This family-band has a certain quality that’s tough to emulate. From Binghamton, New York, the Tijuana Danger Dogs are composed of a rock and roll family: Michael Toyryla (guitar), Jesse Wheeler (guitar), Keagan Toyryla (bass/vocals) and Caleb Wheeler (drums). Their new release, All My Friends: Vol. 1 offers a different point of view with each song and leaves listeners egar for future releases.
Michael and Jesse met in 1999 gigging with various hard-rock projects. In 2010, a near-fatal accident left Michael paralyzed, unable to perform live. Continuing to pursue his passion, Michael worked through the recovery so the duo could find their niche in the studio. Here they cut their teeth songwriting and producing, but this time, the original two members brought their sons on board. Keagan Toyryla and Caleb Wheeler rounded out the lineup and the rock family-band was reborn.
Overall, the album has an encompassing rock n’ roll theme, dipping into such influences as Pearl Jam, Radiohead and Green Day. The featured vocalists on every tune provide variety and tend to be the solidifying factor in the atmosphere of each song. While the rock is relentless, the songs sometimes lack a certain build and dynamic range, which is a byproduct of the production quality, which come off as lo-fi. The hooks are great and the melodies stack up against the instrumental backdrops. The second track, “All My Friends (f. Tim Ruffo),” is a country-themed song that highlights some of the band’s best qualities. The harmonies are well executed and the lead guitar offers a colorful solo.
There are some Fueled by Ramen (record label) type aesthetics on here, particularly in the third song, “Getaway (f. Asia Toyryla),” where the vocal inflections tend towards pop-punk. Little soundscape additions at the end of the tune add character to the recording and outline some interesting ideas that differentiate them from other rock families. The album runs the gamut of rock influences budding the band’s original ideas. Each track has variety, though the energy is often static on portions of tracks. While there are some hard-hitting parts, it will be interesting to hear what the Tijuana Danger Dogs have planned next. Future studio work and live shows are on the horizon for a band, whose potential is evident in this release.
Key Tracks: All My Friends, Getaway, Talk
