Doomed Confessionary: Tyler Brown (Tombstone Highway)
Tombstone Highway is a stoner, sludge, doom and southern metal/hard rock trio from Asheville, North Carolina. Featuring Tyler Brown on vocals and guitar, Jeffrey Bradford on bass and vocals and Jacob Moneymaker on drums and vocals.
The band’s discography includes singles »Blood Moon« (2019), »Red Sun Rising« (2019), »Strength (Of Earth And Hand)« (2020) and »Weeping Mother« (2022), an EP »2020 Vision« (2023) and a full-length album »Rifflord (The Optical Illusion)« (2020).
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are a power trio based out of western North Carolina around the Asheville area. We play a melting pot of stoner rock and southern doom sludge metal. We’re very influenced by bands like The Obsessed, Down, The Melvins, COC and Sabbath to name a few.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Finding the right drummer. We played with quite a few for about two years until we found the right man for the job, Jacob Moneymaker.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Probably recording a song featuring our biggest hero Wino. I wrote and recorded it with the guys and then we sent it to Wino and he sang over it and sent it back to us so we could put his vocals on the completed version.
What was your biggest regret?
I try not to have regrets for the most part. If I had to pick one I’d say it was the fact that we recorded the first album with a studio drummer. His name was Ryan Guy and he was the drummer for our producer/engineer Landis Pearce’s band Reflect/Refine at the time. He did a great job but you can tell it’s not that it’s not that tight. I wish we had Moneymaker back then. We want to re record his drums over it in the future.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Definitely when we flew to Austin Texas to play Wino’s wedding party at the Lost Well. Shout out to him and his awesome wife Sharlee Patches for having us. Lots of debauchery went down during that trip that can’t be mentioned here.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
That our band would be embraced and appreciated by the people in it so tremendously. Not everyone is going to like you or want to be a friend but the ones who have, have been extremely die hard and supportive. It was a pleasant surprise.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
For me personally, I like to mix genres and listen to a hodgepodge of music daily. Pantera, Monster Magnet, Pentagram, High On Fire, The Melvins, Crowbar, COC and lots of Clutch. But I also really like a lot of country music and all kinds of stuff. Moneymaker loves that brutal Rings Of Saturn and Deathklock type stuff. One of Jeff’s favorite bands is Witchfinder General.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
All the best artists steal.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I try not to have guilty pleasures and just enjoy whatever’s clever the best I can. As long as it has positive effects.
Can you say something more about current music scene in western North Carolina?
Our scene is really crazy. It’s the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I don’t want to get into specifics buts it’s been very good to me personally, for the most part. I have it to thank for my music career as I know it. I’m not sure where I’d be right now without having been a part of it. I met a lot of great people through it.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We will be opening for The Obsessed at the Earl in Atlanta on October 15th. We’re always stoked to play with our big brother band. This will be our fifth time opening for them
What are your plans for the future as a band?
To record more material, make more videos and produce more content. You have to stay on top of your craft if you want it to flourish. That’s the only way this way of life works is if you stick with it, especially during times of adversity. I want us to go as far as we possibly can. The sky is the limit!
How can people best support your band?
Just listen to our music, come to our shows, support us on social media, buy merch. The typical stuff anyone would do for bands they like. We’re not hard to please.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Stay heavy!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well