Wailon - tribute to *real* country and outlaw music

What's a WailOn?

ABOUT THE BAND

WailOn recreates a full 70's era REAL Country Music stage show and performs the music of George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paychec, Hank Williams Jr, Willie Nelson and the Outlaws of Country.

Featuring Chris Wiski as "Waylon," the musicians of WailOn have been  consistently packing theaters, fairs, concert series, and private shows to capacity in New York, New Jersey, Masschusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Illinois, and beyond since 2015 and look forward to working with you on your show. 

Meet the Good Ol' Boys (And Sometimes a gal)

Chris "Lungs" Wiski

Lead REAL Country Vocals; Bass Guitar

Chris Wiski channels that big baritone voice and approach that makes Country Music REAL. Chris played upright and electric bass and sang Waylon parts with The Spirit of Johnny Cash for five years and also writes, records and performs original music as 3 Star Wiski.

Billy "The Kid" Dillon

Lead/Backup Vocals; Acoustic Guitar; Harmonica

Billy has been an active member of the Capital area music community since arriving here from Austin, Texas in 2001. For 22 years Billy has played in some of the areas popular bands. He was founding member of local favorite Heat as well as playing with Renee Lussier and Branchwater, Back40 Band, Skippy & the Pistons, Sonny & the Suspicions, and Upstate Funk. Billy brings over 40 years of professional performance experience and a wide variety of musical influences and stylings to the WailOn stage.

"The Fabulous" Rich Ertelt

Lead/Backup Vocals, Pedal Steel, Guitar

Rich started his musical career in local Troy band Tree Fox, in 1976, playing guitar. After playing in several other local bands, he moved to CA. There he played and recorded with a lot of great talent. Many in the oldies market – The Platter, Drifters, Mary Wells, The Shirelles, as well as some notable country artists, such as Johnny Lee and Bobby Black (Commander Cody). Just to name a few.

Moving to Austin in ’98, Rich performed with many notable blues and country artists. It was in Austin where Rich finally started to pursue his love of steel guitar, first playing non pedal (including with the Rockabilly band The Bellfuries), then later tapping into the incredible Pedal Steel talent in town, playing and recording with, but also taking lessons from, some of Austin’s best – Ricky Davis (Dale Watson), Herb Steiner (Linda Rondstat), Neil Flanz (EmmyLou). About steel guitar, Rich said “In 2000, I stood on stage at the Coupland Dance Hall, next to steel great Steve Palousek, and was mesmerized. I always loved that sound, and standing next to and watching That … the next week I went out and bought my first pedal steel”

After decades of performing as a full-time musician, Rich returned to the Capitol Region in 2019, where he continues to perform on a regular basis.

Rich has performed in such venues as The Whisky and Roxy in LA, Antone’s and The Broken Spoke in Austin, The Wild Horse in Nashville, the Rum Boogie in Memphis, and so many more. He brings decades of experience and a real love of Real country music, and pedal steel, to the stage every time he gets to perform.

Archie "The Professor" Anderson

Lead and Backup Vocals; Acoustic and Electric Guitar; Keyboards

Joe "Bam Bam" Hoxie

Drums

Joe has been active in the NY Capital Region music scene for the past 30 years. He has played with various groups ranging in styles from big band jazz to classic heavy metal. Joe’s drum studies began under the tutelage of Bob Assini and later with jazz instructor Ted MacKenzie. For the past 5 years he has been manning the drums for local alt-country band Jeff Hill Gang. 

A.P. "The Preacher" Wheeler

Electric and Acoustic Guitars


A.P. is a seasoned guitarist and music educator based in Albany, New York, bringing over 25 years of experience to every stage he steps onto. As the founder of 518 Guitar, Andrew has built a reputation as one of the region's most versatile string players — backed by back-to-back wins in the International Blues Challenge's regional round, taking home honors both as a solo performer and as a band, and a 2018 Eddie Award nomination for his work with his blues band in the regional music scene. His playing has taken him across the country, from the Northeast to the Mississippi Delta, earning him road miles and a deep musical vocabulary that shows up in every note he plays. A.P. Wheeler doesn't just play guitar — he lives it.