The Wailin Elroys are a hillbilly/rockabilly/honkytonk band playing out of Athens, Ohio USA. The Elroys draw on the influence of the Ramones as much as Hank Williams or Chuck Berry while still keeping to a traditional honky-tonk line-up. Formed in 2002 (and disbanding in 2007 and reforming in 2008), the Elroys were founded by Bram Riddlebarger (vocals, flat top guitar, songwriting) and Justin Rayner (doghouse bass fiddle). "Preacher" Zeb Dewar soon joined up on take-off guitar and the Elroys added Johnny Borchard on non-pedal steel guitar a year or so later. Tracks from the Elroys full-length debut album Cheap Motel (featuring the trio of Riddlebarger, Rayner, and Dewar) received airplay in the United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe. The Elroys signed to Rhythm Bomb Records (Germany) in February 2004. Cheap Motel was re-released and internationally distributed by Rhythm Bomb in June of 2004. The Elroys toured Europe in March and April of 2005, playing eight dates spanning from Amsterdam to Berlin and recording one session at the Lightning Recording Service Studio in Berlin. The Elroys released their second full-length CD, "Route 33", on Rhythm Bomb Records in July 2005 and continued to tour the US in support of the record. They returned to Europe for a 5 week tour in the summer of 2006, recording another record, and playing several major festivals, including the Hangar Rockin' Festival in Switzerland, the SJOCK festival in Belgium, Midsummer Festival in Finland, and the Hot Rod Festival in Germany. The latest CD "On the Bum" was released as Bram Riddlebarger & The Wailin' Elroys on Rhythm Bomb Records in May 2007.
http://www.myspace.com/wailinelroys
