The Derailers Croon "Music For Sale"
Monday, September 3, 2007
Originally published in The Front Magazine, Issue 4 - January, 2005
The occasion is rare when a pedal-pushing musician greets an unassuming homeowner. Instead, one endures the over-enthusiastic vacuum seller trying to promote the latest and greatest line of carpet sucker on the market. But self-proclaimed, 'door-to-door honky-tonk salesmen,' The Derailers are making a name for themselves, not only in Austin, but on porch steps the world over.
Following such country greats as Roy Orbison and Buck Owens, lead vocalist Tony Villanueva, lead guitarist Brian Hofeldt, bassist Ed Adkins and Derailers' drummer Scott Matthews are shakin' a honky-tonk outfit that you'd swear had been jetted forward to present-day Texas from half a century ago.
With their old-home country meets Ratpack/1950s' workingman charm, The Derailers are instantly recognizable to dance-hall patrons before they even hit the stage. Suited up like the Wonders from That Thing You Do, their slicked-back hair and sharply tailored suits are an appealing package to the rockabilly and Texas swing that loyal fans have been enjoying at The Derailers' 250+ shows every year since 1994.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, co-founders Villaneuva and Hofeldt both grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Although they came from very different backgrounds, Villaneuva listening to the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and jazz and opera influenced upon him by his Mexican-American father while Hofeldt loved Elvis and the Beatles, both ended up turning to music as a passion in their teens and found a kindred spirit to each other.
Early '90s near Seattle and Portland promptly brought grunge-rock bands like Nirvana to the airwaves, which had Villanueva tiring of the music scene. Just as The Derailers have always had an up-beat and positive tone as their hallmark, the moody ambiance wasn't doing much for Villanueva's musical aspirations. He packed his bags and headed to Austin. Hofeldt followed shortly after.
The Derailers joined forces, adding Vic Gerard Ziolkowski to the roster soon after the Portland duo had settled in Austin. The boys put out two albums, an LP in 1995 and 1996's Jackpot with a few different drummers until settling on Terry Kirkendall, who became a permanent fixture to the line-up shortly after the Jackpot release.
Reverb Deluxe came two years later in 1997, still rockin' the old-western charm the boys had been reveling in for over six years.
While the core co-founders, Villanueva and Hofeldt stuck to tradition, band members shifted from Ziolkowsky and Kirkendall to Adkins on bass and Matthews on drums. Signing on to Sony's lucky Dog mark shortly after, The Derailers made their label debut with Here Come the Derailers on Sept., 11, 2001. The Derailers did not get thrown off track. The world kept turning, the critics swooned, and the country circuit accepted the major debut warmly.
The new success of the album brought the band numerous opportunities. While keeping up their heavy tour schedule (nearly 300 shows per year), The Derailers also visiting the foreign market (Norway), chipped in on the Texas Music Round up Records' tribute to Buck Owens and even donated a portion of Here Come the Derailers proceeds to the Children's Advocacy Center of Austin, Texas.
In 2003, The Derailers once again presented their inspired blend of country, pop and rock n' roll on and 2003's sophomore album Genuine (pronounced jen-YOU-whitne), astounding critics with their high-energy and slick sound. When so many country bands were falling into the trend of sounding so homogenized, The Derailers stood apart with their Americana Act featuring Roy Orbinson-esque tributes (Alone with You) and hip-shakin' tracks like Leave a Message, Juanita and The Way to My Heart.
Writing the majority of the band's songs, Villaneuva credits the 1960's honky-tonks as some of the biggest heroes.
"They lived out of a small suitcase with a bar of soap, playing great music, said Villaneuva in one interview. "We hope to be even a shadow of the way those great people operated... but not drink as much whisky or take as much speed."
The Derailers will perform at the Bluebird Jan. 8 at 10:30pm. Tickets are $11. For more information on the band, visit http://sonynashville.com/TheDerailers, or www.derailers.com
The occasion is rare when a pedal-pushing musician greets an unassuming homeowner. Instead, one endures the over-enthusiastic vacuum seller trying to promote the latest and greatest line of carpet sucker on the market. But self-proclaimed, 'door-to-door honky-tonk salesmen,' The Derailers are making a name for themselves, not only in Austin, but on porch steps the world over.
