Based on the strength of their 2007 release, Hot Trottin’, Dallas’ Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights got picked up by Atlantic Records. We’re still waiting to hear what they’ll turn out for that label, but whatever it is, it’ll undoubtedly be full of this band’s Southern-inflected blues/rock/soul. Tyler’s got a powerful voice that recalls Chris Robinson’s (with less abuse), and he uses it on anything from Skynyrd-singed guitar grinders to sweet ballads to juicy, R&B-flavored rock. (Though Tyler might call it rawk — emphasis on raw.) The band has already opened for a slew of acts of varying genres, from Erykah Badu and the Arc Angels to Kool & the Gang, and they spent the summer on tour with Kid Rawk — er, Rock.