WILMINGTON, NC—Local musician Zach Hanner credits the ukulele as the instrument that jumpstarted his love for guitar 20-something years ago. It helped him found his local Hawaiian swing-a-billy act, Da Howlies, which will take over the Fermental stage Friday night.
“I had been teaching myself guitar for several years and had written a few songs,” Hanner said, referring to his time living in New York in the late ’90s. “But once I started playing ukulele and writing songs for it, that really set me off on the path that I am still on today.”
Hanner remembers seeing female duo The Moonlighters play often around the city. They outfitted themselves with a ukulele, upright bass and a steel guitar.
Hanner was hooked.
Once he moved back to Wilmington in 2001, he had dinner with friend and steel-guitar player Bill Ladd, who was part of a few country acts in the Triangle.
“He and I got the idea we should start trying to play some old-style Hawaiian swing tunes, based on these records he had by Western swing duo Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant,” Hanner said.
Fast forward 19 years later, and Da Howlies still are bringing slack key and steely guitar riffs to songs like Amazing Rhythm Aces’ “Third Rate Romance,” “I Scare Myself,” by Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks and Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita.” The band also has covered tunes by The Pixies, The Ramones and Bill Withers.
“We even do a medley of songs that are all the same ‘G, C, D’ chord progression,” Hanner explained, “and the audience gets a kick out of that because they’re all familiar songs, like ‘The Tide Is High’ and ‘Stir It Up.'”
Hanner said the band chooses tunes that match their sound, though they will throw in a few oddities here and there to keep audiences guessing. Influences range from ’30s to ’50s Hawaiian swing, classic country, Bluegrass and folk.
“Plus, we are all members of Gen X and have a number of rock ‘n’ roll, punk, and hip-hop influences that color the overall sound,” Hanner added.
Da Howlies aren’t just a cover band, however. They play Hanner originals, inspired by the happenings of his daily life.
“Ideas pop up in my mind when I am out there floating around, surfing in that beach environment,” he said. “I really prefer to write upbeat, bouncy songs as opposed to ballads, but my ballads probably have better lyricism.”
To date, Da Howlies has released two albums only — and Hanner is clear he doesn’t have plans to do another any time soon. In fact, he’s too busy playing in one of his many other side projects, like Irish band The Blarney Brogues, or as a solo act playing acoustic guitar with a drum machine and loop pedals to mock a full band. He’s been a part of surf rockers The Noseriders, punk-rock band The Alibis, plus Parlour Tricks, The Mighty Olas, and during the pandemic started tooling around on the electric guitar with the idea to form a rock trio.
Recording albums isn’t the end-goal for Hanner. The real joy comes in playing — even better, playing with his pals. It’s a shared experience of good vibes.
“Regardless of what song we may be playing, there is a distinct feel of the islands to it,” he explained of Da Howlies. “There’s something about being whisked away to an environment that is tropical, lush and green, even if only in your imagination.”
A rotation of players have visited Hanner’s musical island throughout the years. In 2010 Da Howlies’ original percussionist Paul Currier retired, along with Ladd following in 2014. Thereafter, its original upright bass player, Seth Moody, moved to Memphis. Various steel guitarists have joined, too, including Bob Russell and Hank Blanton.
“Every once in a while, Phantom Playboy’s drummer Jimmy Kaylis will jump in for a gig,” Hanner said. “We have also played a few gigs recently with multi instrumentalist Wes Chappell sitting in on steel, mandolin, fiddle, and a handful of other instruments, and Greg Mclohan, a fantastic harmonica player who plays with Polar Bear Blues Band, often sits in with us.”
These days Da Howlies mostly includes Hanner on uke and cofounding acoustic guitarist John McIntyre (Johnny Mac), along with Jones Smith on standup bass. During any other year — when music venues are open and crowds can gather to sing and sway — Da Howlies can be found playing upward of 40 to 50 shows.
“This year has certainly devastated that number,” Hanner said. “My biggest disappointment is we missed playing at [Carolina Beach’s] Ocean Grill and Tiki bar for the first time since the band began. We even joked about bum-rushing the place one afternoon and doing a flash-mob type set!”
Da Howlies picked up their instruments mid-pandemic to play live for the first time in August. They mask up when loading in and breaking down, and have to set up to remain socially distanced. They also have to be mindful of limited interaction with the audience. Despite the new Covid-19 requirements, the response has been welcoming — especially warm, much like the vibes Da Howlies work hard to encapsulate.
“You can see that a lot of people have missed going to see live music,” Hanner said, “and the response we have been receiving has been really wonderful. We’re very appreciative to have such great crowds.”
Da Howlies will play their last show of the year, which is free, on Friday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Fermental.
Have arts news, events, tips and comments? Email Shea Carver at [email protected].
