Everly Brothers make a comeback
Since Phil died on Jan. 3, 2014, you can no longer see the Everly Brothers in concert. However, a packed Creekside Theatre in Lake Country enjoyed the next best thing on Thursday night.
The Everly Brothers Experience featuring the Zmed Brothers and the Bird Dogs Band presented a standing-ovation tribute to the American country-influenced rock ‘n’ roll duo known for their steel-string acoustic guitars and harmonies.
From 1957 to 1962, the Everly brothers sold more than 35 million records and had 35 Billboard top-100 singles, 26 in the Top 40, and to this day, carry the record for most Billboard-charting hits of any American duo.
Yet, brothers Zachary and Dylan Zmed feel the Everlys enormous contribution to rock ‘n’ roll history is still overlooked.
So they’ve made it their mission to resurrect the Everly Brothers for nostalgia fans and a new generation.
After Dylan graduated from college, the brothers performed three-hour bar gigs as a duo but say one-half of their show was Everly Brothers’ hits, thanks to Zachary’s highpitched vocals in perfect harmony with Dylan.
They began researching the famous duo’s history, became enthralled by their story and decided to focus their efforts on an Everly Brothers’ tribute in January 2016.
In the following two years, they’ve finetuned their performance at 200 shows across the U.S. and overseas in iconic clubs, theatres, performing arts centers, casinos, ballrooms and coliseums.
On June 24, 2018, they headlined a fundraising concert in the Everlys hometown of Shanendoah, Iowa, with the proceeds to the Everly Brothers Childhood Home to be used for digital interactive video displays.
They were the stars in a parade and received the key to the city, just as their idols did decades before.
They not only dress the part — performing in three-piece dark suits, slicked-back hair, clean-shaven faces and four matching signature Everly acoustic guitars — but provide a detailed year-by-year Everly history, factchecked by Del, the son of Felice and Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant, a husband-andwife team who co-wrote many of the Everly Brothers’ hits.
As an added bonus, the two engaged in a Smothers Brothers-style banter with Dylan the simple Tommy, confusing legendary country star Chet Atkins with the Atkins Diet, for example.
The two-hour show at Creekside Theatre had all the hits including Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Suzie, Let It Be Me, Cathy’s Clown, Bird Dog, Devoted To You, I Kissed You, Love Hurts, Dream and their Rocky Top, which became the official Tennessee state song.
To enthusiastic cheers, Creekside Theatre manager Ryan Donn promised to re-book the band when they return to this area.