![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thatmusicmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Thomas-Brill_KidDavis02-scaled.jpg\")
Written and Photographed by Thomas Brill<\/p>\n
A City-Sized Crowd in the Suburbs<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs I pulled into a parking space in front of 118 North<\/strong>, the suburban Philadelphia venue was already buzzing like a Center City Friday night. Fans clustered at the door, a cloud of cigarette smoke hanging overhead. One guy took a drag and said, \u201cI hear the Bullets have a nice buzz going right now. They\u2019re really good, man.\u201d<\/em>
\n<\/p>\nUp until then, I only knew the band through For Cantera<\/em>, their Sinatra-inspired project. I had no idea what the night had in store.<\/p>\nInside, the place was packed \u2014 standing room only, the bar three deep. The crowd was dominated by the three B\u2019s of blues: beers, beards, and boots<\/strong>. As I squeezed against a wall, someone behind me grinned and shouted, \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m a fucking music fan, man. I love being here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nCordelia Blue Sets the Tone With Soul-Rock Heat<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt 8 p.m. sharp<\/strong>, the lights dropped and opener Cordelia Blue<\/strong> stepped out, celebrating their new album In Limbo<\/em>. Their blues-driven, soul-rock sound eased the room into a simmer before erupting into an organ-shaking closer that rattled a framed photo of Keith Richards behind me.<\/p>\nThey thanked the crowd and vanished, leaving the room ready \u2014 and restless.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thatmusicmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Thomas-Brill_KidDavis04-scaled.jpg\")
The Bullets Hit the Stage With Vintage Swagger<\/strong><\/h2>\nStragglers worked their way in with fresh drinks as the murmur intensified. Members of Kid Davis and the Bullets <\/strong>drifted onto the stage one by one. Finally, frontman Michael \u201cKid\u201d Davis<\/strong> appeared in a black-and-white pearl snap shirt, sky-blue Telecaster in hand. Behind him: Pat Kane, Michael Ball, Paul Ramsey, and Alan Yanziak on sax.<\/p>\nA tangle of tuning noise filled the room. Davis strummed, frowned, and pointed upward \u2014 not loud enough. The sound booth obliged. I braced myself. It was about to get loud.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne, two \u2014 one, two, three, four!\u201d And suddenly we were thrown into \u201cDamn Near Fun<\/strong>,\u201d a rockabilly hop that sent a wave of white hair bouncing across the crowd.<\/p>\nRockabilly, Desert Ballads, and a Whole Lot of Attitude<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the front of the room, a group of women twisted their hips, chicken-winged arms in motion. An older man whipped his long white hair in circles. Yanziak\u2019s sax tore through the room \u201cHe\u2019s amazing! He doesn\u2019t take over \u2014 he just knows when to play!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nNext came \u201cI Slipped<\/strong>,\u201d a jukebox-ready burst of nostalgia. Surf-tinged guitars sputtered over a booming kick drum and plucking bass \u2014 the soundtrack to a 1950s drive-in.<\/p>\nThen the mood shifted into a Marty Robbins\u2013styled desert ballad<\/strong>, Davis and Kane trading soaring riffs. A stoic man in the corner finally cracked a satisfied smile. \u201cA solo that could carry you over the Colorado River.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cWell, I think it\u2019s time for a shit kicker,\u201d Davis announced.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s about damn time,\u201d Kane replied.<\/p>\n
They detonated into \u201cTrashpickin\u2019<\/strong>,\u201d a bluegrass-honky-tonk sprint that shook the floorboards. Davis shredded with bug-eyed intensity. \u201cWe play that the same way every single time. Next we\u2019ll play it backwards.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thatmusicmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Thomas-Brill_KidDavis01-scaled.jpg\")
A Setlist That Spanned Decades and Genres<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe second half of the night showcased cuts from their new album Amsterdam<\/strong>, including \u201cFact Is,\u201d \u201cBoxcar,\u201d \u201cGypsy Song,\u201d and the standout \u201cAm I High<\/strong>\u201d \u2014 a slow-burning, minor-key paranoia trip that made me wonder, Am I, in fact, high?<\/em><\/p>\nA Crowd That Came to Feel Every Note<\/strong><\/h2>\nSome attendees leaned against the walls, absorbing each riff like a study session. Others moved with untamed, hair-whipping abandon. Onstage, the Bullets locked into a groove deeper than the room itself \u2014 a moment where the audience faded and only the jam mattered.\u201cTo them, there was no audience \u2014 just the pulse, the jam, and the moment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thatmusicmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Thomas-Brill_KidDavis03-scaled.jpg\")
