Tyler Jakes is western folk punk...a swampy, eclectic, blues-punk, outlaw-country, desert gunfight.....with busted amps, acoustic lullabies, and gypsy chants....something like Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, and The White Stripes performing a modern day spaghetti western soundtrack.

Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Tyler Jakes is an independent musician now based in San Francisco, CA. His music draws on elements of garage rock, outlaw country, punk, blues, psychedelia, flamenco, and eastern European gypsy folk. He performs and tours as a solo acoustic artist, as well as with his band, Tyler Jakes & The Bootleggers. Among other things, Jakes has recorded and self-released two albums, licensed his music to various TV commercials, scored an independent short film, and had one of his songs featured in an Emmy Award winning television show.

Jakes' first album, Lo-Fi Matter, was released in late 2005 while living in Minneapolis, MN. Upon the album's release, Pulse of the Twin Cites drew comparisons as broad as Bob Dylan and BRMC saying that, "Jakes is intent on laying down some truly dirty rock and roll here. Lo-Fi Matter is a great starting point." Rift Magazine added, "On Lo-Fi Matter, Jakes displays great range and talent as a song writer."

Vernon Reid (of the Grammy Award winning group Living Colour) described Jakes as having "gritty and witty songwriting and playing". The song "So Long, Serotonin" was featured in a commercial for the TV show "Survivor", the song "Lie Awake" was featured as the intro music to the short film Under The N, and the album's closing track, "Bring Me Down", was voted #1 most original blues rock song on garageband.com., out of over 1500 entries.


After a year long stretch of shows with his Minneapolis-based band featuring Nick Payne on drums and Corey Fiala on bass, Jakes moved to San Francisco, California, where he put together a new band, calling themselves Tyler Jakes & The Bootleggers. The band featured Jakes on guitar and vocals, Dominic Henri on bass, Matthew Whitemyer on guitar/bass, Clint Taxdahl on trumpet/guitar, and Zach LeWinter on drums. Tyler Jakes and the Bootleggers quickly gained a reputation for a high energy live performance and an enthusiastic crowd, playing such well respected Bay area clubs as Bottom of the Hill, Hotel Utah, and Red Devil Lounge. Highlights included opening up for Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, and playing the Bob Dylan afterparty at Blakes On Telegraph.

In June 2008, the Emmy award winning Discovery Channel program "Deadliest Catch” featured "Gamblers Off The North Pacific Shore", a song that Jakes had written and recorded specifically for the show. Shortly after, Jakes released his second album, Rocking Hoarse Calypso. San Francisco Bay Area Rock proclaimed, "If you'd like to hear the alcoholic love child of Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Pixies, Tyler Jakes might be for you." The song "Off The Track" reached the number one spot on the hot charts on thesixtyone.com, beating out such acts as Arcade Fire, MGMT, and Grizzly Bear.

In August '09, Tyler Jakes & The Bootleggers embarked on a self-booked tour of the west coast, including stops at Slim's Last Chance in Seattle, WA, The Red Room in Portland, OR, and Sandrini's in Bakersfield, CA.

Jakes is currently finishing recording his third full-length album. Expect the release later this year.