By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Kid Davis & The Bullets
Kid Davis & The Bullets have Delaware all through their DNA.
The band, which will headline a show at 118 North on January 10, got its start in Delaware County and eventually migrated to the state of Delaware.
After more than four decades of making music in this area, Kid Davis & The Bullets are a Delaware-based Americana and roots-rock outfit known for electrifying live performances, vintage-leaning rockabilly swagger, and soulful, story-driven songwriting.
Recent inductees into the Delaware Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the band has built a loyal following through relentless touring and a sound that blends barroom energy with thoughtful songwriting.
Their upcoming album, “Amsterdam,” follows a string of celebrated regional releases and marks their boldest artistic statement yet.
The show at 118 North will be an “Album Release Show” for “Amsterdam.”
“Our first gig ever was at Hurley’s Tavern in Chichester in 1982,” said Davis, during a phone interview Tuesday night from his home in Hockessin, Delaware.
“Ever since then, we performed mostly in Newark, Wilmington, Philly and Delaware County.
“I grew up in Prospect Park and graduated from Interboro High School. I moved to Delaware when I was 23.
“The Delaware music scene was pretty good then but it’s not very good right now. It is picking up with venues like the Logan House.”
Kid Davis & The Bullets will be playing the Logan House on February 26. The band has also maintained a strong presence in Cgester County and will play the Brickette Lounge in West Chester two nights later (February 28) and again on March 28.
“When people ask us what kind of music we play, it used to be that rockabilly was the easy answer,” said Davis.
“We don’t play that anymore. We play American music – rock music – blues-oriented rock music.”
Kid Davis & The Bullets released their electrifying new single, “Boxcar,” on December 12, 2025. A gritty, locomotive-driven anthem, the track serves as the first taste of “Amsterdam.”
The single is a raw, blues-infused rocker that captures the relentless momentum of a train at full speed. Anchored by a hypnotic groove and heavy guitar riffs, the song channels the spirit of classic Americana while venturing into darker, more unhinged territory.
According to Davis, “The inspiration for ‘Boxcar,’ believe it or not, comes from an old interview with Charlie Manson, where he said, ‘I’m a boxcar, a jug of wine, a straight razor if you get too close.’ The song is about dread and all kinds of trials and tribulations of life… stuff that can derail you or mess up your life.”
The single sets the stage for “Amsterdam” – a city for which Davis has fond, smoky memories.
The album is the band’s most ambitious project to date. Produced by James Everhart (Low Cut Connie, Cosmic Guilt) and recorded at Hi5 Studios in Philadelphia with engineer and co-producer, Josh Friedman, the album straddles classic roots rock, rockabilly soul, and expansive Americana.
It marks a sonic evolution for the group, pushing beyond their roots into a sound that is “world-weary but not cynical, reflective but not resigned.”
“It’s been a long time,” said Davis. “We’ve had a lot of different lineups over the years.”
“Amsterdam” was recorded with a lineup that featured Davis (guitar and vocals), Bobby Bloomingdale (standup bass) Pat Kane (guitar) and Paul Ramsey (drums). Unfortunately, that lineup has been altered.
“Bobby Bloomingdale, who also played in the Sin City Band, had been with me since the start of the Bullets,” said Davis.
“He was back with the Bullets for 15 years until he died in August of lung cancer. He was my musical partner—and my best friend.
“With the Bullets, we did at least 10 gigs a month – sometimes more. We also played some shows in Florida.
“Bobby had a place in Big Pine Key. I’d go down for a few weeks in the winter with our drummer Paul Ramsey and we’d play a few shows there.”
The current bass player for Kid Davis & The Bullets is Michael Ball.
“We’ve had a steady fan base over the years,” said Davis. “Our last Delaware venue before the Logan House was Gallucio’s in Wilmington. We developed a lot of new regulars there.
“Our current live set is a mixture of originals and covers. I do one or two covers, and our bass player sings on one or two covers. I’ve written a bunch of songs so it’s 95 per cent originals from me.”
Video link for Kid Davis & The Bullets – https://youtu.be/_t5WpaS3_Ec.
The show at 118 North on January 10, which has Cordelia Blue as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20
There will be another show on January 10 in Delaware County featuring a band that has developed a strong local following – and a strong affection for Delco.
However, this is not a local band.
Bees Deluxe, which is headlining a show at Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) on Saturday, is an Anglo-American band based in Massachusetts.
