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.
The Flea Bops – Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, Hold On
Vinylux V0013
Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, Hold On – Last Gunshot – Agent Of The ABC –
Please Don’t Go – Driver Seat – Sinner Not A Saint – My Dish Chili – Patti Waggin – Saved – Mighty Hot In San Antone – Rock You In The Arms Of Jesus – Stormy Sky
Ronnie Joyner’s death in 2022 at the all-too-young age of 58 leaves a huge void. Ronnie was a rare talent on the current rockabilly scene, a gifted singer and an excellent songwriter (not to mention his talents as an illustrator).
Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, Hold On, recorded shortly before his death, is a musical paradox: both a testament album and yet bursting with life and energy.
The album opens with the title track, a superb country rock, full of tension with an excellent twang guitar that supports it all. The band then continues with Last Gunshot, a menacing yet desperate blues, on which Ronnie Joyner’s voice (who will definitely be missed) and Preston LeBeau’s guitar echo each other to form a captivating dialogue. We continue with Agent Of The ABC, supported by the pair Wendy (double bass) and Lance (drums), who maintain the tension throughout. Tension is the key word to define the rockabilly practiced by the Flea Bops. The band always seems on the verge of exploding, trying to contain a rage that only wants to sweep everything in its path. Everything contributes to this feeling, from the relentless rhythm to the heady guitar, serving as a showcase for Joyner’s voice. The band excels in this type of song, halfway between the two Johnnys, Burnette and Cash.
Burnette’s influence is particularly evident in Mighty Hot In San Antone, reminiscent of Lonesome Tears in My Eyes. While Patty Waggin’ has a more disreputable strip-club feel (Lance LeBeau’s superb cymbal work is noteworthy), there are echoes of You’re Undecided in Preston LeBeau’s guitar playing.
Of course, Wendy LeBeau sings lead on a few tracks. Perhaps it’s because she’s in a band, or because she doesn’t give in to flashy, caricatured gimmicks, but I find that when it comes to the best female vocalists today, she’s too often overlooked. This woman not only has a superb voice, but she knows how to use it, play with it, and modulate it to evoke a whole range of emotions. Just listen to Please Don’t Go to be convinced. She also sings two covers, thematically linked: Sinner Not A Saint, a Trini Lopez track, which she transforms into heady and dangerous rock’n’roll and Lavern Baker’s Saved. In a similar theme, she joins her voice to Ronnie’s for Rock You In The Arms of Jesus, a gospel strongly tinged with rockabilly.
This album ends with Stormy Sky, which evokes songs like Fire of Love or Endless Sleep. Another excellent track, we say to ourselves, before remembering with emotion that this one is the final chapter of an exemplary discography.
The 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!
The 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!
Wendy 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 plays 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.
The 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.
The Flea Bops – Good Time Woman
Vinylux V0003
Good Time Woman b/w I’m Ready
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.