Following such country greats as Roy Orbison and Buck Owens, lead vocalist Tony Villanueva, lead guitarist Brian Hofeldt, bassist Ed Adkins and Derailers' drummer Scott Matthews are shakin' a honky-tonk outfit that you'd swear had been jetted forward to present-day Texas from half a century ago.
With their old-home country meets Ratpack/1950s' workingman charm, The Derailers are instantly recognizable to dance-hall patrons before they even hit the stage. Suited up like the Wonders from That Thing You Do, their slicked-back hair and sharply tailored suits are an appealing package to the rockabilly and Texas swing that loyal fans have been enjoying at The Derailers' 250+ shows every year since 1994.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, co-founders Villaneuva and Hofeldt both grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Although they came from very different backgrounds, Villaneuva listening to the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and jazz and opera influenced upon him by his Mexican-American father while Hofeldt loved Elvis and the Beatles, both ended up turning to music as a passion in their teens and found a kindred spirit to each other.
Early '90s near Seattle and Portland promptly brought grunge-rock bands like Nirvana to the airwaves, which had Villanueva tiring of the music scene. Just as The Derailers have always had an up-beat and positive tone as their hallmark, the moody ambiance wasn't doing much for Villanueva's musical aspirations. He packed his bags and headed to Austin. Hofeldt followed shortly after.
The Derailers joined forces, adding Vic Gerard Ziolkowski to the roster soon after the Portland duo had settled in Austin. The boys put out two albums, an LP in 1995 and 1996's Jackpot with a few different drummers until settling on Terry Kirkendall, who became a permanent fixture to the line-up shortly after the Jackpot release.
Reverb Deluxe came two years later in 1997, still rockin' the old-western charm the boys had been reveling in for over six years.
While the core co-founders, Villanueva and Hofeldt stuck to tradition, band members shifted from Ziolkowsky and Kirkendall to Adkins on bass and Matthews on drums. Signing on to Sony's lucky Dog mark shortly after, The Derailers made their label debut with Here Come the Derailers on Sept., 11, 2001. The Derailers did not get thrown off track. The world kept turning, the critics swooned, and the country circuit accepted the major debut warmly.
The new success of the album brought the band numerous opportunities. While keeping up their heavy tour schedule (nearly 300 shows per year), The Derailers also visiting the foreign market (Norway), chipped in on the Texas Music Round up Records' tribute to Buck Owens and even donated a portion of Here Come the Derailers proceeds to the Children's Advocacy Center of Austin, Texas.
In 2003, The Derailers once again presented their inspired blend of country, pop and rock n' roll on and 2003's sophomore album Genuine (pronounced jen-YOU-whitne), astounding critics with their high-energy and slick sound. When so many country bands were falling into the trend of sounding so homogenized, The Derailers stood apart with their Americana Act featuring Roy Orbinson-esque tributes (Alone with You) and hip-shakin' tracks like Leave a Message, Juanita and The Way to My Heart.
Writing the majority of the band's songs, Villaneuva credits the 1960's honky-tonks as some of the biggest heroes.
"They lived out of a small suitcase with a bar of soap, playing great music, said Villaneuva in one interview. "We hope to be even a shadow of the way those great people operated... but not drink as much whisky or take as much speed."
The Derailers will perform at the Bluebird Jan. 8 at 10:30pm. Tickets are $11. For more information on the band, visit http://sonynashville.com/TheDerailers, or www.derailers.com
Labels: Music: The Front Magazine
posted by Sami Jo at 12:37 AM
I'm Sami Jo
From Denver, CO, United States
I'm from Denver, CO. I love to travel - both alone and with friends - explore new places and really learn the personality of a city. I own my own PR firm and offer support to creative professionals including authors, musicians and small business. My husband writes and performs live music (often for kids at local libraries in town), and we have a little boy who loves to travel as much as we do.
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