A Jam-Packed Finale With Friends on Stage<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs the show neared its end, Davis invited Cordelia Blue<\/strong> back onstage. \u201cWe love those guys,\u201d he said, and together they closed the night with a few more high-energy tunes. It was musicians celebrating musicians \u2014 the best kind of ending.<\/p>\nWhat a night.<\/p>\n
Kid Davis and the Bullets\u2019 new album, Amsterdam<\/em>, is streaming everywhere. Catch them live Thursday nights at Kelly Logan\u2019s House in Wilmington, Delaware.<\/strong><\/p>\nLinks:<\/p>\n
Website<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Spotify\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Up until then, I only knew the band through For Cantera<\/em>, their Sinatra-inspired project. I had no idea what the night had in store.<\/p>\n Inside, the place was packed \u2014 standing room only, the bar three deep. The crowd was dominated by the three B\u2019s of blues: beers, beards, and boots<\/strong>. As I squeezed against a wall, someone behind me grinned and shouted, \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m a fucking music fan, man. I love being here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n At 8 p.m. sharp<\/strong>, the lights dropped and opener Cordelia Blue<\/strong> stepped out, celebrating their new album In Limbo<\/em>. Their blues-driven, soul-rock sound eased the room into a simmer before erupting into an organ-shaking closer that rattled a framed photo of Keith Richards behind me.<\/p>\n They thanked the crowd and vanished, leaving the room ready \u2014 and restless.<\/p>\n Stragglers worked their way in with fresh drinks as the murmur intensified. Members of Kid Davis and the Bullets <\/strong>drifted onto the stage one by one. Finally, frontman Michael \u201cKid\u201d Davis<\/strong> appeared in a black-and-white pearl snap shirt, sky-blue Telecaster in hand. Behind him: Pat Kane, Michael Ball, Paul Ramsey, and Alan Yanziak on sax.<\/p>\n A tangle of tuning noise filled the room. Davis strummed, frowned, and pointed upward \u2014 not loud enough. The sound booth obliged. I braced myself. It was about to get loud.<\/p>\n \u201cOne, two \u2014 one, two, three, four!\u201d And suddenly we were thrown into \u201cDamn Near Fun<\/strong>,\u201d a rockabilly hop that sent a wave of white hair bouncing across the crowd.<\/p>\n At the front of the room, a group of women twisted their hips, chicken-winged arms in motion. An older man whipped his long white hair in circles. Yanziak\u2019s sax tore through the room \u201cHe\u2019s amazing! He doesn\u2019t take over \u2014 he just knows when to play!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Next came \u201cI Slipped<\/strong>,\u201d a jukebox-ready burst of nostalgia. Surf-tinged guitars sputtered over a booming kick drum and plucking bass \u2014 the soundtrack to a 1950s drive-in.<\/p>\n Then the mood shifted into a Marty Robbins\u2013styled desert ballad<\/strong>, Davis and Kane trading soaring riffs. A stoic man in the corner finally cracked a satisfied smile. \u201cA solo that could carry you over the Colorado River.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I think it\u2019s time for a shit kicker,\u201d Davis announced.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s about damn time,\u201d Kane replied.<\/p>\n They detonated into \u201cTrashpickin\u2019<\/strong>,\u201d a bluegrass-honky-tonk sprint that shook the floorboards. Davis shredded with bug-eyed intensity. \u201cWe play that the same way every single time. Next we\u2019ll play it backwards.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The second half of the night showcased cuts from their new album Amsterdam<\/strong>, including \u201cFact Is,\u201d \u201cBoxcar,\u201d \u201cGypsy Song,\u201d and the standout \u201cAm I High<\/strong>\u201d \u2014 a slow-burning, minor-key paranoia trip that made me wonder, Am I, in fact, high?<\/em><\/p>\n Some attendees leaned against the walls, absorbing each riff like a study session. Others moved with untamed, hair-whipping abandon. Onstage, the Bullets locked into a groove deeper than the room itself \u2014 a moment where the audience faded and only the jam mattered.\u201cTo them, there was no audience \u2014 just the pulse, the jam, and the moment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As the show neared its end, Davis invited Cordelia Blue<\/strong> back onstage. \u201cWe love those guys,\u201d he said, and together they closed the night with a few more high-energy tunes. It was musicians celebrating musicians \u2014 the best kind of ending.<\/p>\n What a night.<\/p>\n Kid Davis and the Bullets\u2019 new album, Amsterdam<\/em>, is streaming everywhere. Catch them live Thursday nights at Kelly Logan\u2019s House in Wilmington, Delaware.<\/strong><\/p>\n Links:<\/p>\n Website<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Spotify\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nCordelia Blue Sets the Tone With Soul-Rock Heat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Bullets Hit the Stage With Vintage Swagger<\/strong><\/h2>\nRockabilly, Desert Ballads, and a Whole Lot of Attitude<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A Setlist That Spanned Decades and Genres<\/strong><\/h2>\nA Crowd That Came to Feel Every Note<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A Jam-Packed Finale With Friends on Stage<\/strong><\/h2>\n