Biography
The Straw Theory
Tyler founded the band with his high-schoolmates after writing and performing his own songs, while leading worship at Pure Heart Christian Fellowship's youth group and (occasionally) the congregation in Arizona. "Bending Spoons" was among the possible monikers the band were throwing around, before settling with The Straw Theory, or TST.
In 1998, the band went from an act on the edge…to disbanding to pursue God's calling…to receiving a recording contract in the summer. KMG Records, a record company from Nashville, had heard the track "Joker's Wilde" on a local Phoenix (Arizona) compilation record, liked what they heard and scheduled an audition in the living room of Tyler's home. (At the same time, another elusive song, 'Jealous Son', was released as part of the local Worthless Records' The Rage Vol. I compilation.) That audition not only influenced KMG's signing of the band, but it also impressed three very critical industry veterans - Billy Smiley (Whiteheart), Terry Taylor (Daniel Amos/DA, The Lost Dogs, The Swirling Eddies) and David Bahnsen (manager of OC Supertones, owner Davdon Artists Agency).
"I didn't know quite what to expect," admitted Smiley. "Terry Taylor, David Bahnsen and myself were ushered into the vestibule of this home (with a glass of ice water for each) to see if what I had heard on a local CD matched their 'live' performance. About 16 bars into their first song, Terry and I looked at each other knowing that we were taking in a talent that just doesn't come along every day."
Bahnsen concurred. "In my evaluation of young talent, and in my search for bands that have a shot at success, no bigger issue is important to me than songwriting," he said. "As I sat in Tyler's parents' living room and listened to the band play, I could tell that Tyler had what it will take to be a dynamic and successful songwriter. The band has a charisma and a talent that is rare to see in such young bands. I believe they have what it takes to write pop songs and create musical pieces that will move and inspire their listeners."
"Lacking overt self-conscious stylizing and trendiness, The Straw Theory instead offers us tender glimpses of God's grace and mercy set against personal struggles of faith, all delivered in a passionate voice that defies easy categorization," concluded Taylor.
In the winter of '98, recording of the band's debut album began. The record was finished by the summer of '99, and the band set out on tour in the fall of the same year. Only 19 at the time, band leader Tyler noted, "I really wasn't seeking to be unique or to sound like anybody. I was basically seeking to write good music. When I wrote the songs, I wrote them on piano in the singer-songwriter format. The songs became even more unique when they evolved into a four piece band format. My mentor in music for the last six years has been Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos," said Tyler. "The first album I went nuts over was their CD Motorcycle. That was what helped fuel the passion for me to do what I'm doing now."
After a successful string of dates opening up for the Smalltown Poets, their successful tour ended in the winter of '99. However, at the beginning of 2000, Tyler and his band mates were beginning to have some differing opinions regarding issues concerning the band. After a time of prayer and seeking God, Tyler felt it best to bring the chapter of the Straw Theory to an amicable close (the band still remains friends to this day).
Tyler went on to pursue a solo project (Chasing Happy) in 2006, followed by a new band album debut (NovaLux, including Troy Roberts as bandmate) in 2009, followed by touring until 2011 before deciding to go solo again (NovaLux's last FB posting stated that "Tyler has relocated with his family to Nashville to pursue music as a career").
Jake Bramante now runs a hiking blog (http://www.hike734.com) based on his experiences at Glacier National Park, Montana. His brother, Josiah, has become a radiographer who works in Fresno, California. Andy Sonsky still plays guitar during congregational worship in Phoenix.
In 1998, the band went from an act on the edge…to disbanding to pursue God's calling…to receiving a recording contract in the summer. KMG Records, a record company from Nashville, had heard the track "Joker's Wilde" on a local Phoenix (Arizona) compilation record, liked what they heard and scheduled an audition in the living room of Tyler's home. (At the same time, another elusive song, 'Jealous Son', was released as part of the local Worthless Records' The Rage Vol. I compilation.) That audition not only influenced KMG's signing of the band, but it also impressed three very critical industry veterans - Billy Smiley (Whiteheart), Terry Taylor (Daniel Amos/DA, The Lost Dogs, The Swirling Eddies) and David Bahnsen (manager of OC Supertones, owner Davdon Artists Agency).
"I didn't know quite what to expect," admitted Smiley. "Terry Taylor, David Bahnsen and myself were ushered into the vestibule of this home (with a glass of ice water for each) to see if what I had heard on a local CD matched their 'live' performance. About 16 bars into their first song, Terry and I looked at each other knowing that we were taking in a talent that just doesn't come along every day."
Bahnsen concurred. "In my evaluation of young talent, and in my search for bands that have a shot at success, no bigger issue is important to me than songwriting," he said. "As I sat in Tyler's parents' living room and listened to the band play, I could tell that Tyler had what it will take to be a dynamic and successful songwriter. The band has a charisma and a talent that is rare to see in such young bands. I believe they have what it takes to write pop songs and create musical pieces that will move and inspire their listeners."
"Lacking overt self-conscious stylizing and trendiness, The Straw Theory instead offers us tender glimpses of God's grace and mercy set against personal struggles of faith, all delivered in a passionate voice that defies easy categorization," concluded Taylor.
In the winter of '98, recording of the band's debut album began. The record was finished by the summer of '99, and the band set out on tour in the fall of the same year. Only 19 at the time, band leader Tyler noted, "I really wasn't seeking to be unique or to sound like anybody. I was basically seeking to write good music. When I wrote the songs, I wrote them on piano in the singer-songwriter format. The songs became even more unique when they evolved into a four piece band format. My mentor in music for the last six years has been Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos," said Tyler. "The first album I went nuts over was their CD Motorcycle. That was what helped fuel the passion for me to do what I'm doing now."
After a successful string of dates opening up for the Smalltown Poets, their successful tour ended in the winter of '99. However, at the beginning of 2000, Tyler and his band mates were beginning to have some differing opinions regarding issues concerning the band. After a time of prayer and seeking God, Tyler felt it best to bring the chapter of the Straw Theory to an amicable close (the band still remains friends to this day).
Tyler went on to pursue a solo project (Chasing Happy) in 2006, followed by a new band album debut (NovaLux, including Troy Roberts as bandmate) in 2009, followed by touring until 2011 before deciding to go solo again (NovaLux's last FB posting stated that "Tyler has relocated with his family to Nashville to pursue music as a career").
Jake Bramante now runs a hiking blog (http://www.hike734.com) based on his experiences at Glacier National Park, Montana. His brother, Josiah, has become a radiographer who works in Fresno, California. Andy Sonsky still plays guitar during congregational worship in Phoenix.