Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette - upright bass, vocals
Parrish Ellis - resonator and archtop guitars, guitjo, banjo, ukulele, vocals
Michael Farkas - washboard, harmonica, kazoo, vocals, sound effects
Teddy Webber - steel guitar, guitar, vocals
Influences
victrolas, mountains, cities, silent films, street-corner musicians from the last 100 years. ragtime and piedmont blues, stringbands, jugbands, washboard swing. We love amalgamating music from early 20th century America and writing our own songs inspired by those various musical idioms.
Sounds Like
The Hoosier Hotshots, Washboard Rhythm Kings, Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies, Fats Waller, Arthur Blake, The Swingbillies, Spike Jones, Willie McTell, Anglin Brothers, The Skillet Lickers, Gary Davis, Gus Cannon & The Jug Stompers, The Carolina Tarheels, Casey Bill Weldon, The Lightcrust Doughboys, Pink Anderson, The Mississippi Sheiks, Bill Boyd & The Cowboy Ramblers, John Hurt, Joe & Charlie McCoy ......time to stop geeking out
In their five-year lifespan, The Wiyos have driven over 400,000 miles in seven countries and played over a thousand shows. They have released three full-length albums, seamlessly blending their original songwriting with a wide spectrum of vernacular American music. The New Yorker says "the group brings exuberance and intensity to these vintage styles, and its performances are layered with vaudevillian stage antics." Originally an acoustic trio, they are now a quartet broadening their sonic palette. They have built a reputation for riveting live performances. Americana UK reports that "their musicianship is outstanding", and Sing Out calls them "tons of fun".
"The Wiyos seem truly unique in what they do, creating original yet vintage-sounding country blues, swing, jugband, hillbilly and ragtime tunes and then adding the visual element of a vaudeville-style stage show. They are a band that, in a lot of ways, seems to set the bar in terms of authenticity and pure chops. In their original songs, The Wiyos have proven their aptitude not only in writing old timey-sounding tunes, but in writing them across various strains of roots music, a blend of all their myriad influences which comes across as decidedly current.” -Maryland Independent
jamming tunes, saw ya in Houstin, I thought you where a mascott for dylan till I saw you get on stage and start singing, oohhh babbb;y pleesee explain sometthhthing to me, why oh why is ther a>>>>>>>>>>>> where my is suppos to be?
guess what veronica and i did last week? well, we did a lot of things...but one in particular incuded buying tickets to your CD party! i have naturally been very excited anticipating the event, but i saw teddy last night and he was telling me about it, which has made me even more excited--something i didn't think possible!
Thanks for the Friendship Add!!! Man you guys were great in Winfield this year. I love that style of music. Hope to see you again next year. If you come to Wichita, send me a message and I'll catch your show. Steve
I do wish that Charlottesville,VA is on yer list of venues to play in the hyper near future, it's been half a year since I caught yer show @ the L8 Gravity Lounge, the same place now called the Southern which is undergoing interior rennovations will be opening up eventually, I'll be there in my Orioles jacket in the very front chair heavily armed with a camera. Love ya dudes, Joan
well well well.... stage seven is no longer. apparently they think it pulls the crowd away from the main stage. i find it to be bullshit because there has always been a stage 5 and a stage 7. there is a petition somewhere that we all need to sign because stage 7 belongs in pecan grove. if i find the petition i will send it to ya'll and hopefully ya'll will sign it. much love and i'll see ya somewhere on the eastcoast.
Great job at the walnut valley festival in kansas fellas. two man gentlemen band needs to come next year too, so stuff them in your luggage if flying or strap to the luggage rack of your vehicle if necessary. Thanks for the great tunes!!!
