Grooving as Hard as They Rock: Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, July 7 at the Redstone Room

Jonathan Tyler has described his band's major-label debut, Pardon Me, as a "handshake album" - an introduction.

But unlike that description or the apologetic title, there's nothing polite about the full-bore rock produced by Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights - which will perform at the Redstone Room on July 7.

USA Today concisely summarized the appeal of the band in naming Pardon Me a pick of the week last year: "Did you think they'd quit making bands that groove as hard as they rock? You know, like ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Aerosmith? Listen to this riff-heavy blast, the title track from this band's debut album, and think again."