Tyler James Cook

My shows are full of humor, warmth, and laughs. My original songs mostly skew towards the comedic, framed within a "slice-of-life" perspective. I relate well with almost any audience of any age, and can tailor my performance, selections, and jokes to fit the room and crowd. I enjoy telling short stories between pieces about the songs, and generally draw listeners in with good-natured humor. The musical performances themselves are passionate and intense--I often put my whole body into banging on the keys--but I can draw back to the quietest pianissimo in an instant. This not only makes for great dynamic contrast, but plays big for laughs: I have very expressive eyebrows.

Like a comedic rock 'n' roll typhoon, Tyler James Cook comes crashing onto the scene with bombastic intensity (and some pretty good jokes). A legend in his own mind, Tyler combines the false bravado and delusions of grandeur of Jack Black with the gospel-drenched vocal styling of Meat Loaf. Known for such fan favorites as "Contest Winner" and "Hipster Girl Next Door," as well as his humorous mash-ups of classic 80s tunes, Tyler is perfect for small- and mid-size venues that want a fun, relaxed evening. He also plays a pretty mean saxophone.

Tyler has been playing and writing original music for years, but has mostly since 2012. In addition to his solo work, he plays sax and keys and sings with a number of groups in South Carolina in the Pee Dee and Midlands.

I typically perform with my beloved Casio and a Line 6 stage two-channel stage monitor that doubles as a PA (for small rooms). In larger rooms I will run into the venue's sound system (when available). I often sing using a road-tested Sennheiser vocal mic on a boom. Generally, I prefer the venue provide its own PA and mics--presumably, they fit the room best--but can perform perfectly fine with my own equipment.

In smaller rooms, I can play acoustically if the venue has a piano; I've even played without any amplification at all, just singing over a small baby grand with the lid down--but that was for an intimate audience in a small space.

For saxophone, I usually use whatever mic the venue provides, but often play without one. In larger rooms or rooms with bigger audiences, I may use a Shure SM-57 or my trusty Sennheiser.

Overall, my sound setup is very easy - just a couple of cables, a power outlet, and we're set.

I've played in all lighting conditions; I do not provide my own stage lighting. I occasionally play with a music stand for reference, and like to have good lighting on that when possible. I keep a stand light ready for readin music in darker settings.