In 2016, Westword placed Campo on our list of Denver's best indie-rock bassists, and he still belongs there. From Cowboy Curse's bright hooks to Soft Skulls' dark riffs, Campo's bass-playing was sinewy, melodic and understated at once. On top of that, his backup vocals provided gorgeous harmony to many of his projects. Campo was also a longtime member of the service industry in Denver, particularly as a bartender at music venues and sporting events.
Ben Bergstrand, the singer/guitarist of Cowboy Curse, says:
The best thing about Tyler was that he was one of the few people who truly had a heart of gold. If he knew you and loved you, you knew it. Tyler was the beating heart of the band, and he had a wealth of music knowledge that I needed as a total guitar beginner. Also, he was always the first person to apologize and admit his shortcomings. I learned a lot from that. Why be defensive when you actually fucked up? People respected that about him. The last quality time we had together was to go see Neil DeGrasse Tyson talk at the Paramount Theatre last fall. He texted me at the last minute with an extra ticket. I think it's pretty special we go to dork out together. I could probably go all fucking day about how he's like an extra uncle to my kids. I never got enough time with him, but I do feel lucky that the years we had together in Cowboy Curse were so amazing and fruitful. I could use another Tyler hug. Nobody hugged like him.
Bree Davies, cohost of City Cast Denver and a former Westword contributor, as well as an accomplished local bassist, remembers:
When my first band, the Hot House, was coming up, we shared a practice space with Cowboy Curse. Tyler and I were both bass players and he always let me use his giant bass cab. But beyond being a nice guy who would loan anyone gear, he had that unspoken respect for women musicians that unfortunately, in the early 2000s, wasn't always common. He supported our band by asking us to share stages with his band, showing up to our shows and just being a kind and chill spirit in a world often fraught with passive-aggressive band dudes and promoters. Tyler was a light in that awkwardness. He respected us as musicians, as friends and as peers. In the twenty-plus years since those times that we played together, Tyler's sweet presence never faltered. When I would run into him at shows, he was never short on hugs or praise or friendship.
Services for Campo will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, at the Bluebird Theater, 3317 East Colfax. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help his family with expenses.