The group features Carol Band on vocals, Conrad Warre on guitar, Adam Sankowski on bass and Paul Giovine on drums.
“We’ve qualified to compete in the 2026 International Blues Challenge in Memphis,” said Warre, during a phone interview Tuesday evening from his home in Boston.
“We just won our division at the Granite State Blues Society Blues Challenge 2025. That qualified us to perform at the huge festival in Memphis.”
The band also has a new album to celebrate – “Smash Hits.”
“We recorded it here in Boston at Tight Squeeze Studio in Hyde Park,” said Warre. “Joe Egan was the producer.
“It’s a mixture of recent songs and some that are still around from four years ago. Half of them are new and there are also a few covers.”
“Smash Hits” includes reimagined classics by Fenton Robinson, Otis Rush, Robert Cray and Bobby “Blue” Bland, Bees Deluxe originals that push the envelope of contemporary blue, a poignant tribute to JR Rost with Carol Band’s “How to Play 96 Tears” and resurrected studio gems like “Kidnap” and “King of Bad Luck.”
“The album has 40 minutes and 10 songs,” said Warre. “We’re an album band. We’re not interested in putting out singles. This album has a life of its own.”
Bees Deluxe was formed by Warre, a highly respected British guitar ace.
“I grew up in London,” said Warre. “I went to a Quaker boarding school that had a lot of U.S. students.
“One of them gave me a blues compilation album with songs by Johnny Winter, Little Walter and B.B. King.
“In high school, I was in a band with Paul Kossoff. Paul later went on to be a guitarist with the band Free.
“I got a degree in graphic design. When I got out of college, I realized I didn’t want to do graphic design.”
Music was a prime alternative.
“I’m from London – from Notting Hill Gate, where the riots were,” said Warre. “I wrote Two-Tone music and toured with The English Beat and Joe Jackson. I moved to New York and played a lot at CBGB’s.
“I found Carol playing jazz at Ryles Jazz Club in Boston. I got Paul in the band because he knew who Bernard Purdie was. Jim was a friend of his and they played country blues together.”
Bees Deluxe has played with Ronnie Earl, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Matt Schofield, Roomful of Blues, Walter Trout and David Maxwell.
The four-piece band celebrates the music of B.B. King, Robert Cray, Albert King, Tinsley Ellis, Freddie King and others.
So, the band’s background includes blues, rock, English ska, punk rock, jazz and country rock. Its current sound is all of that – and none of that.
“Our sound is more modern – more progressive – more edge,” said Band.
Band is a classically trained pianist who was recruited while playing jazz in Boston’s club scene. She also writes tunes and wows audiences with her blazing harmonica solos.
Warre, who is a British football fan and supporter of the Arsenal Gunners, said, “The communality is acid rock and blues. So many bands play the same songs the same way every night.
“When we play, we stretch it out and change it always. Arrangements are made up on the fly.”
Bees Deluxe push the limits of the blues, color outside the lines of convention, and do it with impeccable musicality, originality, and a touch of insanity.
“This kind of music appeals to fans of all ages – if they get to hear it,” said Warre. “We’re at our best when people are dancing.
“Or if they’re hooting and hollering. We adjust our music to the audience. If it’s not a dance crowd, we can stretch it out.
“We don’t play a standard blues band repertoire. A lot of blues bands play the same few songs such as ‘Born Under a Bad Sign,’ ‘Spoonful,’ and ‘The Thrill Is Gone.’ It’s really repetitive.
“I pick songs that other blues bands don’t – for example songs by J. B. Lenoir. We like to discover songs that are off the beaten path.
In 2018, Bees Deluxe released their all-original acid-blues album, “Voice of Dog,” which was produced by Joe Egan on Slapping Cat Records.
The band’s CD, “Mouthful of Bees,” which features an original sound that they call “acid blues,” was produced by Egan and Warre. It includes three originals and seven classic blues songs re-interpreted by the band.
“Our repertoire has about 60 covers – most of which are deep cuts — and 40 originals,” said Warre. “You’re in danger if you play too many originals.”
“We’ve played Jamey’s before. It’s like dying and going to heaven.”
Band added, “The people are there for the music.”
Video link for Bees Deluxe — https://youtu.be/9Ae6It4EEL0.
The show at Jamey’s House of Music on January 10 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
On January 11 from 1-3 p.m., Jamey’s will present “SUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH & JAM” featuring the Girke-Davis Project.
