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Preston LeBeau

Red and the Pepperpot Boys

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Red & the pepperpot Boys
Red & the pepperpot Boys

Red and the Pepperpot Boys 

Rock-A-Bye Honey [1998]
Tomahawk Records- CD011743
Rock-A-Bye Honey – Cabin In The Hills – Crazy Little Mama – Just Tell Me Lies – The Color Of Her Eyes – Heart Like A Wheel – Go! Go! Go! – Used ToBe – Walk A Mile – Please Don’t Break My Heart – High Time – Drink! Drink! Drink! – Pin-Up Peggy – Midnight Cruise

If you dig the kind of bands one can find on Vinylux (Flea Bops, Go Cat Go, Boom Boom Cats), don’t look no further, this record is for you. In fact Red and the Pepperpot Boys can be seen as an early incarnation of the Flea Bops as they share the same singer (Ronnie Joyner) and lead guitarist (Preston LeBeau). And to pursue the Vinylux connection the drums (a light brushed snare) are played by Bill Hull, guitar player of Go Cat Go. Chris Bosch completes the line-up on string bass. If you’re not too thrilled by wild and desperate rockabilly and prefer it more like Sam Phillips defined it at Sun, “Rock-A-Bye Honey” is made for you. The sound is mostly acoustic with just a slight electrification on the lead guitar just like they did it in the fifties. It’s a safe bet to say that if you like early Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Carl Perkins and of course Elvis’ Sun sides you’ll love this platter. Ronnie Joyner is a superb songwriter (13 of the 14 songs are originals) who can craft little classics, and icing on the cake he has the perfect voice to sing them. Issued in 1998, this album really needs to be rediscovered.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Flea Bops (the)

The Flea Bops formed after the tragic death of Darren Lee Spears of Go Cat Go in which Lance LeBeau played drums. The band initially went under the name of the Twilite Ramblers but soon evolved into the Flea bops. The members are Ronnie Joyner (vocals, rhythm guitar), Preston Lebeau (electric guitar) Lance Lebeau (drums) and Lance’s wife, Wendy on double bass. Both Ronnie Joyner and Preston LeBeau previously played in Red and the Pepperpot Boys with Bill Hull (guitar player for Go Cat Go) on drums.

fleabops-45The Flea Bops – Good Time Woman b/w I’m Ready

Vinylux V0003
Debut single for this quartet made of Ronnie Joyner (vocals, rhythm guitar), Preston Lebeau (electric guitar) his brother Lance (drums) and Lance’s wife, Wendy on double bass. Two sizzling hot rockabilly tunes with a striong Carl Perkins/Johnny Burnette influence. Great.


flea_bops_imreadyThe Flea Bops – I’m ready

Vinylux V0005 [2000]
I’m Ready – Who’s That Knockin’? – Heart’s On Fire – You Can Do No Wrong – So Long, Farewell, Goodbye – What’s She Gonna Do – I’ve Had Enough – Rock It – Believe In Me – Tears Today, Gone Tomorrow – Good Time Woman – Little Bit More – You’re Undecided – Hey Little Honey – Train Of Loneliness
Debut album for a band too often overlooked. This guys and girl deserve more credit. Ronnie Joyner’s originals sound like long lost fifties recordings and drummer’s Lance Lebeau contribution “Hey Little Honey” ain’t bad either. The production and the sound are just perfect. If you dig Carl Perkins, Johnny Horton, Johnny Burnette you don’t want to miss this one.


wendylebeau-gardenWendy Le Beau and her Beaus – Garden of Eden

Vinylux Records V0009 [2004]
Garden of Eden – Just Like a Dog Barking Up the Wrong Tree – One Track Love – Skull and Crossbones – Speed Limit – Jealous Hearted Me – Lie To Me Baby – Stop ‘n’ Go Boogie – The Coffee Addict – Kiss Me Baby
Though it came under the name of Wendy Lebeau and Her Beaus this one can be integrated to the Flea Bops discography as it shares the same line-up with the difference of Wendy LeBeau who takes the lead vocal duties.  But this is not the sole difference. The band made a conscious effort to sound different. Of course this is still first class rockabilly but they brought various element to their music like jazz chords progression (enhanced by Lance’s superb brush work) on the Carter Family’s Jealous Hearted Me or a barrelhouse piano on three tracks. Dave Moore of Wild Hare fame played acoustic guitar on two tracks too. It’s a mix of covers (Sparkle Moore, Tommy lam, Bonnie Lou, Johnny Tyler, Big Mama Thornton) and originals, three penned by Wendy and one by the late Darren Lee Spears.


flea_bops_gittogittinThe Flea Bops – Git To Gittin’

Vinylux V0008 [2005]
Git to Gittin’ – Drivin’ Home – I’m Sorry I’m Not Sorry – Get On Home – Railroad Tracks – Too Hot For Me – Long Gone Love – You’d Be Thinking of Me – Skull and Crossbones – Hardball Boogie – I Was a Fool – Has the Devil Gotten You? – Goodbye Lonesome – So Good, So Right – Long Blonde Hair
Their second album is as good if not better than the previous one. Joyner confirms his status of one of today’s best rockabilly songwriter. He penned 8 songs for this albums and Lance one. The remaining songs are covers of Wynonie Harris, Carl Perkins (a big influence on the band), Johnny Powers, Johnny Horton, Sparkle Moore, and Shirley & Lee (with a great duet between Ronnie and Wendy). Wendy sings lead on Skull and Crossbones (also available on her side project Wendy and Her Beaus). No possibility of disapointement with this band, this is rockabilly as it sould be done!


FleaGottaThe Flea Bops – Gotta Bop

Vinylux V0011 [2009]
My Babe – Crackerjack – Rattlesnake Kiss – Gotta Bop – Jakes Juice – Everybody Wants To Steal My Girl
This 10″ – six songs mini album opens with two covers, a rockabilly rendition of Little Walter’s My Babe and Joe Clay’s Crackerjack (sung by Wendy). The third song of the side is an original written by Ronnie that sounds like an unissued take by Johnny Burnette Rock’n’roll trio with frantic vocals and screams. The three songs of the XXX side are all originals. Gotta Bop is a hot… bopper penned by bassist Wendy Lebeau, Jake’s Juice is a strong rockabilly number and Everybody Wants To Steal My Girl is a superb hillbilly bop, both written by Joyner.
Another killer release from the Flea Bops!

Flea Bops
The Flea Bops