interplay of Cody’s relationship with his two Muses: his lovely wife, Sammy, and his Music. They each in turn feed him and pull him away from the other. The basis of the song is most beautifully illustrated in the band’s video for ‘Still That Never Goes Dry,’ just released May 6, and composed of video and photos shot during Cody and Sammy’s 2021 wedding.
I also asked Cody about the band name “Gypsy Convoy,” as it’s a lyric in ‘Still.’ I wondered about the so-called “chicken or the egg.” He said that
“It was more a metaphor for the airplane I was flying on when I wrote the song. In a way, a plane is a convoy, a collection of free spirits or “gypsies” traveling to different places for a plethora of different reasons. My reason was to get home from L.A. to see my lady. But the name of the band originally was derived from me combining “Gypsy” from Jimi Hendrix and Willie Nelson coining the term “band of gypsies,” and the term “convoy” as a nod to truck drivers. My dad is a third generation over-the-road truck driver so I guess you could say the hunger for the road runs in the family.”
Cody is mindful of those generations of the countryside and history that brings each of us to this particular moment and shepherds us all to where we’re meant to be. This is especially evident in ‘Fate I Can’t Outrun,’ an upbeat rambling song that has all the instrumental hallmarks of what many of us consider an updated but traditional country music song.
On an already phenomenal album, there’s more Black Dirt Country to mine: ‘Playin’ With Firewater’ and ‘Ramble in the Hills’ are both songs about the finding the treasures of the backwoods, be they peace and quiet, a coal miner’s daughter, or the fruits of a moonshine still. ‘Cut the Bull’ has a juke-joint bluesy and rockabilly vibe that’s sure to be a crowd favorite. The album wraps up with ‘Fold Me Up, Haul Me Home.’ This song comes in slow and easy, riding on a sludgy guitar and will get arms (and beers) waving in the air and fans singing along at the end of a show.
I had the chance to meet Cody at the legendary White Elephant Saloon in Ft. Worth, Texas, a few years ago. He came in from his home state of Pennsylvania to play a song swap at a pre-party the day before Cody Jinks’ (another influence and personal favorite of Cody Tyler) Loud & Heavy festival. We didn’t get to talk, but he was humble, kind and grateful for the opportunity to play. His humility extends beyond his own talent and he was quick to hype the band when I asked him about writing and playing. “All three of them have helped with parts on this album, especially bridges and transitions. I’ll write a song and have the bare bones of the melody, verses, and chorus started. Then there are small intricate things that my bandmates will suggest that really put the song over the top. The guys who play with me are very talented and well-educated. Our drummer, Ken, is a Berklee College of music graduate and a jazz drummer by trade. He helped arrange the horns on “One to the Heart” and wrote the bridge in “Blessed Life.” Our bassist, Kenny, has also helped on numerous songs and his contributions are too numerous to count!”
Congratulations to Cody and the band for all their hard work culminating in a superb debut release. It is a ‘Blessed Life,’ indeed. “Stare Your Demons Down” is scheduled for release on Friday, May 13, and will be available in both hardcopy on the website and all digital platforms.
Find out more about Cody Tyler & Gypsy Convoy here:
