By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Bowling Green loves its DePue Brothers.
The four string virtuosos have been entertaining Northwest Ohio audiences since they were knee high to a string bass, and just in time for Christmas they are back in town to present their Holiday Spectacular. Because tickets sold out so quickly for the evening show, they offered a matinee Friday also in Kobacker Hall
They played on their home town status with a stentorian announcement at the beginning of the concert announcing they had come “all the way from Bowling Green.” A typical bit of DePue humor with a lot of truth in it.
Wallace, Jr., Alex, Jason, and Zach DePue (listed in descending order of age — we’ll let them sort out how they should be ranked in terms of looks) have come a long way from Bowling Green. They’ve graced stages around the world with orchestras, small ensembles, country acts, and as soloists. This concert was part of a short tour.
While those in attendance surely were attracted in part by nostalgia, the DePue “boys” haven’t been boys for many decades, except maybe to their father, Wallace, Sr., who first corralled his brood, lo those many years ago.
Close your eyes to those familiar mugs on stage, and what you will hear is a crack touring ensemble of virtuosos playing a high-energy musical blend, termed “grassical,” by Wallace DePue, Jr. Each brother has a seamless style that erases the line between fiddle and violin.
The non-DePue members of the ensemble are full collaborators not a back up band. They include award-winning banjo player Mike Munford and guitarist Mark Cosgrove along with in-demand session bassist Kevin MacConnell and percussionist Don Liuzzi, who plays with Jason DePue in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Liuzzi also serves as the band’s manager. Alex DePue gave him credit for being an instigator in bringing the DePue Brothers Band together.
The brothers made sure everyone had a chance to showcase their talents from the start. The afternoon show opened with the “Linus and Lucy” theme pushed along by Munford’s banjo.
The band then launched into “Joy to the World,” the Christmas carol before, in a bit of DePue whimsy, the carol gave way to “Joy to the World,” the Three Dog Night song.
Those openers set the tone for the show — serious music making leavened by the kind of humor bred among siblings.
The musical talent was always in the forefront, whether that was their renowned fiddling, or their other skills.
Wallace DePue showed off his yodeling as well as his crooning “The Christmas Song,” and Jason switched his violin for mandolin on several numbers. Alex DePue played guitar and used an effects pedal to add a rock edge to a couple numbers. Zach DePue added his voice the four-part vocal harmonies.
“Sweet Georgia Brown” had solos all around with Liuzzi batting cleanup on drums. In the spirit of things he marked the end of his first chorus by blowing on a tin horn, and then marked the end of his second by rattling a set of bells.
When the band later played Pachelbel’s Canon, he softly added “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” on vibraphone underneath.
That was preceded by the rare female presence, guest vocalist Aria Curzon, on stage at a DePue Brothers show. She didn’t get to sing before getting some teasing from Alex DePue about her unfamiliarity with winter because she grew up in southern California. She performed a resplendent rendition of “O Holy Night.”
The band hit the gas to bring the show to a close with an original rock tribute to Santa Claus “The Fat Man” and “Orange Blossom Special” offering everyone a chance in the solo spotlight. The band returned for the encore “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” a tune the DePues have made their own.
The show had the audience on its feet. It was clear that what hasn’t changed is the DePue brothers knack for entertaining
