A long time ago, at the dawn of the Atomic Age, a succession of no-good punks and ill-mannered teenagers took the best of American roots music – hard partying honky tonk country, searing gutbucket blues and lonesome hillbilly twang – and distilled it into a potent moonshine known as rockabilly. This combustible formula, passed down through the generations, forms the heart of the revved-up stylings of Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys.
Mixing their own self-penned songs with vintage country/honky tonk hits, rockabilly favorites, and surf gems by such artists as Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, Buck Owens, Gene Vincent, and Dick Dale, Delilah and the Lost Boys come out on stage looking and sounding like a step back in time. Dressed to the nines in the tradition of pre-color television, the band thrilled audiences across the Midwest with its spirited performances.
Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys got its start in 2005. Just like rockabilly originators Johnny Cash, Bill Haley and Carl Perkins, this Michigan trio cut its teeth on steel-guitar driven country in the style popularized by Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb and Webb Pierce. But the draw of the big beat was irresistible, and over time the band’s approach has become sharper and tighter. Not self-consciously retro, Delilah and the Lost Boys remain committed to hand-crafted American music that stands at the crossroads of creativity and craftsmanship, liberally drawing from honky tonk country, rockabilly and surf music.
Bandleader Delilah DeWylde (upright bass/lead locals) is veteran of the West Michigan music scene and an alumna of rockabilly institution DangerVille. Her outsized stage presence is the centerpiece of the show – one minute singing sweetly, the next standing on her bass and slapping it into submission.
Next to the sound and fury of Miss Delilah stands cool character Lee Harvey on the big ol’ orange Gretsch guitar. His serious demeanor onstage reveals his reverence for the precision and technique of the “original” guitar gods – the likes of Paul Burlison, Billy Byrd, Cliff Gallup, Grady Martin, Dick Dale, Luther Perkins, Scotty Moore and Don Rich.
Drummer D.J. McCoy may not be affilated with the famous feud between Hatfield and McCoy families, bu the pounds his drums like they stole his prized hog nonetheless. Another veteran of the Michigan music scene, D.J. is a drummer’s drummer” who makes his competition drool with both his skills and the vintage kits he plays.
Taking their task seriously, this trio plies its trade the old-fashioned way – live and in person, loggin more than 75 gigs a year throughout the Midwest and beyond. The band also has recorded two LP’s (as they used to call them): 2008’s Honky Tonk Heart and 2010’s The Price You Pay.
Click here to purchase tickets. $12.50. Black Box. 7:30 p.m.
Dogwood Box Office Hours are Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and two hours prior to an event. For more information please contact Dogwood Box Office at 231.924.8885.
Tickets may also be purchased at NCCA-Artsplace in downtwon Fremont. Hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.. For more information please contact the Artsplace at 231.924.4022.