Tired of the always predictable cover bands performing around town? Finally, there is hope. The Duchess Wilder Band brings home the goods. Not a single Gen X or Y in the group. Duchess Wilder (front-man and bandleader) uses every ounce of her Amazon stature to belt it out and growl on two of my favorites "Miss You" and "Rock Me Baby".

Duchess says "Music is my life blood, I'm free when I sing. We're seriously Blues based but, I won't call us a Blues band because we sing it all. Johnny Taylor, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Rolling Stones, Band of Oz, Doobie Brothers, and Jimi Hendrix are some of the artists we interpret. We put a fresh spin on the music, we evolve a song."

Creating a band was a recurring theme in Wilder's life. Sixteen months ago, as her mother was dying from cancer, grief became the catalyst she needed. Duch (as she likes to be called) applied spiritual alchemy; turning poison into medicine. She believes she invoked the spirits of Janis Joplin, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith which gave her the courage and confidence to take it all the way.

After her mothers funeral, she devoted everyday to the making of her band. There were many trials and errors, numerous auditions, rehearsals, more auditions, blood sweat and tears before she birthed the Duchess Wilder Band. The tight rhythm section consists of super smooth Blues guitarist Pudgee Hill, who began his career at the ripe young age of 13 playing with the legendary Candi Staton.

Pudgee went on to play with John Lee Hooker, Little Milton, Luther Allison and opening for Albert King and Phyllis Hyman. When Duchess and Pudgee fall into a duet the stage gets steamy and magic happens.

Duchess said "To me he is the blues, all you have to do is listen, his story comes through his fingers." Drummer, Rick Shelor former road warrior toured with Black Sabbath on the Heaven and Hell Tour in Germany '80. Now he brings a power driven rock beat to the band. Shelor and bassist Kevin Yoder have four years of musical partnership that resonates when they take it up on "Purple Haze" and bring the crowd to their feet on "Barefoot'n" and "Miss You."

This summer when you want to experience something a little different, check out The Duchess Wilder Band at a venue in the 757. For the calendar of evenst go to www.DuchessWilder.com

Duchess Wilder, larger than life, sensuous, earthy, modern day storyteller diva, proves when it's authentic we always come back for more.

Yasmin Bowe-Woods
bowewoods@yahoo.com